Cockpit Design & Release Engineer

About the Company
Executive SummaryWe are seeking a Senior Design Release Engineer (DRE) to take complete technical and execution ownership of critical automotive interior subsystems. This role requires an authoritative engineering background capable of managing complex assembly integrations, driving Tier-1 supplier accountability, and ensuring rigorous compliance with product life-cycle standards from initial architecture through production launch.This is a remote position requiring periodic on-site technical governance, launch execution, and root-cause resolution at engineering offices, supplier facilities, and assembly plants located in Mexico City, Toluca, and Saltillo.
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Design Release Engineer (DRE) to take complete technical and execution ownership of critical automotive interior subsystems. This role requires an authoritative engineering background capable of managing complex assembly integrations, driving Tier-1 supplier accountability, and ensuring rigorous compliance with product life-cycle standards from initial architecture through production launch. This is a remote position requiring periodic on-site technical governance, launch execution, and root-cause resolution at engineering offices, supplier facilities, and assembly plants located in Mexico City, Toluca, and Saltillo.
Responsibilities
To be considered for this role, candidate credentials and technical experience must reflect direct responsibility for design, packaging, release, and quality validation across all four of the following subsystems:
Cockpit Systems: Complete instrument panel (IP) assemblies, structural cross-car beams (CCB), center console modules, glovebox mechanisms, driver knee bolsters, and substrate integration for head-up displays (HUD) and passenger airbags (PAB).
Seating & Soft Trim: Complete seat architectures with primary emphasis on soft trim craftsmanship, leather/fabric cover pattern design, foam pad density and sculpting, heating/ventilation/massage pad integration, side-airbag deployment seam validation, and manual/power frame mechanisms.
Interior Lighting: Direct and indirect ambient lighting systems, light guide architectures, LED module packaging, light pipe optical distribution, driver-interface switch backlighting, overhead consoles, and electronic harness routing.
Air Distribution & Outlets: HVAC ductwork architectures, register louvers, airflow distribution kinetics, shut-off vane mechanics, NVH sealing interfaces, pressure drop optimization, and defrost/demist flow validation.
Deep Technical & Functional Responsibilities
1. Systems Engineering & Packaging Architecture
Establish packaging boundaries, hardpoints, interface clearance zones, and attachment strategies across surrounding body-in-white (BIW), electrical, and climate control interfaces.
Execute tolerance stack-up evaluations (GD&T) applying ASME Y14.5 standards, datum schemes, and statistical analysis to control flush-and-gap alignment and prevent buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR) phenomena.
Conduct finite element analysis (FEA) reviews for structural integrity, occupant load cases, head impact criteria (FMVSS 201/208), and interior component deployment safety.
2. Lifecycle Management & Change Governance
Author, structure, and maintain complete multi-option Engineering Bills of Materials (EBOM) through all pre-production and production phases.
Direct the generation and approval of complex Engineering Change Notices (ECN), running change requests, and deviation authorizations.
Ensure data alignment across CAD master models, drafting standards, weight management trackers, and manufacturing tooling status logs.
3. Supplier Technical Governance & Quality Assurance
Lead technical design reviews and approve supplier Design Validation Plans & Reports (DVP&R), Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA).
Oversee injection mold tool designs, grain approval processes, foam tooling cut-outs, and sew-pattern validation with Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers.
Enforce production part approval processes (PPAP), supplier capability assessments, and initial sample inspection reports (ISIR).
4. Plant Integration, Trial Builds, & Launch Execution
Provide hands-on engineering representation during pre-series builds, pilot runs, and ramp-up phases across assembly facilities in Toluca and Saltillo, as well as engineering reviews in Mexico City.
Drive disciplined root-cause analysis (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone) for assembly line build issues, tooling non-conformances, and warranty feedback.
Validate functional ergonomics, airflow delivery, lighting homogeneity, and trim fitment under extreme thermal cycle testing.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Materials Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or equivalent ABET-accredited degree.
Experience: Minimum 5+ years of verified automotive OEM or Tier-1 supplier experience as a Design Release Engineer within interior commodities.
Manufacturing Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of thermoplastic injection molding, slush molding, thermoforming, foam pouring, cut-and-sew operations, optical lighting guides, and blow-molded ducting.
Travel Requirements: Ability to travel up to 35% to assembly operations, tooling facilities, and corporate offices in Mexico City, Toluca, and Saltillo.

Work arrangement
Yes