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United Access · 3 weeks ago

Associate Director, Vehicle Engineering

Carmel, IN

Full-time

Onsite

Lead/Staff, Director/Executive

8+ years exp

Braun Corporation is a leader in the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) market, and they are seeking an Associate Director for Vehicle Engineering. This role involves leading engineering teams in the design and validation of vehicle systems, ensuring quality and manufacturability throughout the product lifecycle.

AutomotiveLogisticsManufacturing

Responsibilities

Lead and develop managers, chief engineers, and multi-disciplinary engineering teams working on core vehicle systems (e.g., ramp & kneel mechanisms, suspensions, exhaust, fuel, and closures/door & liftgate systems). Establish clear goals, performance standards, and growth plans within a matrix organization

Set technical direction and governance for systems engineering (requirements, interfaces, trade studies, V&V), ensuring decisions are made at the appropriate leadership level—directors lead and enable experts rather than serve as the sole SME

Foster a culture of mentoring, lessons-learned capture, and best-practice handbooks to elevate engineering quality and repeatability

Own vehicle-system deliverables across the Agile/Stage Gate/APQP process, aligning engineering plans with program timing, risk mitigation, and cross-functional dependencies (Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, PMO)

Ensure readiness for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/A), supplier formability, and robust change control throughout development and launch

Drive portfolio visibility via metrics and dashboards (quality, schedule adherence, piece-cost and investment vs. targets), and escalate/resolve risks and issues quickly

Lead system architecture, EBOM structure, and tolerance management; ensure designs meet dimensional stability requirements and integrate cleanly across subsystems

Oversee physical testing and/or FEA plans to verify system performance; ensure test data drives design decisions and sign-offs

Uphold rigorous quality processes and regulatory compliance for the WAV portfolio, partnering with QA and regulatory stakeholders

Partner closely with Program Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations to enable smooth launches and sustained product performance

Interface with supplier engineering teams to align specifications, validation evidence, and PPAP deliverables

Qualification

Vehicle Systems EngineeringSystems Engineering PracticesCAD (Inventor)DFMEA/PFMEAAgile Program ManagementPLM (Teamcenter)ERP (EPICOR)Six SigmaLeadershipCommunicationCollaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive/Vehicle Engineering or related field

8+ years of progressive related work experience in vehicle systems engineering, with 5+ years leading teams in a matrix environment

Demonstrated proficiency in systems engineering practices (requirements, V&V), CAD/parametric modeling, and EBOM/assembly structures; strong grounding in GD&T and tolerance stacks

Hands-on experience with DFMEA/PFMEA, APQP/Stage Gate, and data-driven problem solving; familiarity with Six Sigma toolsets

Proven track record delivering complex vehicle systems from concept through launch, including manufacturability and supplier readiness

Demonstrated proficiency in CAD (Inventor), PLM (Teamcenter), ERP (EPICOR), and JIRA

Preferred

Master's degree in Engineering or related discipline; relevant professional certifications (e.g., Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, PMP for program interface)

Experience in WAV or specialty vehicle conversions and integration at the system level

Experience in Agile Program Management methodologies including modular sub-system design and development