Dana is a global leader in the supply of highly engineered driveline, sealing, and thermal-management technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains. Serving two primary markets - passenger vehicle and commercial truck equipment - Dana provides the worlds original-equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket with local product and service support through a network of nearly 100 engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities.
Job Purpose
The Manufacturing Launch Engineer leads the development, optimization, and strategic improvement of manufacturing processes to ensure high efficiency, quality, and safety in an automotive production environment. This role serves as a technical expert and project leader, driving complex engineering initiatives, mentoring junior engineers, and collaborating across departments to support new product launches, cost reduction efforts, and operational excellence. The Manufacturing Launch Engineer ensures that all processes align with industry standards, customer requirements, and company goals.
This Senior Engineer is responsible for developing and deploying manufacturing technologies, standard processes, and capital equipment strategies that support Danas global Sealing business. This role serves as a technical leader for gasket stamping and heat shield manufacturing processes, driving operational excellence, innovation, cost competitiveness, and successful global program launches.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Design and implement complex manufacturing processes that improve throughput, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.
- Lead cross-functional projects using lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to achieve measurable performance improvements.
- Collaborate with engineering, quality, and production teams to integrate new products and technologies into existing manufacturing systems.
- Guide and mentor junior engineers and technicians, providing expertise in process design, troubleshooting, and problem-solving.
- Maintain process documentation and ensure all manufacturing activities comply with safety, environmental, and industry regulations.
- Lead design and development of new and innovative standard bill of processes (SBOP) required to produce automotive stamping products.
- Champion a culture of safety and ensure manufacturing solutions comply with all applicable Dana safety standards.
- Develop and deploy equipment and facility strategies to support advanced process development in our Manufacturing Centers globally.
- Leads the development of process technologies required to support long term product technology roadmaps in product and advanced engineering.
- Initiates benchmarking activities to ensure Dana is assessing state-of-the-art technology for all manufacturing methods & processes.
- Develops capital plans for business cases, strategies & action plans for deployment of manufacturing methods for all core and strategic manufacturing processes.
- Lead manufacturing representation during stage-gate reviews for customer programs and advanced development projects, ensuring Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles are incorporated early in product development.
- Participates in the advanced development of manufacturing processes for product deployment.
- Implements and creates smart, flexible manufacturing systems, and works with local engineering teams to deploy in manufacturing equipment purchases.
- Lead process to share and deploy best practices for manufacturing and assembly across global locations and applicable business units.
- Support facilities in development of long-range capital investment plan, as well as review and approve capital investment projects for global manufacturing facilities to ensure adherence to SBOP and SPOE.
- Develop/ maintain standard manufacturing / quality documentation (PFMEA, Control Plan, BOPY, MSA Plan, Functional Safety, etc.) for core processes.
- Support customer program launch activity as required.
- Provide onsite support at global facilities and supplier locations as needed.
- Perform other assigned duties incidental to the occupation.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or 4+ years of applicable experience
- 7+ years of experience
- Progressive die stamping, metal forming and coating process experience.
- Multi-layer heat shield manufacturing experience preferred.
- Must understand statistics, as it relates to manufacturing and assembly processes.
- Low and high-volume production experience.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, statistical analysis tools, and manufacturing engineering software. Experience with CAD systems, PFMEA development, process simulation, and data analytics tools preferred.
- Must be able to travel for extended periods both domestically and internationally.
- Willingness to work extended or irregular hours to ensure that key job responsibilities are accomplished.
Skills
- Deep knowledge of manufacturing systems, process design, automation, and industrial engineering principles, especially within automotive environments.
- Ability to lead root cause analysis, interpret complex data, and implement high-impact solutions.
- Proven ability to manage large-scale engineering projects.
- Work effectively with teams across engineering, production, quality, and leadership.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to present technical concepts to diverse audiences and influence decision-making.
- Strong project management skills.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Unsolicited Resumes from Third-Party Recruiters
Please note that as per Dana policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters were engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that Dana will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.