Exterior Door Lashes - Design Release Engineer

A Design Release Engineer (DRE) in this group manages components "from cradle to grave"—spanning initial concept development, supplier coordination, physical validation, and final manufacturing plant launch.

Key Responsibilities

Component Ownership: Lead the complete technical design, development, packaging, and release of exterior door latching systems, cinch mechanisms, or handles.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Interface directly with Vehicle Engineering, Procurement, Quality, Assembly Plants, and external tier-1 suppliers.

Quality & Validation: Build and execute DFMEAs (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and DVP&Rs (Design Verification Plan and Report) to resolve NVH, water-sealing, or functional robustness issues.

Data & Tool Management: Review and package components within the vehicle environment using CAD tools like NX or CATIA V5.

Production Support: Drive root-cause analysis investigations (5-Why, Red X) and provide launch support directly at manufacturing assembly plants.

Core Qualifications

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a highly relevant engineering discipline.

Experience: Typically requires 3 to 5+ years of automotive product engineering experience. Specific exposure to vehicle closures, latches, magnets, complex plastic assemblies, or soft-close mechanisms is heavily preferred.

Technical Skills: Familiarity with automotive production launch cycles (APQP, PPAP), GD&T, injection molding, or mechanism dynamics.