Automotive Exteriors Product Development Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Shape the next generation of exterior systems

Step into a day where you translate customer requirements into elegant, manufacturable designs. In the morning, you’re shoulder-to-shoulder with our Magna Exteriors design team refining a DfMA concept. By midday, you’re coordinating a DVP&R update, closing out CRs/CNs in Magna’s Change X tool, and aligning with suppliers on prototype materials. In the afternoon, you’re on the plant floor validating a build, running a quick DOE to resolve a complex tolerance stack, and preparing for a customer-facing VA/VE discussion.

Your impact

• Lead product engineering research, design, and development for new/advanced exterior products from concept through validated system, meeting all Automotive Standards and Customer Specifications.
• Serve as the SME on customer-generated specifications, documents, and performance requirements; guide the design team to achieve or exceed final release targets.
• Drive DfMA principles to enhance manufacturing simplicity, safety, cost, and assembly efficiency.
• Initiate and shepherd Change Requests/Notices (CR/CN) via Magna Change X; track through rapid closure.
• Scope, plan, and direct technical work across product, process, tooling, and materials for design/development activities.
• Analyze complex design problems using engineering and mathematical methods; lead 8D investigations, DOE, and DFSS tool application to resolve component, subsystem, or assembly issues.
• Lead customer-facing VA/VE studies and execution; benchmark alternatives to recommend optimal processes, materials, and equipment.
• Coordinate mockups, rapid prototypes, and developmental testing to prove concepts.
• Capture best practices and lessons learned; cascade insights across programs.
• Support prototype, pre-production, and production builds, including on-site manufacturing support.
• Protect intellectual property and perform duties needed to meet project and departmental goals.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external customers; collaborate across functions and suppliers.
• Partner with Program Management on product/process development, prototype tooling, and builds.

Accountabilities within Magna’s PDP

1. Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA)
2. Product Specification and Verification
3. Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM)
4. Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R)
5. Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE)

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in an Engineering discipline or Technical field.
• 4–9 years of experience, including direct customer/supplier interactions, new product launches, gated launch frameworks, and Automotive OEM collaboration.
• Strong communication skills with proven negotiation and public speaking experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to travel up to 25% during peak launch cycles.
• Comfort working on the manufacturing floor for extended periods and at customer sites as needed; able to occasionally lift/move up to 35 pounds.

Core competencies

• Communication & English Proficiency
• Ethics & Initiative
• Safety & Customer Focus
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Alignment

Tools, skills, and certificationsRequired

• Solid mathematics foundation.
• Working knowledge of GD ability to read and interpret blueprints.
• Timeline management using Agile and/or Waterfall.
• Ability to create/maintain DFMEA, DVP, open issue lists, and detailed timelines.

Desired

• ASME GD&T certification.
• VA/VE certification.
• SAE Product Engineering Tools & Methods certificate.
• Six Sigma Belt.
• CAD proficiency.

How we evaluate applications

To support a fair, consistent, and efficient process, our Workday system may use AI tools to assist with initial screening for qualifications aligned to role requirements. These tools support (not replace) our recruiters; all hiring decisions are made by the hiring manager and team. No applicant data is shared externally through these tools, and information is handled per our privacy and data protection policies. Where permitted by law, you may request an explanation of how AI supports decision-making. Questions? Contact our Talent Attraction team.

Awareness, Unity, Empowerment:

At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.