Design Release Engineer - Backlight and Lift gate system

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:

As a Design Release Engineer for Backlight and Liftgate Systems, you will lead the design, development, and release of rear vehicle closure systems—including liftgates, tailgates, backlight glazing, hinges, latches, struts, wiper systems, sealing interfaces, and associated structural components—across multiple vehicle programs. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams (design, CAE/FEA, manufacturing, suppliers, quality) to ensure backlight and liftgate system performance meets requirements for function, safety, sealing, NVH, durability, manufacturability, cost, and timing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the backlight and liftgate system design release process from concept through volume production launch.

• Develop component and subsystem specifications driven from vehicle-level performance, safety, structural, sealing, and durability requirements.

• Create and maintain DVP&R (Design Verification Plan & Report), DFMEA, ECO/ECR documentation, BOM/EBOM, release data, and change-control tracking.

• Conduct design reviews (structural, mechanical, sealing, NVH, durability) with CAE/FEA teams to validate liftgate and backlight system integrity.

• Interface with Tier 1 suppliers and internal manufacturing to ensure robust, cost-effective, and manufacturable designs that meet program timelines.

• Manage engineering change requests, ensure traceability through PLM/release systems, and update drawings and part data accordingly.

• Support prototype builds, pilot launches, and production launches of liftgate and backlight systems; troubleshoot and resolve launch issues working with validation, manufacturing, and quality teams.

• Lead root-cause analysis for field issues such as water leaks, latch/closure concerns, glass breakage, noise, or structural failures; implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Monitor schedules, budgets, cost targets, and program risks related to liftgate/backlight system development and report status to program leadership.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering (or related discipline).

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in automotive closures or body systems (e.g., liftgate, tailgate, doors, glazing, sealing, structural body components).

• Strong proficiency in mechanical CAD (e.g., NX, CATIA), CAD drawings, GD&T, sheet-metal processes (stamping, welding, hydroforming), glazing systems, and sealing design.

• Experience with DFMEA, DVP&R, ECR/ECO processes, BOM/EBOM, and PLM/release systems.

• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with design, CAE, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers.

• Strong problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Engineering or related field.

• Experience specifically with liftgate systems, backlight glazing, hinges, latches, strut mechanisms, and sealing systems.

• Knowledge of NVH, sealing, durability, wiper systems, and liftgate/glass manufacturing and launch processes.

• Familiarity with automotive program launch deliverables and supplier management.

ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

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.