Lighting Engineer

We are seeking a Lighting Systems Engineer to lead the development of interior and exterior lighting standards for next-generation vehicles. This role drives RFQ creation, supplier selection, and cross-functional product development for unique accessories. Responsibilities include defining subsystem requirements, guiding CAD and analytical design work, managing DVP&R and DFMEA, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering robust designs that meet cost, timing, weight, and quality targets. The engineer will oversee validation activities, prototype development, issue resolution, and design reviews while staying ahead of industry trends and applying best practices in manufacturability, serviceability, and robust engineering.

Experience: 5+yrs

Location:

• Novi, Michigan, USA

Roles & Responsibilities

1. Responsible for developing Lighting Standards (interior and exterior) to ensure a robust product. Ensuring appropriate vehicle connection points for electrical are present in the base truck and SUV vehicle architectures.
2. Participate in and/or lead development of RFQ packages, tech reviews, and supplier selection.

3. Lead Product Development Team(s) to collaborate cross functionally across internal functions, and suppliers to set design direction, and lead development, packaging, and execution of unique accessories to bring them to market.

4. Contribute to the development of product specification books, test plans, DVP&R, DFMEA, Control Plans, and Quality Assurance requirements.

5. Direct design and analysis groups to create 3D math models (CAD), complete 3D packaging, and validate with analytical models (Optics, FEA, CFD, etc.) to fulfill functional and design requirements, and ensure compatibility, using Design Rules, Regulatory items, and attributes, such as NVH, water management, craftsmanship, etc.

6. Be a key member and decision maker within the technical leadership team and liaison with all functional teams.

7. Develop and maintain all component and subsystem requirements and specifications, including device transmittals and interface control documents (ICD).

8. Ensure all program targets, including Piece Cost, ED&D Budget, Timing, Weight, and Quality, are met.

9. Track open issues and collaborate with other functional groups as needed to drive issues to resolution efficiently and effectively.

10. Ensure on-time validation and adequate testing coverage for all requirements (component, system, and vehicle) is achieved and traceability is maintained for assigned systems and components.

11. Conduct product evaluation and design reviews during prototype and pre-production development phases.

12. Develop prototypes for virtual and physical verification testing, including field testing.

13. Proactively stay attuned to new advancements, market trends, consumer experience and propose system improvements accordingly.

14. Follow automotive industry design best practices, such as: Robust Engineering, Design for Manufacturability, and Design for Serviceability. 


Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, or a relevant field
• 5+ years’ experience in lighting experience for automotive
• Strong technical skills and expertise in lighting development
• High level of oral and written communication skills.

• Excellent organization and prioritization skills.

• An ability to build strong working relationships with people across all organizational levels/functional teams

• Strong sense of teamwork, able to act as mentor to less experienced engineers.

• Comfort with the ambiguity and ability to thrive in fast-paced environments