Design Release Engineer – Cockpit (Instrument Panel, Console & Doors)
ALTEN Technology USA
Salary undisclosed
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Description
We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.
As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.
When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
Job Description:
- A Client Design Release Engineer (Cockpit – Instrument Panel) is an engineering professional responsible for the design, development, and production release of the Instrument Panel and associated cockpit components (including Console and Doors), ensuring they meet performance, quality, safety, and cost requirements throughout the product lifecycle.
- This role involves collaborating with internal teams and external suppliers to manage design feasibility, technical specifications, validation testing, risk assessment (DFMEA), and production processes, ultimately ensuring a successful and robust interior design is integrated into the final vehicle.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design & Development: Drive the design and development of Instrument Panel components – with additional scope on Console and Doors – from concept through production release.
- Supplier Collaboration: Work closely with Instrument Panel, Console, and Doors suppliers on design feasibility, manufacturability, cost, and adherence to engineering standards.
- Technical Leadership: Provide technical guidance and support to resolve design issues, material selection challenges, and process problems.
- Validation & Testing: Develop and implement validation testing strategies, including component, vehicle, and durability testing, to ensure components meet performance metrics.
- Risk Management: Lead risk assessment activities, such as Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), to ensure design robustness and mitigate potential issues.
- Documentation: Generate and manage technical documentation, including system and sub-system technical specifications.
- Cross-Functional Integration: Partner with manufacturing, quality, testing, and vehicle integration teams to ensure seamless implementation and integration of interior designs.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is typically required.
- Experience: 3 to 5/6 years of relevant experience in design/development engineering, particularly in Interior Systems, with proven experience on Instrument Panel and exposure to Console and Doors.
- Technical Proficiency: Experience with computer-aided design (CAD) tools, design validation processes (DVP), and failure mode analysis (DFMEA). Proficiency in plastic injection molding and trim assembly processes, specific knowledge of Instrument Panel architecture (including airbag integration and cross-car beam) as well as Console and Door panel design, Knowledge of ergonomic design and HMI integration, CAD expertise for packaging and design, Understanding of safety and regulatory requirements, Experience with fit & finish and perceived quality optimization.
- Soft Skills: Strong communication, leadership, problem-solving, organizational, and detail-oriented skills are essential.
- Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment and interface professionally with cross-functional teams and management.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.
Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.
Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.
About this role
ALTEN Technology USA is seeking a Design Release Engineer to lead the development and production release of cockpit interior systems—specifically instrument panels, consoles, and doors—for automotive clients. You'll own the design lifecycle from concept through manufacturing, working across internal teams and external suppliers to ensure components meet performance, safety, quality, and cost targets. This role demands hands-on technical leadership: you'll validate designs through testing protocols, conduct failure mode analysis, resolve manufacturability challenges, and integrate ergonomic and safety requirements into final vehicle interiors.
The position requires a mechanical engineering degree and three to six years of design or development experience in interior systems, with direct exposure to instrument panel architecture, plastic injection molding, and trim assembly. You should be proficient in CAD tools, design validation processes, and DFMEA methodology, with working knowledge of airbag integration, cross-car beam design, and regulatory compliance. Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills are essential—you'll regularly interface with manufacturing, quality, testing, and vehicle integration teams to ensure seamless implementation.
Based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, this is a full-time, in-office role at a 3,000-person North American engineering firm backed by a global network of 57,000+ engineers. ALTEN partners with leading companies across aerospace, medical devices, automotive, and other industries on complex product development challenges.
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