Chief Product Engineer

Product Engineering Role

This is an entry-level to early career product-focused position that involves performing established technical tasks at the sub-system and/or component level for current and future products within a given business unit or corporate area.

The role involves work across many steps in the product life cycle, and due to the product-centered nature of this position, they are often a central point of coordination and decision-making between product line engineers, customer teams, systems engineers, purchasing, suppliers, and manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Ensures repower hardware is applied and installed correctly as per design & system requirements.
2. Assures installation quality by validating prototype machine performance and ensuring installations meet design requirements.
3. Owns problem resolution for moderately complex components, products, systems, subsystems, or services with a greater degree of technical complexity and ambiguity.
4. Provides independent execution of established work processes and systems while developing technology or product knowledge.
5. Coordinates and directs work amongst technicians and CWK's.
6. Contributes effectively toward team goals, exhibits influence within a work group, and continues to develop proficiency in critical competency areas.
7. Investigates product problems, understands causal mechanisms, recommends appropriate action, and documents results.
8. Collaborates with cross-functional teams such as MVIC, validation team, engine team, design team, NVH team, and controls team.
9. Conducts benchmarking for internal and external competitor vehicles for engine and components, including the fuel system, exhaust system, and other aggregates.

Technical Skills:

• Experience with repowering activities including engine mounting, cooling system, air handling, air compressor, exhaust system, fuel system, electrical engine & ATI harness, sensors connections, and transmission.
• Prepare essential project documents such as:
• Build plans
• Process flow charts
• Control Plans
• Bill of Materials (BOM) and handling large assemblies
• PFMEA, SOPs, and PDI Checklists
• Skill matrix
• Strong user-level knowledge in:
• Prototype build of vehicles
• GD&T, part modeling, and manufacturing processes of engine components
• Interpreting engineering drawings and applying GD&T
• Designing and modifying parts using Creo 5.0, SolidWorks, CATIA V5, UG, and AutoCAD
• 3D modeling of parts per casting, forging & sheet metal design standards
• Part validation requirement analysis and Design Validation Plan (DVP) preparation
• Failure analysis with suppliers and CFT
• Layout finalization across packaging & analysis and material selection based on CAE criteria
• Vehicle planning, front loading, execution of repowered engine & ATS, quality, and delivery
• Report preparation:
• Vehicle strip down, inspection (measurement, visual, dye penetrant) & rebuild reports on prototypes post vehicle testing
• Department functional review, weekly & monthly meeting updates

Core Competencies:

• Machine Integration and Optimization: Combines various sub-systems into a whole to achieve desired project outcomes.
• Machine Operation and Support: Evaluates and monitors system performance, addressing failures and evolving user needs.
• Product Installation Quality: Identifies and applies best practices to improve machine integration and minimize rework.
• Collaborates: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications tailored to different audiences.
• Product Problem Solving: Uses structured methodologies like 7-step problem solving and design review checklists to resolve product issues.
• Product Development Execution: Plans, schedules, and coordinates product development activities ensuring quality and meeting technical requirements.
• Product Verification and Validation: Develops validation plans, assesses legacy versus proposed solutions, and documents technical recommendations.
• System Requirements Engineering: Translates stakeholder needs into verifiable requirements and tracks system lifecycle changes.
• Technical Documentation: Documents technical findings and communicates them effectively to enable knowledge transfer and improved productivity.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 3 to 4 years of relevant experience in product engineering, preferably in automotive or engine-related applications.