Assistant Product Development Manager Jobs in Michigan

Company & Position Overview:

JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting $2.75B in annual revenue and 9,000 team members in 2026.  JBPCO prides itself on providing best-in-class commercial automotive and industrial vehicles. The nine operating subsidiaries, covering approximately 70 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, funeral coaches, limousines, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, pickup truck bed enclosures, and expandable foam plastic packaging. For more information about our industry leading brands and products, visit JBPoindexter.com or connect on LinkedIn.

We are the Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization within JB Poindexter & Co., supporting nine business units across the company’s portfolio of commercial vehicle and upfit solutions spanning Class 1–7 vehicles. This team leads the development and launch of innovative products and technologies across a diverse set of applications and end markets.

We operate in a highly dynamic, project-based environment, managing programs ranging from rapid development cycles (weeks) to complex, multi-year product launches, while partnering closely with business units, customers, and suppliers to bring fresh solutions to market.

We are seeking a hands-on Mechatronics Engineer with 5+ years of experience to join our Corporate Engineering and Product Development team. This role is intended for an engineer with a strong mechanical foundation who can also work across electrical systems, harness design, control systems, and software-adjacent development.

The ideal candidate is mechanically strong, comfortable designing parts and assemblies in SolidWorks, and experienced supporting real product development from concept through prototype, validation, and production release. This individual should also be capable of working with electrical components, wiring harnesses, sensors, actuators, control modules, and system-level integration.

While this role is primarily mechanical in nature, the engineer should be able to collaborate effectively with software and controls teams and preferably have working familiarity with C#, C++, and/or Python. This is not intended to be a pure software role, but the ability to understand, troubleshoot, and contribute to software-controlled mechanical or electrical systems is highly valuable.

This position is ideal for a broad, practical engineer who enjoys mechanical design, vehicle systems, prototyping, controls, electrical integration, and solving complex cross-functional engineering problems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design and develop mechanical and mechatronic systems for commercial vehicle applications using SolidWorks, including structures, mechanisms, mounts, enclosures, automation features, and vehicle-integrated components.
• Create 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and technical documentation while applying GD&T, tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA, and sound engineering practices to deliver manufacturable and durable designs.
• Integrate mechanical systems with electrical hardware including wiring harnesses, sensors, actuators, relays, motors, controllers, and ECUs, with consideration for packaging, routing, diagnostics, and serviceability.
• Collaborate with electrical, controls, and software teams to support electro-mechanical system integration, control logic development, troubleshooting, and validation, including working familiarity with C#, C++, and/or Python.
• Support hands-on prototype builds, vehicle installations, testing, validation, root-cause analysis, and production implementation activities, including DVP&R, DFMEA/PFMEA, and design reviews.
• Perform engineering analysis and product evaluation using hand calculations and, where applicable, tools such as SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, or COMSOL.
• Work closely with fabrication, manufacturing, suppliers, and business units to support product launches, continuous improvement, VAVE initiatives, and engineering problem solving across multiple programs.
• Lead or support cross-functional engineering projects from concept through production release while mentoring junior engineers and contributing to engineering standards and best practices

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related engineering field.
• 5+ years of engineering experience in mechanical design, product development, vehicle systems, automation, machinery, or mechatronic systems.
• Strong mechanical design experience using SolidWorks.
• Experience designing mechanical components, assemblies, brackets, enclosures, mounts, linkages, actuated systems, or vehicle-mounted products.
• Working knowledge of electrical system integration, wiring harness routing, connectors, sensors, actuators, and control modules.
• Practical understanding of control systems, system inputs/outputs, sensors, actuators, and feedback-based operation.
• Ability to support hands-on prototype builds, troubleshooting, validation, and manufacturing implementation.
• Strong understanding of:
• GD&T
• Tolerance analysis
• DFM/DFA
• Product lifecycle
• DFMEA/PFMEA
• DVP&R
• Engineering change processes

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills for working with customers, suppliers, manufacturing teams, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in commercial vehicles, automotive, specialty vehicles, upfit systems, truck bodies, or heavy-duty equipment.
• Experience designing or supporting wiring harnesses for vehicle or industrial applications.
• Familiarity with 12V/24V vehicle electrical systems, relays, fuses, switches, sensors, actuators, and control modules.
• Familiarity with CAN, J1939, or vehicle networked systems.
• Working knowledge of C#, C++, and/or Python.
• Experience developing or supporting prototype control systems, test scripts, or automation tools.
• Experience with SolidWorks routing, harness packaging, or electrical/mechanical packaging studies.
• Experience with FEA tools such as COMSOL, SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, or similar.
• Practical fabrication, machining, welding, 3D printing, or shop-floor experience.
• Experience with automotive and commercial truck standards such as SAE, ISO, and FMVSS.
• Experience supporting production launches, supplier development, and manufacturing process improvements.
• Experience working in cross-functional product development teams with mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing stakeholders.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a mechanically strong engineer who can think beyond pure mechanical design and understand how mechanical systems interact with electrical hardware, controls, and software. The ideal candidate is practical, hands-on, and comfortable moving between CAD, the shop floor, prototype vehicles, supplier discussions, and engineering reviews.

This person should be able to design a mechanical system, understand how it will be wired, consider how it will be controlled, and help troubleshoot it when the full system is assembled. They do not need to be a dedicated software engineer, but they should be capable of communicating with software and controls teams and understanding how code, sensors, actuators, and mechanical hardware come together.

The right candidate is a broad, adaptable problem solver who enjoys varied project work, can lead technical efforts when needed, and can support multiple business units across a wide range of product development challenges.

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.