Job Title: Product Design Engineer I - Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan
Wintegrity is searching for a Product Design Engineer I to join a leading automotive supplier in Rochester Hills, MI. This position is responsible for designing and developing automotive products that meet or exceed customer expectations while supporting new product launches, engineering changes, validation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a strong mechanical engineering background, experience in automotive product design, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout the product development lifecycle. Experience with door modules is highly preferred.
KEY COMPETENCIES:
- 1-2+ years of experience as a Product Design Engineer in the automotive industry.
- Door module design experience preferred.
- Strong understanding of customer engineering change and release systems.
- Knowledge of engineering principles including GD&T, FMEA, DFM, DOE, CAD, and statistical analysis.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
- Experience supporting prototype builds, validation testing, and product launches.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with root cause analysis experience.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to support and mentor Junior Engineers, Designers, and Technicians.
- Experience performing competitor benchmarking activities.
- Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and develop automotive products and systems that meet or exceed customer requirements.
- Evaluate the feasibility of new and modified components and assemblies using engineering analysis and analytical tools.
- Create and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and design studies.
- Coordinate prototype builds, testing, and validation activities for assigned programs.
- Develop and review Design Verification Plans and Reports (DVP&R) and other engineering documentation.
- Review customer and internal specifications to define appropriate testing methods.
- Identify root causes of product failures and quality concerns and implement effective corrective actions.
- Support Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE) and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) initiatives to improve product quality and reduce cost.
- Provide technical support to customers, manufacturing, quality, program management, sales, and suppliers.
- Support engineering change management and customer release processes.
- Perform competitor benchmarking to identify opportunities for product improvement and innovation.
- Provide guidance and technical support to Junior Engineers, Designers, and Technicians.
- Promote a collaborative work environment aligned with company objectives.
- Support 5S and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline.
- 1-2+ years of Product Design Engineering experience preferred.
- Automotive product development experience required; door module experience strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of customer engineering change and release systems.
- Experience with GD&T, FMEA, DFM, DOE, CAD software, and statistical analysis.
- Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
- Willingness to travel periodically by air, car, or train to customer, supplier, and company locations.
- Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.