The Engine Front-End Accessory Drive Systems (FEAD) Design & Release Engineer is responsible for leading the design and development of engine front-end accessory drive systems, which include belts, pulleys, tensioners, and idlers, ensuring these components align with engine and vehicle requirements. This role involves developing and refining FEAD system concepts to meet packaging and performance needs, supporting CAD modeling and CAE validation, and utilizing tools such as Variable Simulation Assembly (VSA) and SIMDRIVE to ensure compliance with all application requirements. The DRE collaborates closely with other engineering teams—including engine, vehicle, systems, and packaging—to integrate FEAD systems into the overall vehicle architecture. Working alongside the FEAD technical expert lead, the DRE ensures that engineering design best practices are maintained throughout the development process. Responsibilities also include developing and maintaining specific documents, such as SOR’s, part inspection standards, DVP&R’s, DFMEA’s and technical specification lists.
The DRE manages design release activities from early concept through production, ensuring timely completion of key milestones (B-Sample, C-Sample, X0, X1, X2, and X3), owns the Bill of Materials (BOM) and Engineering Change Notices (CNs) for FEAD components, ensuring all parts meet quality, cost, and timing requirements, drives the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) to ensure compliance with regulatory and customer specifications and handles the cross-functional coordination with manufacturing, suppliers, and quality teams is essential to ensure successful design, validation, release, handling, assembly, and implementation of designs.
The DRE provides technical leadership and support during development and production, resolving design issues, material selection challenges, and process-related problems, which includes leading DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and other risk assessment activities to ensure robust designs and mitigate potential issues, as well as participating in the development of testing strategies for both bench and vehicle-level system testing.
The DRE works closely with suppliers to ensure design feasibility, cost competitiveness, and manufacturability, will work with the technical expert lead, engine, and vehicle teams to ensure all validation testing is completed. The DRE also works with these teams to ensure proper fitment, safety, and integration of FEAD components into vehicle platforms, manages documentation and reporting including developing and maintaining engineering documentation (such as design specifications, drawings, test plans, and validation reports), ensuring all technical documentation is current and aligned with program timelines and PPAP requirements and reports out on project status, timelines, and risk assessments to senior management and stakeholders.
Our Benefits - Designed with You in Mind
Comprehensive Health & Well-being Coverage
From your very first day, you’ll have access to medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage - ensuring you and your family stay healthy and protected.
Generous Paid Time Off
We believe in work-life balance. That’s why we offer : 17+ paid holidays, including shut-down from December 24 th through New Years Day every year. Vacation, float & wellbeing days, sick time and fully paid parental leave when your family needs you most.
Competitive Retirement Savings Plans
We help you plan for the future with :
Income Protection & Insurance Options
Benefit from included and optional disability, life, and other insurance programs - because your peace of mind matters.
Company Vehicle Lease Program
Eligible employees and their immediate families can enjoy company vehicle lease options with included insurance, maintenance, and unlimited mileage. Plus, take advantage of exclusive discounts on Stellantis products.
Family Building Benefit
We proudly support all paths to parenthood- including fertility and infertility treatments, adoption services, and gestational surrogacy.
Support for Your Growth and Giving Back
We believe in investing in your future and your passions :
And so much more!
When you join us, you’re not just building a career - you’re joining a company that supports you, inside and outside of work.
Release Engineer • Auburn Hills, MI, United States