Applications Engineer General

Transforming the Future with Convergence of Simulation and Data

Applications Engineer General

Job Summary:

Our client in Dearborn, MI is looking for an Applications Engineer General. This is a contract position.

What You Will Do:

As a Global Shift Systems Applications Engineer, you'll lead the design, development, validation, and release of electronic user interface components—specifically gear shift systems—across global vehicle programs. You'll be the key bridge between core engineering and vehicle teams, ensuring flawless execution from concept to launch.

Program Management – ability to lead in-depth technical conversations and, using data and good communication skills, bring groups together to align on a plan or path. Ability to proactively request information from key stakeholders to deliver on time to a project timeline. Ability to put together action plans consisting of multiple workstreams and then track these workstreams to completion while reporting out status to upper management. Good planning and communication skills are a must.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Own the design and release of electronic shift system commodities. 
• Collaborate across the organization with external suppliers, design studio, MHI / Ergo, manufacturing VO, feature owners, electrical architecture teams, and within the shift systems team to deliver gear shifter commodities to programs on time and on targets with best-in-class quality. 
• Manage commodities pre-and-post launch to support quality and ongoing manufacturing feasibility. 
• Create clear, concise open issues lists to determine priorities for workplan development. 
• Utilize program management systems such as FEDE, JIRA, AIMS, and WERS. 
• Lead milestone deliverables and support all program builds with hardware, software, change notices, and alerts. 
• Interpret hardware/software specifications and manage DFMEAs, DVP&Rs, SCCAF's and Control Plans. 
• Drive issue resolution and support Total Value Management (TVM) initiatives. 
• Analyze performance data to improve reliability, durability, and cost efficiency. 
• Participate in sourcing processes and supplier negotiations involving all aspects of commodity cost.

Basics:

• Teamcenter, Product Development, Product Engineering, Analytical skills, CAE, Technical Analysis, CAD, Problem Solving, Microsoft Office, WERS, Program Management. 
• Teamcenter – working knowledge of the Siemens Teamcenter software suite preferred, but 1 year or more experience with CAD/production/change management software is OK. 
• Product Development – 3 years minimum product development experience required (software and/or hardware).
• Product Engineering, Analytical skills – 3 years minimum problem-solving experience in a product development environment required (software and/or hardware).
• CAE – working knowledge of CAE concepts required. 
• Technical Analysis – ability to interpret and understand technical concepts like loads, forces, and stresses to solve engineering problems.
• CAD – working knowledge of 2D and 3D CAD software. Ability to interpret technical 2D and 3D drawings. 
• Problem Solving – experience working with problem solving methodologies like 8D, six sigma, FMA, 5 Why, etc. 
• Microsoft Office – thorough knowledge and ability to use Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
•  WERS – working knowledge of ERP (enterprise resource planning software / production release software). 
• Bachelor's degree in engineering. 
• 3+ years of automotive engineering experience from early development through launch. 
• General knowledge of vehicle systems and electronic/mechanical interfaces. 
• Electrical and mechanical hardware engineering experience. 
• Exceptionally strong communication, organization, and program management skills. 
• Excellent program management and cross-functional collaboration skills. 
• Familiarity with engineering tools and disciplines (DFMEA, DVP&R, P-diagram). 
• Fluent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote). 
• Ability to interpret 2D and 3D CAD drawings and schematics. 
• Experience with supplier management and negotiations. 
• Requirements engineering experience – hardware and software specification interpretation. 
• General understanding of material properties and mass production processes. 
• Six Sigma mindset. 
• Problem solving skills: 8D's, 5-Why's.
• Onsite position. 4 days in office Monday - Thursday.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in engineering. 
• Experience with automotive PPAP process. 
• Knowledge of injection-molded components. 
• Knowledge of manufacturing quality documentation (PFMEA, control plans, line flow charts). 
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification. 
• Familiarity with systems like TeamCenter, CATIA, and Global Integrator.
• Component testing experience (bench/dyno/vehicle). 
• Automotive software implementation experience. 
• Working knowledge of commercially available AI tools and resources. 
• Working knowledge of Atlassian-JIRA.Jira, Six Sigma Methodology, CATIA Speaks Spanish.
• Jira – working level knowledge acceptable, but proven experience (1+ yrs) working within JIRA/Atlassian project environments is ideal. 
• Six Sigma Methodology – ability to utilize six sigma problem solving methodology to solve technical problems. 
• CATIA – 1+ years experience working with 2D and 3D CAD SW (CATIA, Solidworks, Solid Edge, etc.).

How You Will Be Successful:

• Envision the Future
• Communicate Honestly and Broadly
• Seek Technology and Business "First"
• Embrace Diversity and Take Risks

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Comprehensive Benefit Package
• 401(k) with matching contributions
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Discounts
• Free training on all Altair products

Why Work with Us:

Altair is a global technology company providing software and cloud solutions in the areas of data analytics, product development, and high-performance computing (HPC). Altair enables organizations in nearly every industry to compete more effectively in a connected world, while creating a more sustainable future. With more than 3,000 engineers, scientists, and creative thinkers in 25 countries, we help solve our customer's toughest challenges and deliver unparalleled service, helping the innovators innovate, drive better decisions, and turn today's problems into tomorrow's opportunities.

Our vision is to transform customer decision making with data analytics, simulation, and high-performance computing.

For more than 30 years, we have been helping our customers integrate electronics and controls with mechanical design to expand product value, develop AI, simulation and data-driven digital twins to drive better decisions, and deliver advanced HPC and cloud solutions to support unlimited idea exploration. To learn more, please visit

Ready to go? #ONLYFORWARD   

At our core we are explorers; adventures; pioneers. We are the brains behind some of the world's most revolutionary innovations and are not only comfortable in new and unchartered waters, we dive headfirst. We are the original trailblazers that make the impossible possible, discovering new solutions to our customer's toughest challenges.

Altair is an equal opportunity employer. Our backgrounds are diverse, and every member of our global team is critical to our success. Altair's history demonstrations a belief that empowering each individual authentic voice reinforces a culture that thrives because of the uniqueness among our team.