Mechanical Product Design Engineer III – Suspensions

About the role

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Product Engineering is at the forefront of developing new product specifications, designing innovative products, and maintaining current heavy truck systems. This role is carried out within a team environment that thrives on innovation, collaboration, and delivering technical solutions. Success in this role hinges on the candidate's ability to actively engage with the broader organization and collaborate across departmental and functional boundaries.

We are seeking an engineer who is driven to deliver technical excellence and provide leadership in the design and development of heavy truck systems. These systems must be safe, reliable, serviceable, and competitive within the commercial vehicle market. The ideal candidate will lead all technical aspects of select suspension design and integration, directly impacting vehicle performance and driver satisfaction. This role requires a skilled communicator who fosters support and collaboration with teammates and cross-departmental colleagues. The successful candidate will approach new challenges with positivity and resourcefulness, embodying the ‘One Team Best Team’ principle in daily decision-making and interactions.

We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist candidates with application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected.

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) Portland, OR US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule type: Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides a customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration.

At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio includes Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all.

That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving.

Responsibilities

• Lead proprietary rear steel suspension integration projects within vehicle development programs.
• Represent the team in Technical Staff Meetings, Program Core Team Meetings and other internal or external cross-functional meetings.
• Develop system-level requirements, component specifications and vehicle validation plans for rear steel suspensions.
• Design and develop rear steel suspension systems that are manufacturable, durable, reliable and serviceable by applying engineering principles.
• Collaborate with suspension component suppliers to design, develop, and validate rear steel suspension systems integrated onto vehicle platforms.
• Proactively engage external and internal business partners in pursuit of industry-leading designs that deliver on cost, performance, and quality targets.
• Provide technical guidance to internal/external customers on matters related to rear steel suspensions and integration.
• Act as a consensus builder to bring various stakeholders on board at project start-up and keep them engaged throughout the project life cycle.
• Apply sound engineering judgment to perform custom engineering work and to support manufacturing plants, quality assurance and service department.
• Improve competitive market position by keeping abreast of state-of-the-art developments in the trucking industry and competitor landscape, and applying new knowledge to designs.
• Successfully complete assignments on time and within budget.
• Proactively inform stakeholders of project issues, delays and risks.
• Actively participate in continuous improvement idea generation and implementation to enhance the work environment, systems, tools, processes, as well as product cost and quality.
• Manage multiple assignments concurrently, and prioritize them in a manner consistent with business goals.
• Use CAD and other design tools to create and maintain 3D part designs, detailed 2D part and assembly drawings, GD&T, packaging studies, and installation diagrams. Develop, release and maintain accurate engineering documentation.
• Collaborate with teammates, fostering a culture of learning, improvement, and inclusion.
• Utilize warranty information to inform design changes and strategic decisions.
• Develop and manage long-term product portfolio plans with local and global colleagues.
• Facilitate meetings and discussions, driving issues to resolution.
• Use root cause analysis to efficiently resolve development and field issues.

Requirements

• BS in Mechanical Engineering with 5-7 years of experience.
• At least 1 year of group leader, project lead, or mentoring experience required.
• Experience leading projects required.
• Teaching others relevant Engineering concepts and tools required.
• Leading and mentoring others in identifying/solving the root cause of complex problems required.
• Leading implementation of cross-functional improvement initiatives required.
• Preparing and giving presentations to small and large groups required.
• Demonstrated CAD expertise is required.
• Demonstrated strong verbal, written, and presentation skills required.
• Demonstrated experience developing creative design solutions for truck systems required.
• Experience designing parts in multiple processes required.
• Basic knowledge of vehicle assembly plant process required.
• An attached resume is required.

Exceptional candidates may have:

• 5-7 years of related experience preferred.
• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering with 2 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Experience/communication skills working cross-culturally preferred.
• Experience with DTNA systems and knowledge of upstream and downstream processes preferred.
• Proven track record of strategic thinking and long-term planning.
• Excellent network within the organization and the ability to leverage it.
• Culturally positive and influential within the team and across the organization.
• Experience in supplier development and management.

Additional information:

• This position is not open for Visa sponsorship or to existing Visa holders.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application.
• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check.
• Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen.
• Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions.
• For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.

Benefits

Position offers a salary range of $104,000 to $133,000 USD.

Pay offered dependent on knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits include annual bonus program; 401k company contribution with company match up to 6%, as well as non-elective company contribution of 3-7% depending on age; starting at 4 weeks paid vacation; 13+ calendar holidays; 8 weeks paid parental leave; employee assistance program; comprehensive healthcare plans and wellness programs; onsite fitness; tuition assistance and volunteer paid time off, short-term and long-term disability plans.