Design & Release Engineer (Automotive Closures & Mechanisms)

Location: Dearborn, Michigan; fully onsite five days per week in an office or manufacturing plant, with occasional domestic and international travel to suppliers, test facilities, and manufacturing plants.

Company

hirify.global provides technology and engineering services, with collaboration across client programs and technical teams.

What you will do

• Lead design and development of handles, locks, and mechanisms for hoods, frunks, side doors, tailgates, liftgates, and decklids.
• Coordinate suppliers and cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, STA, and plant teams to meet cost, weight, quality, performance, and timing targets.
• Perform technical reviews, packaging studies, dimensional stack-ups, GD&T layouts, CAE analysis, dynamic calculations, simulations, and CAD sign-off.
• Manage CAD, BOMs, parts, drawings, specifications, engineering changes, effectivity, and mass attributes through Teamcenter and WERS.
• Define validation, durability, functional testing, prototype requirements, PPAP readiness, production approval, launch activities, and production improvements.
• Resolve technical and quality issues using root-cause analysis, 8D, 3x5 Why, Six Sigma, and permanent corrective actions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• At least 2 years of engineering experience in the design, development, or launch of automotive mechanisms; internships and coursework may count.
• Experience with automotive latching systems, body closure systems, seat mechanisms or structures, or comparable mechanism products such as farming, oil drilling, aircraft landing gear, or heavy construction mechanisms.
• CAD capability with CATIA, 3DX, or Teamcenter, plus familiarity with CAE tools.
• Ability to manage product-release CAD and BOM structures, assembly positioning, and mass attribute analysis.
• Knowledge of mechanical design, kinematics, loads, materials, durability, manufacturing, GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and dimensional requirements.
• Ability to manage deliverables, milestones, risks, supplier actions, multiple issues, and issue closure in a fluid environment with limited standardization.
• Ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, suppliers, and plants; apply structured, data-driven root-cause and corrective-action methods; and support the lifecycle from concept through launch and improvement.
• Effective oral and written communication, initiative, prioritization, adaptability, and proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint.
• Ability to work fully onsite five days per week in an office or manufacturing plant environment and travel domestically and internationally.

Nice to have

• Experience designing and releasing latching mechanisms, closure systems, seats, or seat structures; systems engineering or system design experience.
• Software literacy, mechatronics, statistical analysis, Six Sigma Green Belt-level skills, and project or product management experience.
• Experience with 8D, 5 Why, DFMEA, PFMEA, SCCAF, phased PPAP, quality assurance, manufacturing process risks and controls, and balancing customer, quality, cost, mass, and timing needs.
• Experience with Adobe Acrobat, AutoCAD, CAE, Teamcenter, WERS, and VisMockup.
• Master’s degree.

Culture & Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off and paid holidays.
• 401(k) matching, group life and disability insurance, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities.
• Opportunities to collaborate with technical experts and clients and develop skills in emerging technologies.
• Inclusive workplace committed to diversity, dignity, respect, and equal employment opportunity.