ENGINEERING & DEVELOPMENT DESIGN MANAGER

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: ENGINEERING & DEVELOPMENT DESIGN MANAGER

Company: OP Mobility

Location: Troy, MI, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Engineering Management / Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-04-14

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead complex automotive lighting programs from acquisition through development and industrialization, ensuring delivery on time, on cost, and on specification.

• Drive multidisciplinary engineering teams, including Technical Project Leads, system, mechanics, optics, and electronics, to meet project targets and company engineering standards.

• Manage engineering capacity, priorities, and workload allocation, while fostering a collaborative and accountable team environment.

• Oversee project engineering budgets, control spending, and approve key project deliverables and expenditures.

• Serve as the primary technical interface with OEM customers, presenting technical solutions and contributing to new business quotations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior engineering management role with significant responsibility over product development lifecycles, customer relationships, and team leadership within the specialized automotive lighting sector. The emphasis on "acquisition through development and industrialization" and "on time, on cost, and on specification" highlights a strong focus on project execution and P&L accountability for the engineering aspects of the programs.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Technical & Project Leadership: Coordinate multidisciplinary PD project teams (Technical Project Leads, system, mechanics, optics, and electronics) to ensure all customer, company, and regulatory requirements are met throughout the project lifecycle.

• Engineering Execution: Drive engineering activities to achieve project targets related to timing, cost, quality, and performance, ensuring full compliance with VPDS and OPmobility engineering processes.

• Team & Resource Management: Provide direct leadership and mentorship to Technical Project Leads and Resident Engineers, planning and managing engineering capacity, priorities, and workload allocation effectively.

• Financial Oversight: Own and manage project engineering budgets, implement spending controls, and manage approvals for engineering expenditures and technical content of changes.

• Customer Interface & Business Development: Define and execute the technical communication strategy with OEM customers, lead the engineering perspective for new business quotations, and present technical solutions and trade-offs to customers and internal stakeholders.

• Quality & Continuous Improvement: Ensure the capture and deployment of Lessons Learned (LL) and feedback into current and future projects, drive resolution of major product or process issues, and promote standardization and robust design methodologies.

• Operational & Safety Compliance: Contribute to group and center budgeting activities and ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, Fire Protection, internal regulations, and applicable legislation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a dual focus on technical program management and people leadership. The inclusion of "VPDS and OPmobility engineering processes" suggests a structured and standardized approach to product development within the company, requiring the manager to be an enforcer and champion of these methodologies. The emphasis on "Design-to-cost initiatives" and "patent clearance activities" points to a strategic contribution beyond just project execution, involving cost optimization and intellectual property awareness.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: University degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Optics, or related field).

Experience: Minimum 10 years of automotive engineering experience, specifically in lighting technologies. Proven experience leading technical or project teams in a matrix organization. Strong customer interface experience with OEMs.

Required Skills:

• Solid knowledge of automotive engineering tools and methodologies including CAD, GD&T, DFMEA, GBC, and TC.

• Proficient with MS Office and Windows environments.

• Strong understanding of engineering change and validation processes.

• Proven experience leading technical or project teams in a matrix organization.

• Strong customer interface experience with OEMs.

Preferred Skills:

• German, French, Spanish, or Italian language proficiency.

• Experience with specific OPmobility internal processes (VPDS).

• Familiarity with clean energy systems and electrification solutions development.

• Experience in Design-to-cost initiatives and implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "10 years of automotive engineering experience, specifically in lighting technologies" sets a high bar for expertise. The mention of specific automotive engineering tools like CAD, GD&T, DFMEA, GBC, and TC indicates a need for hands-on technical understanding, even in a management role. The preference for additional languages suggests a global scope for the role or potential interaction with international teams/customers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable experience managing complex product development lifecycles, ideally within automotive lighting.

• Evidence of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through the entire development process, from concept to industrialization.

• Successful examples of achieving project targets for timing, cost, quality, and performance.

• Documentation showcasing budget management and cost control for engineering projects.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of implementing and ensuring adherence to engineering process standards, such as VPDS or similar automotive frameworks.

• Documentation illustrating the management of engineering change processes and validation strategies.

• Records of leading "Lessons Learned" initiatives and incorporating feedback into future projects.

