ENGINEERING & DEVELOPMENT DESIGN MANAGER

• Job Title: ENGINEERING & DEVELOPMENT DESIGN MANAGER 
• Contract Type: Full-time
• Location: Troy,MI

Your Mission

As a key technical leader, you will drive complex automotive lighting programs from acquisition through development and industrialization. You will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, interface directly with customers, and ensure delivery on time, on cost, and on specification, in full compliance with OPmobility engineering standards.

Key Responsibilities

Technical & Project Leadership

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary PD project teams (Technical Project Leads, system, mechanics, optics, and electronics).
• Ensure fulfillment of customer, company, and regulatory requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Drive engineering activities to meet project targets in timing, cost, quality, and performance.
• Ensure full compliance with VPDS and OPmobility engineering processes.

Team & Resource Management

• Provide direct leadership to Technical Project Leads and Resident Engineers.
• Plan and manage engineering capacity, priorities, and workload allocation.
• Support competency managers in performance reviews, goal setting, and talent development.
• Foster leadership by influence, collaboration, and accountability.

Project & Financial Ownership

• Own and manage project engineering budgets, spending control, and approvals.
• Define engineering priorities and lead PD Program Reviews.
• Approve:
  • Project engineering expenditures
  • Technical content of engineering changes (Enterproj)
  • Design releases to customers
  • Design‑to‑cost initiatives and implementation
  • PD timing, customer prototypes, and functional TDRs

Customer & Business Interface

• Define and execute the technical communication strategy with OEM customers.
• Lead technical content for new business quotations from an engineering standpoint.
• Present and defend technical solutions, trade‑offs, and decisions to customers and internal stakeholders.

Quality, Standards & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure capture and deployment of Lessons Learned (LL) and consulting feedback into projects.
• Support audits within responsible engineering areas.
• Drive resolution of major product, project, or process issues.
• Promote standardization, robust design methodologies, DGL, and best engineering practices.
• Support patent clearance activities and organize design deep‑dive reviews when required.

Operational & Safety Compliance

• Contribute to group and center budgeting activities.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, Fire Protection, internal regulations, and applicable legislation.

Profile

Education

• University degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Optics, or related field).

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of automotive engineering experience, specifically in lighting technologies.
• Proven experience leading technical or project teams in a matrix organization.
• Strong customer interface experience with OEMs.

Technical Skills

• Solid knowledge of automotive engineering tools and methodologies:
  • CAD, GD&T, DFMEA, GBC, TC, etc.
• Proficient with MS Office and Windows environments.
• Strong understanding of engineering change and validation processes.

Languages

• Upper‑intermediate English required.
• German, French, Spanish, or Italian are a strong advantage.

Key Competencies

• Leadership by influence and natural authority
• Customer orientation and business mindset
• Strong organizational and priority‑setting skills
• Decision‑making in complex environments
• Clear, open, and impactful communication
• Ability to delegate, motivate, and develop teams
• Professional presentation skills
• Experience in employee evaluation and performance leadership

Why Join OPmobility?

You’ll be part of a global leader in lighting and exterior systems, working at the intersection of innovation, engineering excellence, and customer impact. OPmobility offers an international environment where collaboration, continuous improvement, and technological curiosity are truly valued.

At OPmobility, people matter. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities — because the future of mobility is built by bold ideas and diverse perspectives.