BraunAbility · 1 day ago
Associate Director, Vehicle Engineering
Winamac, IN
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
8+ years expBraunAbility is a company focused on enhancing mobility solutions, and they are seeking an Associate Director for Vehicle Engineering. This leadership role involves overseeing engineering teams for vehicle systems design and integration, ensuring quality and manufacturability throughout the product lifecycle.
Automotive
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
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
Company
BraunAbility
BraunAbility is the world's leading manufacturer of mobility transportation solutions, including wheelchair accessible vehicles, wheelchair lifts and seating, storage and securement products.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
BraunAbility has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2022 (1)
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Bill Liacone
Chief Financial Officer
Casey Nguyen, PHR
Recruitment Lead/HR Business Partner - Arch Retail
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