Mission
About the Role
We are seeking a dynamic and technical Design Release Engineer (DRE) – Cooling Systems to lead the design, development, validation, and engineering release of advanced thermal and cooling components for electrified vehicles.
In this role, you will take end-to-end component ownership of critical thermal management hardware—including cooling module assemblies, transmission oil coolers, hose/tube assemblies, electric coolant heaters, control valves, electric pumps, and air induction systems. You will drive technical execution, lead supplier collaboration, and partner with cross-functional engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure optimal vehicle performance, thermal efficiency, and quality.
Key Responsibilities
End-to-End Component Ownership: Lead the design, packaging, release, and physical integration of electrified vehicle cooling components and thermal loops from concept phase through production launch.
Quality & Risk Documentation: Author, maintain, and execute comprehensive Design Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Design Verification Plans & Reports (DVP&R) to ensure rigorous risk management and physical testing validation.
Supplier & APQP Management: Direct Tier-1 cooling suppliers to align with technical specifications, tooling schedules, and program timing milestones using Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) principles. Lead root-cause analysis for component or supplier-related quality issues.
CAE Simulation & Design Optimization: Utilize Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis, fluid dynamics evaluations, and thermal simulations to optimize component efficiency, flow characteristics, and cooling performance.
Manufacturing & Integration Alignment: Collaborate closely with assembly plant operations, quality engineering, and physical validation teams to seamlessly integrate thermal hardware into the vehicle architecture.
Methodology Execution: Apply Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodologies to continuously elevate component reliability, quality, and manufacturing robustness.
Profil
Qualifications & Skill Requirements
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal/Fluid Engineering, or a related discipline (Advanced degree is a plus).
Experience: Minimum 3+ years of direct engineering experience in automotive product development, specifically focused on designing and releasing cooling system components for hybrid or electric vehicles (EV/HEV).
Cooling Systems Expertise: Strong technical understanding of heat exchangers, electric motor-driven fan modules, engine-driven fans/clutches, coolant loops, fluid dynamics, low-voltage/high-voltage electrical circuits, and electric motors.
CAD & PLM Tools: Hands-on proficiency in 3D CAD modeling using CATIA V5 and/or Siemens NX (Unigraphics), along with digital mock-up and product lifecycle management software (Vis Mockup, Teamcenter).
Thermal Analysis Knowledge: Familiarity with thermal simulation and fluid dynamics software tools (e.g., KULI, STAR-CCM+).
Quality Frameworks: Practical experience applying DFMEA, DVP&R, DFSS, and APQP frameworks within an automotive OEM or Tier-1 supplier environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Direct experience with Electric Vehicle (EV) heat pumps, battery thermal management loops, or electric drivetrain fluid cooling.
Proven track record of supporting prototype builds and assembly plant vehicle launches.