Design Release Engineer - Wire Harnesses

Yazaki is a global leader in the research, development and delivery of vehicle power and data solutions.

Yazaki works with virtually every major auto manufacturer in the world, and we've strived to maintain strategic and stable growth throughout our 83-year history. Today, we're on the lookout for energetic people with the potential to perform, as well as the ability to strengthen - and thrive in - the positive work environment we pride ourselves on.

Location: Canton, MI, USA  

Who we are:

Yazaki Innovations, Inc (YII) is a new Yazaki Corporation company, with the mission of acting as technology hub and "Dejima" for Global Yazaki. YII will accomplish this by leveraging external and internal technology developments in all areas of its core competencies and grow the business with existing and new customer partnerships while maintaining Yazaki values. Our core competencies include the Automotive, Mobility, and Energy systems business spaces. YII is an independent corporation that is nimble and flexible enough to service the fast-paced customers and markets that YII was formed to serve.

What we are looking for:

Yazaki Innovations, Inc. (YII) is looking for a Design Release Engineer to join our Engineering team in Canton, MI. The candidate will work off-site/on-site at the customer facilities to route, package the wire harness, and define retention and covering components.  Lead interface to customer for customer change control, technical, issues, and program engineering deliverables.  Support continuous improvement of the design.  Candidate also engineers products / systems / EDS WH routing using established development processes with our automotive/non-automotive customers and internal affiliates and external suppliers.  Create, validate and verify concepts and designs/data through sound engineering knowledge while following approved company processes and practices. Works independently as well as with a team and strives to learn from their experiences and advance in their level of knowledge. The candidate is proficient in interpreting customer wire harness drawing data and can analyze EDS data to collaborate with internal departments, ensuring accurate completion of the quotation process and providing support for prototype builds when needed.  This position can also be located in Plano or El Paso, TX.  

 What you will be doing:

• Packaging Engineers may be responsible for packaging and/or analyzing the wire harness routing or wire harness related products into CAD.  The CAD system is either an internal Yazaki CAD system.  Circuitry design may also be included with the design related activity.  Packaging or circuitry CAD work may involve creating 3D data, cutting sections, converting 3D data to 2D drawings, verifying design by reviewing check sheets and reviewing customer’s workability and Yazaki manufacturing’s workability.  Design reviews to validate design and workability issues may be conducted at customer and Yazaki facilities.
• The W/H Circuitry Engineer may be responsible for designing vehicle system circuitry or correcting customer-provided EDS data. This may include selecting circuit protection, wire types and sizes, connector types, and other circuit-related components. Additionally, the engineer will log and resolve issues with customer EDS data to ensure a feasible design and accurate BOM
• Design reviews to validate functionality and address workability issues may be held at both customer and Yazaki facilities
• Candidates may work on specific phases or aspects of projects such as technical studies, product design and technical plans as well as preparing drawings, layouts and customer proposals. 
• The candidate may also be responsible for assessing competitive products and their performance, conducting prototype testing, troubleshooting, recording and analyzing test data, staying informed on emerging technologies, and addressing rework requests for prototype builds as needed
• Candidate workplace may be at the customer’s facilities or a Yazaki facility for the region.
• Perform root cause analysis to diagnose and troubleshoot issues during the prototype phase, with potential support for production as required.
• Collaborate effectively with internal and external engineering teams throughout product development to ensure timely completion of RFQs.
• Skilled in building and marking up prototype wire harnesses.
• Proficient in using a multimeter for electrical testing of components and wire harnesses, and capable of utilizing additional electrical test equipment for informal prototype testing when needed.
• Follow department processes and work instructions and make recommendations for improvements.
• Represent Yazaki Engineering at Customer Engineering and Manufacturing sites as well as other Yazaki organizations / affiliates.
• Propose alternatives or refine designs to reduce cost/weight/warranty or improve quality or manufacturability.
• Assist in the creation and maintenance of program-specific design documentation (e.g., DFMEA, DVP&R, DFM, design review materials, etc.) as needed
• Review and analyze customer-provided information, drawings, and documents for completeness and accuracy, ensuring a high-quality BOM for accurate quoting and prototype build data.
• Perform rule checks on designs and drawings per departments / company work processes and instructions
• Verify and validate designs by inspection, testing and component /vehicle builds-Interpret & communicate results to appropriate organizations
• Maintain records of design actions / results per established project processes
• Work independently or solicit assistance from more experienced colleges 
• Resolve design issues and process appropriate changes documents
• Conduct Benchmarking and warranty analysis
• Follows and reports progress toward the development schedule

