Job Overview

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Innovation & Product Development Excellence, the Staff R&D / Product Development Engineer within the Automotive Americas Advanced Product Development Team drives early-stage innovation, concept development, technology maturation for next-generation connectivity solutions.
This role bridges early technology exploration with formal product development, advancing emerging technologies from ideation through feasibility and enabling their transition into scalable, manufacturable product solutions. You will operate at the intersection of research, product engineering, and business strategy to translate future-focused concepts into viable products aligned with customer and market needs.
The ideal candidate combines strong product development engineering fundamentals, coupled with curiosity, creativity, systems thinking, and a hands-on approach to prototyping, while effectively collaborating across a global, cross-functional environment.

Location: This position can be based in Troy, MI, Winston Salem, NC, or Harrisburg, PA

Key Responsibilities

Technology & Product Development Execution

• Drive early-stage product development from concept definition through design feasibility for new automotive connectivity solutions, delivering high-quality results with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and translate them into viable, customer-centric product opportunities.
• Define product requirements, specifications, and validation/test plans aligned with customer and business needs.
• Perform and/or guide design analysis, including simulation, tolerance analysis, and DFMEA, ensuring robust and reliable solutions.
• Leverage advanced engineering methods, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance innovation, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with product management, manufacturing, materials, and quality teams to ensure alignment on design feasibility, scalability, cost, and timing.
• Engage with customers to understand future needs and promote differentiated technology and product solutions.
• Collaborate effectively with global engineering teams and external partners (universities, startups, suppliers) fostering teamwork and leveraging diverse expertise.

Prototyping & Testing

• Build and test proof-of-concept prototypes using various prototyping methods and lab equipment, demonstrating a hands-on and results-oriented mindset.
• Analyze test data and iterate designs to continuously improve performance, reliability, and manufacturability
• Ensure compliance with automotive standards, regulatory requirements, and TE quality expectations.

Innovation, Strategy, and Subject Matter Expertise

• Contribute to technology roadmaps and innovation pipelines, supporting long-term business growth.
• Identify patentable ideas and support intellectual property development.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, competitor technologies, and regulatory changes to inform strategic direction.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and training to our internal and external partners.
• Mentor and develop more junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field required.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in product design and development.
• Deep knowledge of materials (plastics, metals) and relevant manufacturing processes.
• Automotive terminal and connector design and manufacturing experience preferred.
• Familiarity with vehicle architectures and electrical connectivity systems.
• Trainer level competency in technical tools including 3D CAD (PTC Creo preferred), CAE (ANSYS preferred), DoE, FMEA, Tolerance Analysis, and Validation planning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret simulation and experimental data.
• Trainer level knowledge of effective problem-solving skills (Fishbone, 5 Whys Analysis, etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Fluent in English (both verbal and written) to facilitate global communication.
• Ability to work across time zones and with geographically distributed teams.
• Willingness to travel periodically based on project needs.

Competencies