POSITION SUMMARY: 

Responsible for working in a group environment with personnel from various disciplines (engineering and non-engineering) under general direction of a supervisor and/or higher level engineer, utilizing technical knowledge in (but not limited to) mechanical design, gas dynamics, fluid flow, and thermodynamics. Responsible for building, testing and validating design of airbag inflators and related systems, coordinating with customers to identify performance needs, and monitoring key project milestones for product launches. Key factors are to understand the inflator technology, direct communication with customers, be capable of coordinating inflator builds, and perform test and data analysis.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

General

1. Designs inflators and sub-scale test articles ensuring the performance aspects of the inflator are understood and are operating as required.

2. Creates inflator build requisitions, sets up DOE experiments and assists in building prototypes if needed.

3. Analyzes test data and teardown reports and generates summary test and engineering notes reports.

4. Coordinates Design Validation builds, testing, analysis and reporting.

5. Interfaces with customers, program managers, applications engineers and other internal organizations in technical matters.

6. Provides direction to technicians and drafters and works with lab supervisors to schedule work.

7. May provide input and deliver technical presentations to internal and external customers.

8. May prepare specifications and other related written documents.

9. Conducts design studies including tolerance studies and margin analysis on specific designs. Writes Engineering notes reports.

10. Assists in resolving technical issues as they develop. 

11. Supports cost reduction options. Supports efforts to ensure required design activities have been identified and conducted to satisfy performance, cost and schedule requirements of customer and cost/program requirements.

12. Coordinates inflator builds with production and supports the development of EPL processes as required to support prototype builds. 

13. Prepares required customer information, including but not limited to validation test plans, project timelines, etc.

14. Supports definition and implementation of quality requirements and inspection procedures with quality engineering.

15. Provides input for internal design reviews and customer presentations.

16. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Design

1. Generates and justifies design changes through Engineering Change Orders (ECOs). Maintains drawing package on specific designs. 

2. Creates Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and resulting test matrix; conducts testing and reporting. 

3. Understands the impact of design on manufacturing, quality and product success.

4. Supports manufacturing on design issues and LEAN activities.

Ballistics

1. Works with company computer codes for graphing and predicting inflator performance.

2. Provides direction on improving ballistic design performance and cost reduction.

3. Performs parametric ballistic studies.

4. Defines performance limits.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical science, preferably mechanical engineering, plus a minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of design engineering experience. An understanding of automotive design and development process, specifically DOE, GDT, DFMEA, DFA and DFM preferred. Six Sigma Black Belt certification desired. Understanding of inflator or gas generator experience desired. Some experience in program/project management desired.  Must have good knowledge of computers and software. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work will take place in a combination office/shop environment.  While performing the duties of this job, employees may be exposed to mechanical or chemical processes requiring the use of personnel protective equipment.  Employee may be required to be on-call, work weekends, holidays and travel overnight on occasion.  

These are considered essential duties and are illustrative of those job tasks, which are fundamental.  Employees may be required to perform additional related duties as may be assigned by management.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.