STEM OPT Release Engineer Jobs

INTRODUCTION

The Oil Pan and Cover Design & Release Engineer (DRE) is responsible for leading the design and development of engine oil pans, front covers, and valve covers, ensuring these components align with engine and vehicle requirements. This role involves developing and refining design concepts to meet packaging and performance needs, supporting CAD modeling and CAE validation, and utilizing tools such as Variable Simulation Assembly (VSA) to ensure compliance with all application requirements. The DRE collaborates closely with other engineering teams—including engine, vehicle, systems, and packaging. Working alongside the technical expert lead for their components, the DRE ensures that engineering design best practices are maintained throughout the development process. Responsibilities also include developing and maintaining specific documents, such as SOR's, part inspection standards, DVP&R's, DFMEA's and technical specification lists.

The DRE manages design release activities from early concept through production, ensuring timely completion of key milestones (B-Sample, C-Sample, X0, X1, X2, and X3). The DRE owns the Bill of Materials (BOM) and Engineering Change Notices (CNs) for their components, ensuring all parts meet quality, cost, and timing requirements. The DRE drives the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) to ensure compliance with regulatory and customer specifications. Cross-functional coordination with manufacturing, suppliers, and quality teams is essential to ensure successful design, validation, release, handling, assembly, and implementation of designs.

The DRE provides technical leadership and support during development and production, resolving design issues, material selection challenges, and process-related problems. This includes leading DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and other risk assessment activities to ensure robust designs and mitigate potential issues, as well as participating in the development of testing strategies for both bench and vehicle-level system testing.

The DRE works closely with suppliers to ensure design feasibility, cost competitiveness, and manufacturability. They will work with the technical expert lead, engine, and vehicle teams to ensure all validation testing is completed. The DRE also works with these teams to ensure proper fitment, safety, and integration of their components into engine as well as vehicle platforms. Documentation and reporting are critical aspects of the role, including developing and maintaining engineering documentation (such as design specifications, drawings, test plans, and validation reports), ensuring all technical documentation is current and aligned with program timelines and PPAP requirements. Reports out on project status, timelines, and risk assessments to senior management and stakeholders is required.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Strong understanding of component-level design and manufacturing processes, including formation, assembly, and integration.
• Familiarity with product development documentation such as DFMEA and DVP&R.
• Knowledge of material properties, rigidity, compliance, strength, GD&T, CAE analysis, and VSA.
• Ability to define system and component-level requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills (oral and written).
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Proven understanding of Design Release Engineer responsibilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 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.