Design Release Engineer - Front Covers, Valve Covers, Oil Pans

The Candidate will lead the design of Front Covers, Valve Covers, and Oil Pans ensuring alignment with engine and vehicle requirements, Develop and refine concepts for Oil Pans, Front Covers, and Valve Covers based on packaging, performance, and system constraints, will support CAD modeling, CAE analysis, and other design validation methods-including VSA (Variable Simulation Assembly)-to ensure compliance with engineering standards, Collaborate with cross-functional engineering groups (engine, vehicle, systems, packaging) to integrate Covers and Pans into the engine and overall vehicle architecture, as a DRE will partner with the Covers and Pans technical expert lead to uphold engineering best practices throughout component development and will maintain sourcing documentation for relevant components, including Statement of Requirement templates, Part Inspection Standards, and Technical Specification Lists. The Candidate will also be responsible for the following:

Release & Program Management

• Manage design and release activities from early concept through production, ensuring timely completion of BSample, CSample, X0, X1, X2, and X3 milestones.
• Own the Bill of Materials (BOM) and Engineering Change Notices (CNs) for assigned system components.
• Ensure that all parts meet cost, quality, and timing targets; work closely with purchasing to support ontime sourcing.
• Lead the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) for Oil Pans, Front Covers, and Valve Covers, ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer specifications.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and quality teams to ensure successful release, handling, assembly, and implementation of designs.

Technical Guidance & Problem Solving

• Participate in weekly or bi-weekly meetings with the global Technical Expert community.
• Provide technical leadership during development and production to resolve design issues, material challenges, and manufacturing process concerns.
• Lead and support APQP activities with Supplier Quality Engineering.
• Lead DFMEA activities and other risk assessment processes to ensure design robustness and mitigate potential issues.
• Support the development of test strategies, including bench-level and vehicle-level system testing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with suppliers to ensure design feasibility, cost effectiveness, and manufacturability of assigned components.
• Collaborate with validation teams to define and execute testing plans that meet functional and performance requirements.
• Partner with vehicle integration teams to ensure proper fit, safety, and system compatibility within vehicle platforms.

Documentation & Reporting

• Support development and maintenance of engineering best practices in collaboration with the technical expert lead.
• Create and maintain engineering documentation-including design specifications, drawings, DVP&Rs, and validation reports.
• Ensure all technical documentation aligns with program timelines and PPAP requirements.
• Provide clear status updates, timing reports, and risk assessments to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working with design and manufacturing within the automotive industry. Previous design and release experience working with cast covers and plastic covers is desired, but not a requirement
• Strong understanding of component-level design and manufacturing processes, including forming, assembly, and integration
• Understanding of product development documentation such as DFMEA and DVP&R.
• Understanding of material functional characteristics, rigidity, compliance, strength, GD&T, CAE analysis, and VSA
• Understanding and knowledge in selecting materials and manufacturing methods for engine front covers, valve covers, or oil pans
• Ability to define and author system and componentlevel requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills (oral and written)
• Demonstrated project management experience
• Proven understanding of Design Release Engineer responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering
• 8 or more years of relevant experience working with design and manufacturing of engine front covers, valve covers, and oil pans
• Experience in casting and plastic component design
• Hands-on experience developing and executing validation plans
• Key traits for success: action-oriented, comfortable with ambiguity, customer-focused, strong problem-solving skills
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools, preferably Siemens NX, Team Center

The Candidate will lead the design of Front Covers, Valve Covers, and Oil Pans ensuring alignment with engine and vehicle requirements, Develop and refine concepts for Oil Pans, Front Covers, and Valve Covers based on packaging, performance, and system constraints, will support CAD modeling, CAE analysis, and other design validation methods-including VSA (Variable Simulation Assembly)-to ensure compliance with engineering standards, Collaborate with cross-functional engineering groups (engine, vehicle, systems, packaging) to integrate Covers and Pans into the engine and overall vehicle architecture, as a DRE will partner with the Covers and Pans technical expert lead to uphold engineering best practices throughout component development and will maintain sourcing documentation for relevant components, including Statement of Requirement templates, Part Inspection Standards, and Technical Specification Lists. The Candidate will also be responsible for the following:

Release & Program Management

• Manage design and release activities from early concept through production, ensuring timely completion of BSample, CSample, X0, X1, X2, and X3 milestones.
• Own the Bill of Materials (BOM) and Engineering Change Notices (CNs) for assigned system components.
• Ensure that all parts meet cost, quality, and timing targets; work closely with purchasing to support ontime sourcing.
• Lead the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) for Oil Pans, Front Covers, and Valve Covers, ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer specifications.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and quality teams to ensure successful release, handling, assembly, and implementation of designs.

Technical Guidance & Problem Solving

• Participate in weekly or bi-weekly meetings with the global Technical Expert community.
• Provide technical leadership during development and production to resolve design issues, material challenges, and manufacturing process concerns.
• Lead and support APQP activities with Supplier Quality Engineering.
• Lead DFMEA activities and other risk assessment processes to ensure design robustness and mitigate potential issues.
• Support the development of test strategies, including bench-level and vehicle-level system testing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with suppliers to ensure design feasibility, cost effectiveness, and manufacturability of assigned components.
• Collaborate with validation teams to define and execute testing plans that meet functional and performance requirements.
• Partner with vehicle integration teams to ensure proper fit, safety, and system compatibility within vehicle platforms.

Documentation & Reporting

• Support development and maintenance of engineering best practices in collaboration with the technical expert lead.
• Create and maintain engineering documentation-including design specifications, drawings, DVP&Rs, and validation reports.
• Ensure all technical documentation aligns with program timelines and PPAP requirements.
• Provide clear status updates, timing reports, and risk assessments to senior leadership and stakeholders.