Routing, Packaging, Retention and Protection

• Direct creation of 2D wire harness drawings based on customer inputs (3D data, Engineering Changes, red-marks, etc.)·
• Package components and wire harnesses into vehicles in the 3D environment, including splice locations at the harness level (where a splice is placed on the wire harness)
• · Define customer-directed components
• · Define retention and covering components (convolute, tape, etc.) to be used on the wire harness
• · Initiate NCRs (New Component Requests) and interface with Advanced Purchasing, Advanced Supplier Development, Provisional Component Engineering, and ComBU for the development and approval of new-tooled components
• Support customer in component selection
• Support Design reviews and DFM analysis.
• Support analysis of circuitry and sub-systems.

Customer Change Control

• Maintain customer part release system per statement of work
• Review customer engineering change documents for completeness and accuracy
• Communicate to customer the content and status of the design, design changes, and build requirements
• Provide customer responses for cost studies
• Update engineering issues in change management systems
• Release non-Yazaki parts (screws, standard parts, etc.) into the customer system per statement of work

Customer and Internal Design Requirements

• Ensure design meets customer and internal requirements
• Create and submit in BEAMS print markups for product designs that meet customer specifications and requirements, including DFA (Design for Vehicle Assembly)
• Collaborate with DVP&R (Design Verification Process & Report) team to validate customer requirements
• Develop and maintain program-specific, harness DFMEAs (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)
• Evaluate information provided by the customer as applied to the product/project for completeness and accuracy
• Initiate customer plant trials, document results of the trial, and obtain customer sign-off
• Support assembly plant instructions for customer per statement of work

Engineering Customer Interface

• Lead customer interface for technical issues and program engineering deliverables
• Represent YNA Engineering at customer change control meetings and design reviews (e.g., technical design review, digital buck review, system compatibility review, etc.)
• Represent YNA manufacturing to customer to support YNA DFM (Design for Manufacturing) guidelines
• Support vehicle builds and launches at customer pilot and assembly plants

Continuous Improvement of the Design

• Generate cost savings ideas and attend VAVE (Value Analysis Value Engineering) workshops
• Trace technical issues and problems to root cause
• Support customer initiatives such as cost and warranty reduction activities, etc

Additional Responsibilities for Sr. Engineer and Principal Engineer

• Train and mentor less experienced Engineers as required
• Act as substitute for Supervisor as required
• Create and revise work instructions, processes and procedures
• Create, and modify specifications and design guidelines

Additional Responsibilities for Principal Engineer

• Determine best practices and design processes
• Develop strategies to facilitate engineering objectives, (process improvement, cost reduction, DFM, continuous improvement, etc.

What you will bring to the table: 

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering
• Minimum of two years of automotive engineering experience preferred 
• Software experience to include 2D or 3D CAD
• HV/LV wire harness experience 

What we can provide you: 

• A safe collaborative learning work environment that stimulates creativity and exploration
• Diverse teams of experts
• Resources from around the globe
• Supportive leadership and team members to help you do your best work
• Opportunities for professional growth
• Competitive compensation and benefits package including incentive compensation, 401K match, tuition assistance

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Yazaki North America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, handicap, veteran status, or other legally protected status or characteristic. Equal opportunity extends to all aspects of the employment relationship. Yazaki North America complies with federal and state equal employment opportunity laws and strives to keep the workplace free from all forms of harassment.