Applications Engineer General

Location: Dearborn, MI - Fully Onsite
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Duration: 12 Months (365 Days)
Pay Rate: $42.00 - $47.00/hour
Travel: Occasional travel to suppliers, test facilities, and manufacturing plants as needed

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Overview

Our Automotive OEM client is seeking an Applications Engineer / Product Engineer to support the design, development, validation, release, and launch of vehicle Handles, Locks, and Mechanisms (HLM) systems. This role will focus on closure systems for doors, hoods, frunks, tailgates, liftgates, and decklids, including latches, locks, hinges, strikers, door checks, handles, and powered or manual mechanisms.

The engineer will work closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, and manufacturable products from concept through production launch.

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Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, validation, and release of Handles, Locks, and Mechanisms (HLM) systems.
• Manage supplier activities to ensure cost, quality, timing, weight, and performance targets are achieved.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, and supplier teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including:
  • DFMEA
  • SCCAF
  • Boundary Diagrams
  • P-Diagrams
  • DVP&R
  • Engineering Statements of Work (ESOW)
• Conduct design reviews and support Failure Mode Avoidance activities.
• Perform and review technical analyses, including:
  • GD&T studies
  • Dimensional stack-ups
  • Packaging assessments
  • CAE results
  • Dynamic calculations and simulations
• Release and maintain components, BOMs, and engineering changes within WERS and FEDEBOM.
• Review and approve CAD models and drawings in Teamcenter.
• Support sourcing activities, supplier reviews, cost analysis, and tooling discussions.
• Identify testing and validation requirements and track completion.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities using 8D, 5 Why, and data-driven approaches.
• Support vehicle launches and production implementation activities at supplier and assembly plants.
• Ensure compliance with design standards, engineering requirements, regulatory requirements, and manufacturing needs.

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Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 2+ years of engineering experience in automotive or related mechanism-based product development.
• Experience with one or more of the following:
  • Automotive latching systems
  • Vehicle closure systems
  • Seat structures and mechanisms
  • Heavy equipment mechanisms
  • Agricultural equipment mechanisms
  • Oil & gas machinery mechanisms
  • Aerospace landing gear mechanisms
• Experience with Design & Release Engineering processes.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as:
  • CATIA
  • 3DX
  • Teamcenter
• Knowledge of:
  • GD&T
  • Tolerance stack-up analysis
  • Product validation
  • Engineering change management
  • BOM management and releases
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

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Required Technical Skills

• Design Release Engineering
• Product Engineering
• Product Development
• Mechanical Engineering
• CATIA
• Teamcenter
• WERS
• VisMockup
• GD&T
• Change Management
• Production Release
• Root Cause Analysis
• 8D / 5 Why Problem Solving
• Six Sigma Methodology
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Supplier Management
• Engineering Documentation
• CAD Design
• PPAP Support
• Technical Analysis

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Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Engineering.
• Experience designing and releasing:
  • Latching mechanisms
  • Closure systems
  • Seat mechanisms
  • Seat structures
• Knowledge of:
  • DFMEA, PFMEA, SCCAF
  • Phased PPAP
  • Statistical analysis
  • Quality systems and standards
  • Systems engineering
  • Mechatronics
• Experience with:
  • AutoCAD
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • CAE tools
  • Project Management
  • Product Management
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification preferred.

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