Body Engineer Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Exterior Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on the in-house design and release of exterior components within the upper body exterior domain. You will own specific components from initial CAD concept through surface development, prototyping, testing, tooling, manufacturing, and launch. You lead product verification plans and final engineering sign-off, ensuring systems meet all corporate requirements and specifications. The position is highly collaborative and meeting-intensive, requiring close interaction with internal teams and suppliers throughout the full three-year product development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Design and release body exterior components, owning them from concept through production launch.
• Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive product verification plans, including test coverage and validation activities.
• Provide final engineering sign-off for assigned components, ensuring full compliance with corporate requirements, specifications, and standards.
• Work through all stages of part development, including initial CAD modeling, studio and surface development, prototyping, feasibility assessments, tooling, manufacturing, and launch support.
• Drive and manage timelines across the entire three-year product development lifecycle, proactively identifying and resolving risks to schedule.
• Attend supplier manufacturing sites and travel to assembly plants to support launch activities and assist with initial builds.
• Collaborate closely with testing and validation engineering teams to confirm that components meet performance, safety, and durability requirements.
• Take full program responsibility for specific components ensuring robust design and release.
• Perform hands-on reviews of prototype parts, supporting test setup, data review, and issue resolution during testing and validation stages.
• Represent assigned components within cross-functional teams, including Program Management, Costing, Tooling, Systems, and Vehicle Integration, throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Balance and negotiate competing requirements related to cost, weight, functionality, manufacturability, and packaging, ultimately releasing components that align with overall program objectives.
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation, CAD data, and release records to support build-to-print manufacturing by suppliers.
• Coordinate with suppliers on design intent, manufacturability considerations, and build-to-print execution for lamps and other electrical components.
• Participate actively in design reviews, feasibility assessments, and issue resolution meetings to ensure robust, launch-ready designs.

Essential Skills

• 5–10 years of experience in component-level design and release, preferably within automotive or closely related industries.
• Strong background in new product development, including full lifecycle involvement from concept through launch.
• Proficiency in CAD-based mechanical design, with the ability to create and manage detailed 3D models and drawings.
• Experience with build-to-print design, including designing parts and handing them off to suppliers for quotation and manufacturing.
• Mechanical engineering focus with the ability to design small lamps and other electrical components within the body exterior domain.
• Hands-on experience working with prototype parts and supporting testing and validation activities.
• Ability to interpret and apply corporate engineering requirements, specifications, and standards to component design.
• Demonstrated capability to manage timelines and deliverables across multi-year product development programs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills for working in a meeting-heavy, cross-functional environment.
• Ability to balance cost, weight, functionality, manufacturability, and packaging constraints when finalizing component designs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Proficiency in CATIA for mechanical design; experience with lighting components is highly desirable.
• Experience with NX CAD is acceptable and valued, even without direct lighting experience.
• Electrical engineering background with printed circuit board (PCB) design experience, particularly involving LEDs and lighting drivers, is a strong plus.
• Previous experience in exterior systems design and release is preferred.
• Prior experience working with the client’s platforms or processes is beneficial but not required.
• Experience in body exterior systems

Work Environment

This role is based in a large engineering center with more than 5,000 engineering professionals. The facility features a three-story building with quad short-cube setups for engineers, taller cubes for supervisors, and private offices for senior leadership. Teams are organized in suites by component group, fostering collaboration and focused expertise. The building offers numerous amenities, including a large cafeteria, barber shop, sandwich shop, weekly shoe shine service, café, vending areas, and dry-cleaning services, with many additional dining and shopping options available in the surrounding area. The workspace is well heated and air conditioned, with ample windows providing natural light. Core hours are 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with flexible working hours between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Overtime is atypical, and there is no bonus potential associated with this role. The dress code is business casual, typically khakis and a collared shirt, with the option to wear a shirt and tie for a more formal look. Jeans are permitted under current policy but are generally not recommended during the initial months. Significant infrastructure investment is underway in the local area to create a modern, attractive environment that supports engineering innovation and talent development.

This is a Contract position based out of Oak Park, MI.

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $50.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a hybrid position in Oak Park,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 17, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.