Design Release Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Design Release Engineer Job Description

The Design Release Engineer will lead the end-to-end design release process for component labels, ensuring robust part traceability tied to vehicle identification numbers and supporting manufacturing plants with scanning implementation, equipment readiness, and data acquisition systems. This role combines design ownership, supplier coordination, validation and verification oversight, and program timing management to ensure that label and traceability requirements are fully integrated into automotive product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, sourcing, release, validation, and verification of component labels for designated automotive parts and systems.
• Identify target parts requiring labels and drive the complete design and release process, ensuring all label requirements are clearly defined and documented.
• Support the design, release, and implementation of component labels, ensuring compatibility with manufacturing and traceability needs.
• Facilitate traceability information for parts tied to the vehicle identification number (VIN) of vehicles assembled at manufacturing plants.
• Lead discussions with suppliers to define label updates, clarify technical requirements, and request price and investment quotations for label changes.
• Drive supplier label changes through the change control management and change approval processes, ensuring timely and accurate implementation.
• Communicate label descriptions, specifications, and requirements to manufacturing teams to support scanning implementation on the plant floor.
• Support scanning equipment maintenance by reviewing the current status of scanners across all North American plants and documenting findings.
• Determine where existing scanners can be reused and identify locations where new scanners are required to meet traceability objectives.
• Identify, specify, and implement new scanning equipment needed to support traceability information for designated components.
• Source new scanners, request and evaluate quotes for new equipment, and lead the acquisition process through to installation.
• Serve as the single point of contact for plant-based personnel regarding new equipment installations and data acquisition system setup.
• Ensure preparations for installation of new scanning and data acquisition equipment are proceeding on schedule and aligned with program milestones.
• Work with plant-based personnel to develop and execute validation and verification plans for installed equipment performance.
• Manage and update manufacturing-specific documentation that calls out special characteristics for parts, including requirements for scanning and storing traceability information.
• Maintain weekly correspondence with the Manufacturing Engineer counterpart to track Change Request (CR) progress and support approvals when needed.
• Create and manage a detailed workplan to control overall program timing and ensure all key milestones for label and traceability implementation are met.
• Lead price and investment quotations for all component, module, and engineering changes related to labels and associated traceability equipment.
• Develop and deliver open issues management reporting covering design changes, risks, opportunities, and open issues for assigned components.
• Develop and manage the master program Bill of Materials (BOM) within client tools, ensuring accuracy and alignment with design releases and changes.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Design Release Engineer (DRE) for automotive parts or systems.
• Full program product development experience, covering concept through launch.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proficiency in design release processes and tools used in automotive engineering environments.
• Experience with Teamcenter and WERS for data management, configuration control, and design release activities.
• Strong understanding of label design, engineering requirements, and integration with manufacturing processes.
• Experience with data management and traceability methodologies for automotive components.
• Knowledge of scanning equipment and data acquisition equipment functionality, including their role in part traceability.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with suppliers, manufacturing personnel, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Ability to manage multiple change requests, track progress, and ensure timely approvals and implementation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in automotive OEM or tier environments, including exposure to Ford-specific processes and tools.
• Hands-on experience with Catia or similar CAD tools for reviewing and understanding component and label designs.
• Familiarity with DRE responsibilities across components, modules, and systems in a full vehicle program.
• Ability to develop and manage a master program BOM using client-specific tools.
• Experience leading price and investment quotation activities for engineering and component changes.
• Demonstrated ability to create structured workplans and manage program timing to meet key milestones.
• Experience developing validation and verification plans for equipment and systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage documentation updates and maintain accurate manufacturing-specific records.

Work Environment

This role is based in an office environment that supports close collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams. Work involves frequent interaction with plant-based personnel and may require coordinating activities related to scanning equipment and data acquisition systems at manufacturing facilities. The position uses engineering and data management tools such as Teamcenter, WERS, and CAD applications, and requires regular participation in meetings, reporting sessions, and cross-functional reviews to support program timing and design release activities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Dearborn, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $42.00 - $45.00/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 fully onsite position in Dearborn,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on us.fitly.work for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.