Sr. Design Release Engineer

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 globally, and we've strived to maintain strategic and stable growth throughout our 84-year history. Today, we're looking for energetic people with the potential to perform and the ability to strengthen - and thrive in - the positive work environment we pride ourselves on.

Location: Canton, MI, USA  

What we are looking for:

Yazaki is looking for a Design Release Engineer to join our Ford Engineering Business Unit in Canton, MI.  The engineer will receive product data or requirements from the customer and work (independently or as part of a collaborative team) to facilitate meeting all customer deliverables related to a given wire harness/vehicle program. Depending upon customer program agreement/business model, they may route and package the wire harness and define retention and covering components. They may instead support a customer who has provided the design or the math information to determine a design. They are the lead interface to the customer for change control, technical matters, unexpected issues, and engineering deliverables for the program. They may carry out necessary tasks to complete all processes leading to the release of Production Information to manufacturing. They support continuous improvement of the design, promote cross-functional collaboration, and foster a culture of knowledge sharing and innovation. 

What you will be doing:

Depending upon customer and product area/business model, engineers in entry-level to intermediate-experience roles shall have all or a subset of the following responsibilities on increasingly complex assignments:

Routing, Packaging, Retention, and Protection

• Package components and wiring, including splice locations, into vehicles in the 3D environment or direct creation of 2D wire harness drawings based on customer 3D data, Engineering Changes, print markups, etc.
• Define customer-directed components or support customer in component selection systems (dependent on program agreement/business model).
• Define retention and covering components (convolute, tape, etc.) to be used on the wire harness.

Customer Change Control

• Maintain/Support customer part release system per statement of work.
• Communicate to the customer the content and status of the design, design changes, build requirements and responses for cost studies.
• Support production trials at customer assembly plants as required.
• Provide customer responses for cost studies.
• Update customer of engineering issues as required by the customer (e.g., CN, EWO, WERS, AIMS, etc.).
• 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.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineer to review customer product letters and determine complexity levels or, alternatively, support customer in analysis of circuitry and sub-systems (dependent on program agreement/business model) .
• Create and submit product designs/print markups in appropriate PLM system that meet customer specifications and requirements, including DFA (Design for Vehicle Assembly).
• Collaborate with other Design Engineers to communicate engineering changes and coordinate 2D print releases.
• 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) as required by customer.
• Evaluate information provided by the customer as applied to the product/project for completeness and accuracy with support from Manufacturing, Costing and Sales to provide comprehensive feedback.
• Initiate/Support customer plant trials, document results of the trial, and obtain customer sign-off.
• Support assembly plant instructions for the customer per statement of work.
• Perform Engineering Change Impact analysis utilizing various CAD Tools, Design Guidelines, and Lessons Learned.
• Interface with manufacturing, costing, and sales to provide comprehensive feedback to change inquiries.

Engineering Customer Interface

• Lead customer interface for technical issues and program engineering deliverables, including FPSO (first-piece sign-off) at manufacturing site or other forum designated by customer.
• Represent YNA Engineering at customer change control meetings (e.g., PMT, PAT, etc.) , design reviews (e.g., technical design review, digital buck review, system compatibility review, etc.) and customer initiatives such as cost and warranty reduction activities.
• Represent YNA manufacturing to the customer to support YNA DFM (Design for Manufacturing) guidelines and/or support customer-driven Design reviews and DFM Analysis.
• Support vehicle builds and launches at customer pilot and assembly plants.

Ownership of Yazaki Engineering Design

• Generate cost savings ideas and attend VAVE (Value Analysis Value Engineering) workshops
• Trace technical issues and problems to root cause
• Perform rework assessments for obsolescence mitigation.
• Support customer initiatives such as cost and warranty reduction activities, etc.
• If required based on Business Unit model, provide clarification and support the analyst through engineering change process implementation, review and approve documents to meet Customer and Mfg. requirements.
• If required based on Business Unit model, create CPL’s and New Component Requests to identify new components in a design and trigger organizational processes
• If required based on Business Unit model, analyze and translate customer information to be used on 2D Drawings and BOM (ECN/Design Notes/Yazaki Dwg)
• If required based on business model, request and follow up on new crimp standard process.

The Manager may, at their discretion, assign other or additional responsibilities to an employee in this position

What you will bring to the table:

• Undergraduate (Bachelor of Science) degree in Engineering discipline such as Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Mechatronics, Chemical, Materials.
• Master's degree preferred 
• Six Sigma or equivalent problem-solving certification preferred for roles beyond entry level.
• 10 to 15 years of relevant experience
• Microsoft Suite and 3D CAD software tool such as Catia v5, AutoCAD, NX, Harness XC or similar required. Additional knowledge of 2D print tools preferred.
• Ability to troubleshoot and rework wire harnesses in warehouse setting, during wire harness or vehicle builds, or after assembly on the vehicles
•  Ability to lift wire harness assemblies up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to climb inside of vehicles to troubleshoot and rework

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 and a generous holiday schedule

Compensation is competitive and based on relevant experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

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.