Senior Application Engineer

Summary/Purpose

Lead all Application engineering for customer programs assigned. Scope of role is from quotation phase to final mass production launch and ongoing support on product cost improvement. Open to applicants around the Plymouth Michigan, Vonore Tennessee, JATV, or JAMX locations.

Essential Duties and Accountabilities:

• Routine interaction with automotive manufacturers, including international and service entities. Collect and clarify customer requirements and inputs. Lead customer technical reviews.
• Be an active member of the project team. Analyze steering systems feasibility as well as prepare and present comprehensive customer proposals. Organize review with JTEKT Japan/Customer as necessary to assure the development of designs that meet or exceed expectations, safety, and timing at the lowest cost.
• Review will include but is not limited to: Design reviews, Engineering change release, steering system sizing, life analysis, stress analysis, interface checks, packaging study, dimensional checks, 3D models preparation, drawings, bill of materials, engineering specifications, test plans, test results analysis, final test reports.
• Closely work with JTEKT’s steering plants on launches and productivity improvements.  
• Maintain an open issues list to ensure open items are being tracked and closed to meet internal/customer milestones/deadlines.
• Support benchmarking activities and new product improvements (i.e. VA/VE)
• Participate and assist in, prototype/pilot product design, build, and testing (DV, PV, etc.) to ensure that the customer’s expectations are met and/or exceeded.
• Lead and participate in JTEKT’s internal APQP process (Quality Gate System). Lead and own each TC responsible gate. This includes but is not limited to building compliance charts per customer specifications, create and present design review material, create and or update DFMEA / DRBFM.
• Work with suppliers to review component design capability and support localization of components.
• Provide technical product support to JTEKT cross functional teams (Quality, Manufacturing, Purchasing, etc.)
• Possible late evening or early morning meetings to communicate with other global TC’s in Japan and Europe. 
• Possible evening and weekend work hours, as necessary, to complete essential job duties.
• Use design and calculation tools to analyze problems and offer solutions.
• Do dimensional stack-ups when necessary to solve a design and manufacturing issue.
• Develop relationships with domestic and global team members to help solve global / cross department blocking points

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position may have mentoring roles at times for co-op, intern or new hire

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ideally knowledge in automotive development and application of steering or chassis system (ex: SAE).
• Good analytical skills in order to analyze and predict steering system behavior.
• Strong project management skills.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills; particularly related to technical concepts.
• Effective interpersonal skills with internal and external customers.
• Ability to work within a team structure.
• Proficient in using computers with the Windows operating system including the Microsoft Office Group of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Understanding prints and GD&T
• Experience in product launches in a product and/or manufacturing role

Education and Experience:

• BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics.
• 6+ years of experience preferably in the automotive industry. 
• Knowledge or experience in development and application of steering system (ex: SAE), preferred.
• Previous cost reduction and design for cost experience, preferred.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is mostly performed in a normal office setting with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards, and with substantial time spent working on a computer. Requires sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate computer keyboard and other office equipment.
• The performance of this position may occasionally require exposure to manufacturing areas which require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses with side shields and mandatory hearing protection.
• Travel by automobile and plane required approximately 20-40% of time.