• Evidence of driving continuous improvement in engineering methodologies, standardization, and robust design practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement," the detailed responsibilities and qualifications imply that candidates will need to showcase their experience in these areas. A strong portfolio would include project summaries, team structures managed, budget oversight examples, and evidence of successful customer interactions and technical problem-solving within automotive lighting development. The emphasis on VPDS suggests that candidates familiar with structured product development processes will have an advantage.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Engineering & Development Design Managers with 10+ years of experience in the automotive sector in the Troy, MI area, the estimated salary range is $130,000 - $170,000 annually. This range accounts for the specialized nature of automotive lighting technology and the leadership responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision).

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k)) with company match.

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick days, and holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, including training and certifications.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, typically 40 hours per week. However, given the project-driven nature of automotive development, overtime may be required to meet critical deadlines, especially during program reviews, customer prototype phases, and launch periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on data from similar roles in the automotive engineering sector in the Detroit metropolitan area, considering the specified experience level and management responsibilities. Benefits are standard for a large, global automotive supplier in the US market. The mention of "customer prototypes" and "PD timing" implies a dynamic work schedule that might require flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Components & Systems (specifically intelligent exterior systems, lighting, clean energy, and electrification solutions). OPmobility is a global leader in this highly competitive and rapidly evolving sector, driven by innovation and sustainability. The company operates within a market shaped by increasing demands for connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles.

Company Size: OPmobility is a large global organization with approximately 40,300 employees worldwide, operating 152 plants and 40 R&D centers. This scale indicates a structured corporate environment with established processes and opportunities for global collaboration, but also potential for bureaucracy.

Founded: The company has a history of innovation, though the specific founding date isn't provided, its revenue of €11.4 billion in 2023 and extensive global network suggest a well-established entity with a significant market presence and a focus on long-term technological development.

Team Structure:

• The Engineering & Development Design Manager will lead a multidisciplinary PD project team, comprising Technical Project Leads, system engineers, mechanics, optics, and electronics specialists.

• This role likely involves managing Technical Project Leads and Resident Engineers directly, with indirect influence over other engineering disciplines through cross-functional team collaboration.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, utilizing engineering data from CAD, DFMEA, and validation processes to inform technical trade-offs and problem resolution.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Application of structured product development processes like VPDS, focusing on efficient project execution from acquisition to industrialization, including design-to-cost initiatives.

• Automation & Efficiency: Driving continuous improvement, standardization, and robust design methodologies to enhance efficiency and quality in product development and engineering processes.

Company Website: https://www.opmobility.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's description as a "world-leading provider of innovative solutions for a unique, safer and more sustainable mobility experience" highlights its strategic focus on future mobility trends. The size and global reach suggest a company with robust processes and a structured approach to engineering and development, requiring managers to be adept at navigating larger organizational frameworks and cross-functional dynamics.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level engineering management position. It requires a deep technical foundation in automotive lighting engineering combined with proven leadership experience in managing complex projects and cross-functional teams. The scope includes end-to-end product development responsibility, financial oversight within projects, and direct customer engagement, indicating a significant level of autonomy and impact.

Reporting Structure: The Engineering & Development Design Manager will likely report to a senior engineering leader (e.g., Director of Engineering, VP of Engineering) within the product development or R&D division. This role will also have direct reports, primarily Technical Project Leads and Resident Engineers, and will collaborate extensively with other engineering disciplines, program management, sales, and manufacturing.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and critical impact on OPmobility's success by ensuring the successful development and delivery of innovative automotive lighting solutions. Effective leadership in this position directly influences product quality, customer satisfaction, project profitability, and the company's ability to secure new business and maintain its competitive edge in the automotive market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization Advancement: Deepen expertise in advanced automotive lighting technologies, potentially leading to roles focusing on specific technology areas or R&D leadership.

• Program Management Leadership: Progress into higher-level program management roles with broader scope and responsibility for multiple complex programs or product lines.

• Functional Management Progression: Advance into director-level positions overseeing larger engineering departments, R&D centers, or specific functional areas within OPmobility.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Opportunity to move into related leadership roles in areas such as advanced engineering, product strategy, or global operations management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for an Engineering & Development Design Manager at a company like OPmobility typically involves moving from managing individual projects to overseeing multiple programs or entire product lines, or advancing into broader functional leadership roles. The emphasis on "innovation," "safer and more sustainable mobility," and "electrification solutions" suggests that opportunities in emerging areas of automotive technology will be significant.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, requiring the manager to be physically present at the OPmobility facility in Troy, MI. The environment is expected to be a professional office setting within a corporate campus or R&D center.

