Design Release Engineer
Actalent, Warren, MI, United States
Job Title: Design Engineer
Job Description
The Design Release Engineer will coordinate design analysis and product development activities for advanced components and product lines, with a focus on interior systems, overhead systems, hard trim, and plastic injection molded parts. This role drives the release of new components, resolves design deficiencies, maintains cost controls, and provides technical direction to support personnel. The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers, as well as ongoing engagement with new technologies and engineering best practices.
Responsibilities
Coordinate design analysis and engineering processes for advanced product components and product lines, particularly within interiors, overhead systems, hard trim, and plastic injection molded parts.
Release advanced product components and complete lines of products, ensuring designs meet performance, quality, cost, and timing targets.
Diagnose and correct design and product deficiencies by applying strong engineering theory, design principles, and analytical skills.
Maintain effective cost controls throughout the design and development process, balancing quality, performance, and manufacturability.
Provide clear technical direction and guidance to support personnel, including designers, technicians, and other team members.
Coordinate and support build programs, ensuring parts, tools, and documentation are available for prototype, pilot, and production builds.
Plan, coordinate, and monitor test and development programs, including design validation and verification activities (such as DVSS and other quality-related processes).
Coordinate engineering projects with other departments and divisions, ensuring alignment on requirements, timing, and deliverables.
Collaborate regularly with suppliers and customers to resolve technical issues, clarify requirements, and support successful product launches.
Stay current with new technologies, materials, and design methods, and apply this knowledge to improve products and processes.
Prepare and review sketches, engineering drawings, and related documentation using appropriate tools and methods.
Use common measurement tools and techniques to support design verification, part inspection, and quality assessments.
Partner with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders to analyze complex issues and develop effective, data-driven solutions.
Handle multiple, diverse assignments concurrently, managing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced engineering environment.
Essential Skills
Position-related engineering experience of approximately 7 years.
Relevant automotive industry experience at an entry level (less than 1 year).
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at an intermediate level.
Proficiency with Lotus Notes or another email communication tool at an intermediate level.
Strong ability to create sketches, engineering drawings, and perform common engineering computations.
Strong understanding of materials, engineering theory, and principles of design.
Familiarity with basic hand and machine tools used in engineering and prototyping environments.
Strong ability to use common measurement tools and techniques for inspection and verification.
Areas of expertise that include testing, design, and analysis.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions and cultures.
Strong written and oral communication skills suitable for meetings, technical discussions, and presentations.
Ability to work well with others and consistently demonstrate effective teamwork.
Ability to multitask and manage diverse assignments concurrently.
Ability to partner with management to analyze complex issues and develop solutions.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience with design and release of interior components, overhead systems, and hard trim parts.
Experience with plastic injection and plastic injection mold design and release.
Familiarity with DVSS and quality-focused development and validation processes.
Past work experience with a major automotive OEM at an entry level (less than 1 year).
Comfort working with suppliers and customers on technical topics, including design reviews and issue resolution.
Ability to stay abreast of emerging technologies and incorporate new methods and tools into design work.
Willingness to complete required pre-assignment screenings, including drug testing and checks, in accordance with assignment requirements.
Interest in working on products associated with globally recognized and iconic automotive brands.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of WARREN, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $48.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in WARREN,MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 28, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com .
Job Description
The Design Release Engineer will coordinate design analysis and product development activities for advanced components and product lines, with a focus on interior systems, overhead systems, hard trim, and plastic injection molded parts. This role drives the release of new components, resolves design deficiencies, maintains cost controls, and provides technical direction to support personnel. The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers, as well as ongoing engagement with new technologies and engineering best practices.
Responsibilities
Coordinate design analysis and engineering processes for advanced product components and product lines, particularly within interiors, overhead systems, hard trim, and plastic injection molded parts.
Release advanced product components and complete lines of products, ensuring designs meet performance, quality, cost, and timing targets.
Diagnose and correct design and product deficiencies by applying strong engineering theory, design principles, and analytical skills.
Maintain effective cost controls throughout the design and development process, balancing quality, performance, and manufacturability.
Provide clear technical direction and guidance to support personnel, including designers, technicians, and other team members.
Coordinate and support build programs, ensuring parts, tools, and documentation are available for prototype, pilot, and production builds.
Plan, coordinate, and monitor test and development programs, including design validation and verification activities (such as DVSS and other quality-related processes).
Coordinate engineering projects with other departments and divisions, ensuring alignment on requirements, timing, and deliverables.
Collaborate regularly with suppliers and customers to resolve technical issues, clarify requirements, and support successful product launches.
Stay current with new technologies, materials, and design methods, and apply this knowledge to improve products and processes.
Prepare and review sketches, engineering drawings, and related documentation using appropriate tools and methods.
Use common measurement tools and techniques to support design verification, part inspection, and quality assessments.
Partner with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders to analyze complex issues and develop effective, data-driven solutions.
Handle multiple, diverse assignments concurrently, managing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced engineering environment.
Essential Skills
Position-related engineering experience of approximately 7 years.
Relevant automotive industry experience at an entry level (less than 1 year).
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at an intermediate level.
Proficiency with Lotus Notes or another email communication tool at an intermediate level.
Strong ability to create sketches, engineering drawings, and perform common engineering computations.
Strong understanding of materials, engineering theory, and principles of design.
Familiarity with basic hand and machine tools used in engineering and prototyping environments.
Strong ability to use common measurement tools and techniques for inspection and verification.
Areas of expertise that include testing, design, and analysis.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions and cultures.
Strong written and oral communication skills suitable for meetings, technical discussions, and presentations.
Ability to work well with others and consistently demonstrate effective teamwork.
Ability to multitask and manage diverse assignments concurrently.
Ability to partner with management to analyze complex issues and develop solutions.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience with design and release of interior components, overhead systems, and hard trim parts.
Experience with plastic injection and plastic injection mold design and release.
Familiarity with DVSS and quality-focused development and validation processes.
Past work experience with a major automotive OEM at an entry level (less than 1 year).
Comfort working with suppliers and customers on technical topics, including design reviews and issue resolution.
Ability to stay abreast of emerging technologies and incorporate new methods and tools into design work.
Willingness to complete required pre-assignment screenings, including drug testing and checks, in accordance with assignment requirements.
Interest in working on products associated with globally recognized and iconic automotive brands.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of WARREN, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $48.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in WARREN,MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 28, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com .