Engineering & IT - Exception - Engineering & IT

Location: Must be located near or willing to work onsite in Newark, CA or Southfield, MI.

Hourly Rate: Newark: [Redacted] per hour Southfield: [Redacted] per hour.

Location Type: On-Site.

Workplace: California or Michigan. Business Travel: Less than 10%; some testing may occur in other regions of the U.S., Mexico, or globally.

Working Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST (Michigan) or 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM PST (California). Overtime may average up to 2 hours depending on workload.

Department/Team: Vehicle Engineering – Seating & Restraints. Work Type: Full-Time / Contract Opportunity with potential for future conversion.

Job Description: We are currently seeking a Sr. Engineer, Restraint System – Steering Wheels. This position requires an excellent understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals and prior experience in automotive engineering. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, ownership, technical curiosity, and a desire to work in a fast-paced product development environment. This is a unique opportunity to own steering wheel development from concept through production while partnering with design, engineering, safety, and supplier teams to deliver innovative solutions that enhance vehicle safety, quality, and user experience.

The Role: Perform the design release of steering wheels throughout the entire product lifecycle, including system specification development, sourcing, packaging, drawing release, design validation, manufacturing support, and post-SOP maintenance. Work closely with Design Studio, Attributes (NVH, UX), Digital, and Interior Engineering teams to develop optimal solutions balancing performance, mass, and cost. Manage Tier 1 suppliers for engineering development and program timing while serving as the primary supplier interface. Support restraint system integration activities and collaborate with CAE teams to optimize component design. Support crash testing and vehicle homologation activities, ensuring components are available and validated for testing needs. Drive engineering ownership through all phases of development, from concept through production launch and ongoing support.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline. 5+ years of automotive product development experience, preferably with steering wheels, restraint systems, interior systems, automotive mechatronics, or related components. Experience supporting at least one product or vehicle program through the complete development lifecycle from concept through production launch. Strong understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals, including: Mechanics of materials, Material properties and material selection, Kinematics, Failure analysis and root cause investigation, Application of engineering fundamentals to solve technical challenges. Knowledge of metal forming, stamping, and plastic injection molding processes, including associated design rules. Experience using GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis (ASME or ISO standards). Basic understanding of electronics and automotive networking. CAD proficiency with the ability to review packaging, check interfaces, and make engineering modifications as needed. Demonstrated ability to manage suppliers, drive technical solutions, and ensure timely delivery of engineering deliverables. Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Interview Process: Stage 1: Technical Interview. One-on-one interview with Andrey Kossev or delegate Said Sabag. Focus on engineering fundamentals, automotive experience, product ownership, supplier management, and technical problem-solving. Stage 2: Secondary Technical Screen (If Needed). Candidates screened by Said Sabag may complete an additional one-on-one interview with Andrey Kossev if further technical evaluation is needed. Stage 3: Technical Presentation & Panel Interviews. Candidates selected to proceed will prepare and deliver a: 20-minute technical presentation 10 minutes of Q&A. Presentation topic should: Be highly relevant to the role. Focus on a technical challenge and the candidate's personal contribution to solving it. Demonstrate problem-solving skills, engineering judgment, and technical depth. Exclude confidential or proprietary information. Candidates should avoid presentations that are primarily educational, theory-based, or focused on work where they were not a primary contributor. The emphasis should be on individual ownership and technical impact. Panel Interview Structure Following the presentation, candidates will participate in four 45-minute panel interviews: Panel 1: Eugenio Garcia, Alex FreePanel 2: Anthony Ressencourt, Konrad TaylorPanel 3: Said Sabag, Andrew EchitoPanel 4: Andrey Kossev, Victor Brasescu or Cooper Wang Candidate presentations should emphasize: Technical depth, Problem-solving methodology, Individual contribution, Results achieved, Lessons learned. The presentation and interview structure are based on the team's standard cross-functional interview process.