Office Location(s): Troy, Michigan, USA. This location is a hub for automotive engineering and development in the United States, offering proximity to major automotive OEMs and a strong talent pool.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely involve a combination of individual office space for focused work and management tasks, and collaborative areas for team meetings, design reviews, and customer interactions.

• Access to advanced engineering tools, simulation software, testing equipment, and prototyping facilities will be integral to the role.

• The environment will foster close collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering teams, program managers, and potentially manufacturing representatives.

Work Schedule: While the standard workweek is 40 hours, the demands of automotive product development, especially during critical project phases (e.g., customer prototype delivery, launch readiness), may necessitate flexible hours or additional time commitment to meet deadlines and ensure successful project outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is typical for roles involving direct team leadership, complex project coordination, and frequent customer interaction. The Troy, MI location is strategically important for the automotive industry, offering significant advantages for networking and accessing talent.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter conducts an initial assessment to verify basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deep dive into technical expertise, leadership style, project management experience, and problem-solving approach, often with a focus on automotive lighting or similar complex product development.

• Technical/Team Interview: Candidates may meet with key team members (e.g., Technical Project Leads, senior engineers) or peers to assess technical depth, collaboration skills, and team dynamics. This could include a case study or technical challenge.

• Senior Leadership Interview: An interview with a Director or VP level executive to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and overall fit within the organization's leadership team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Leadership & Project Management: Showcase examples of complex automotive lighting projects you've led from acquisition through industrialization. Detail your role, the team size and structure, and key challenges overcome.

• Demonstrate Technical Acumen: Include evidence of your technical contributions or oversight in areas like CAD, GD&T, DFMEA, optics, mechanics, and electronics relevant to lighting systems.

• Quantify Achievements: Use metrics to illustrate success, such as delivering projects on time and within budget, achieving specific performance targets, or implementing cost-saving measures (e.g., design-to-cost initiatives).

• Showcase Customer Interaction: Provide examples of successful technical communication and relationship building with OEM customers, including presentations of technical solutions and trade-offs.

• Process Adherence: If possible, illustrate your experience with structured development processes (like VPDS) and how you ensure compliance and drive continuous improvement.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for scenario-based questions related to managing difficult team members, resolving technical conflicts, handling customer escalations, or making tough prioritization decisions under pressure.

• Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, your approach to team development, and your strategies for ensuring project success in a fast-paced, demanding environment.

• Review common automotive engineering challenges and OPmobility's stated focus areas (innovation, sustainability, electrification) to tailor your responses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "portfolio review" aspect is implied by the detailed responsibilities and the need to demonstrate experience in project leadership, technical execution, and customer relations. Candidates should be ready to discuss specific projects and outcomes, not just general responsibilities. The mention of "VPDS" suggests that familiarity with formalized product development systems will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CAD Software: Proficiency with industry-standard CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) for design review and understanding.

• Analysis & Simulation Software: Familiarity with tools for structural analysis (FEA), thermal analysis, and potentially optical simulation relevant to lighting systems.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools for planning, tracking, and managing project timelines and resources (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet).

• Engineering Change Management Systems: Understanding of systems for managing and tracking engineering changes (e.g., Enterproj).

• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency with MS Office Suite, particularly Excel for data analysis and reporting.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Performance Dashboards: Experience with creating or interpreting dashboards to monitor project status, engineering KPIs, and budget adherence.

• Reporting Tools: Ability to generate comprehensive reports for project reviews and stakeholder updates.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not primarily a sales role, understanding CRM principles for customer interaction management and account status may be beneficial.

• Internal Process Tools: Familiarity with OPmobility's proprietary systems such as VPDS and potentially others for design release and validation tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The listed tools are standard for automotive engineering management. The mention of "Enterproj" for engineering changes is a specific system OPmobility uses, and familiarity would be a plus. The emphasis is on using these tools to manage projects, ensure compliance, and drive engineering execution rather than deep technical proficiency in every tool.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions for the future of mobility, encouraging creative problem-solving and technological advancement.

• Customer Focus: Prioritizing OEM customer needs and expectations, building strong relationships through reliable delivery and effective technical communication.

• Excellence: Striving for high standards in engineering quality, product performance, and project execution, with an emphasis on "on time, on cost, and on specification."

• Collaboration: Fostering teamwork across multidisciplinary engineering teams and functions to achieve shared goals, promoting leadership by influence and open communication.

