Exterior Lighting Design Release Engineer (DRE)

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Exterior Lighting Design Release Engineer (DRE) to lead the development, validation, and release of exterior lighting systems including headlamps, tail lamps, fog lamps, and signaling devices. The DRE will serve as the primary technical point of contact responsible for delivering lighting components that meet performance, cost, quality, and timing targets throughout the vehicle development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end engineering delivery of exterior lighting systems from concept through production launch.
• Own design release of components in PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill).
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams including Styling, Packaging, Electrical, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Suppliers.
• Ensure designs meet regulatory requirements (FMVSS, ECE, SAE, etc.).
• Manage supplier development activities, including design reviews, technical discussions, and issue resolution.
• Drive DFMEA, DVP&R, and engineering validation activities.
• Support prototyping builds, testing, and launch readiness.
• Identify and resolve engineering issues (fit, function, durability, optics, thermal, sealing, etc.).
• Track and meet program milestones, cost targets, and quality metrics.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for field or launch issues.
• Lead change management and engineering change requests (ECR/ECO).

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in automotive exterior lighting or related systems.
• Experience with design release engineering processes.
• Working knowledge of lighting components (LEDs, optics, housings, electronics, wiring interfaces).
• Familiarity with CAD tools (CATIA, NX, or similar).
• Strong understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups.
• Experience with automotive validation processes (DV/PV testing).
• Working Knowledge of regulatory lighting standards (FMVSS 108, ECE, etc.).
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

The expected base salary range for this position is $40 – $42 per hour, depending on experience, skills, and internal equity.

The Company offers a total rewards package in accordance with all applicable federal, provincial, and local laws and requirements. Benefit eligibility and offerings vary based on role, employment status, and work location.

For contractor positions, benefits are limited to those entitlements and protections required by applicable law, which may include (as applicable) vacation pay, public holidays, leaves of absence, and other legally mandated benefits or payments.

We may use AI-enabled and/or automated tools to support parts of our recruitment process, including application screening, interview scheduling, and candidate communications. These tools are used to enhance consistency and efficiency. All hiring decisions involve human review and are not based solely on automated processing.