• Sustainability & Safety: Commitment to developing safer and more sustainable mobility solutions, adhering to strict health and safety regulations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with engineering disciplines (system, mechanics, optics, electronics), program management, sales, and manufacturing, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Process-Oriented: Emphasis on working within defined engineering processes (e.g., VPDS) and promoting a culture of continuous improvement and adherence to best practices.

• Accountability & Empowerment: Fostering an environment where team members are empowered to contribute and take ownership, while holding them accountable for their contributions and project outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: OPmobility's stated values of innovation, customer impact, and valuing people align with a culture that seeks to push technological boundaries while maintaining strong client relationships and employee well-being. The emphasis on "leadership by influence" suggests a collaborative rather than purely hierarchical management style.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Demands: Managing multiple complex automotive lighting programs simultaneously, each with unique customer requirements, technical challenges, and tight deadlines, while also overseeing budgets and team development.

• Navigating Global Complexity: Working within a large, global organization requires adapting to diverse team dynamics, corporate processes, and potentially international stakeholder expectations.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in automotive technology, particularly in areas like electrification, connectivity, and advanced lighting features, and integrating them into product roadmaps.

• Customer Relationship Management: Maintaining strong relationships with demanding OEM customers, managing their expectations, and effectively resolving any technical or project-related issues that arise.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Technology Exposure: Gaining in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge automotive lighting technologies and their integration into next-generation vehicles.

• Leadership Skill Enhancement: Developing advanced skills in managing cross-functional teams, driving strategic initiatives, and influencing stakeholders at various levels.

• Global Project Management: Expanding experience in managing international projects and collaborating with global teams, potentially leading to international assignments.

• Industry Certifications & Training: Opportunities for professional development, attending industry conferences, and pursuing certifications relevant to automotive engineering, project management, or leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior engineering management roles in the automotive industry, emphasizing the need for strong problem-solving, adaptability, and strategic thinking. The growth opportunities are aligned with career progression within a large, innovation-driven company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Leadership & Team Management: "Describe a time you had to lead a multidisciplinary team through a significant technical challenge. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" "How do you motivate and develop engineers on your team, especially when facing tight deadlines?" "How do you handle underperforming team members or conflicts within a project team?"

• Project & Product Execution: "Walk me through a complex automotive lighting program you managed from acquisition to industrialization. What were the key milestones, challenges, and your specific contributions to its success?" "How do you ensure projects are delivered on time, on cost, and on specification in a dynamic automotive environment?" "Describe your experience with design-to-cost initiatives and how you implement them."

• Customer & Business Acumen: "How do you approach technical communication and relationship building with demanding OEM customers?" "Tell me about your experience contributing to new business quotations from an engineering perspective." "How do you present complex technical trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in OPmobility and this specific Engineering & Development Design Manager role?"

• "What do you know about OPmobility's focus on innovation, sustainability, and electrification in the automotive sector?"

• "How do you align with OPmobility's values of customer focus, excellence, and collaboration?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project showcased, clearly define the problem, your role, the actions taken (especially leadership and technical decisions), and the measurable results (timing, cost, quality, performance).

• Quantify Impact: Use specific numbers and data to illustrate achievements. For example, "Reduced development time by 15%," "Achieved a 10% cost saving through design-to-cost initiatives," or "Successfully managed a €5M engineering budget."

• Highlight Leadership & Collaboration: Emphasize your role in leading teams, fostering collaboration, and managing cross-functional dependencies.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: Be ready to detail significant technical or project challenges and how you or your team overcame them.

• Tailor to the Role: Connect your experience directly to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. If you have experience with VPDS or similar structured development processes, highlight it.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will likely probe for specific examples that demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage complex projects, lead technical teams, and interact effectively with customers, all within the context of automotive lighting development. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with OPmobility's specified processes and tools.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Engineering & Development Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the OPmobility careers portal via the provided link.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of automotive engineering experience, specifically in lighting technologies. Emphasize leadership roles, project management achievements, and expertise in relevant tools (CAD, DFMEA, etc.). Quantify your accomplishments with metrics related to timing, cost, and quality.

• Portfolio Preparation: If a portfolio is requested, curate examples of your most impactful projects, focusing on leadership, technical execution, customer interaction, and process adherence. Prepare to discuss your role, challenges, and quantifiable results.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research OPmobility's products, mission, and values. Prepare specific examples to answer behavioral and situational interview questions, focusing on your leadership style, project management approach, and problem-solving skills within an automotive engineering context.

• Cultural Alignment: Be ready to articulate how your skills and experience align with OPmobility's culture of innovation, customer focus, and engineering excellence.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.