Detroit Manufacturing Systems Career Opportunities
Do you have a VERIFIABLE Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering?
How many years of Tier 1 automotive experience do you have?

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Advanced Manufacturing Engineer
MI - Detroit
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Spotlight Your Skill & Talent as our Lead Manufacturing Engineer Supporting Operations Projects & Major OEMs

Join a Thriving Organization that Provides Opportunity through Career Growth & Development

Leverage your strong Tier 1 automotive industry experience to join a successful and growing Tier 1 supplier and play an integral role driving manufacturing projects to support plant operations and major OEMs. You will serve as project lead and make an impact managing multiple engineering projects for our established plant in Detroit. Projects will primarily include process and tools development, machine specifications and labor estimates.  

Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS) has created robust momentum and growth, winning new programs in part by trying new processes and approaches. We encourage our people to "color outside the lines" and will welcome your fresh ideas. A solid performer who combines industry and technical knowledge with emotional intelligence, including the ability to work with multiple levels and titles and diverse personalities, can chart a rewarding career along a variety of paths. DMS is also unique in its philosophy -- revenue and profits are important, but our emphasis is on creating jobs and building community. You bring your head to any job, but at DMS you also bring your heart.

Detroit Manufacturing Systems is a world-class automotive supplier making a difference in Detroit. We opened our doors in June 2012 and assembled our team of 25 automotive parts production and supply chain experts at a small table in the middle of an empty warehouse. In about a year, we launched five production lines and eight injection molding machines and hired 700 people, mostly Detroit residents. Today, we are 1,000 strong with 16 injection molding presses and five programs for our valued customers. We now build more than 1.5 million instrument panels per year.

Pictured: In our Detroit facility, 1,000 salaried and hourly team members use state-of-the-art technology to manufacture and assemble injection molded interior trim components for global automotive brands. You'll help ensure we maintain an unparalleled commitment to quality and efficiency.

The Requirements

To be a good fit for the Advanced Manufacturing Engineer opportunity, you will have the following education, skills and experience:
  • A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required; an advanced degree preferred Quick question for you - click here
  • 8 + years of experience as an automotive Tier 1 Manufacturing Engineer  Quick question for you - click here
  • 5+ years of experience managing the design, procurement and installation of major equipment (valued at $1MM+)
  • 5+ years of experience in interior core manufacturing or interior assembly  
  • Excellent  computer skills, including intermediate to advanced skill with the following software:
    • MS Office Suite, particularly Excel (e.g. VLOOKUPS, formulas), Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
    • AutoCAD (2D drawing skill required, 3D modeling a plus)
    • MS Project
    • Visio
    • Time Study Stopwatch and MOST/MOD apps
  • Broad knowledge of equipment (note, we are not fully automated; workflow includes manual and equipment processes)
General advanced engineering experience and expertise in most of the following:
  • Developing
    • Process flows and layouts
    • Line balance breakdowns
    • Capital lineups
    • Customer owned tooling lineups
    • Proposal comparison matrices, recommendations, and conclusions
  • RFQ writing -- Statement of Requirements and Specifications
  • Coordinating supplier responses and driving iterative improvement process for best proposals
  • Presenting proposals to the cross-functional teams and the management team
  • Preparing industrialization plan and tracking progress
  • Overseeing the development, installation and debug of equipment; resolving issues as they arise and communicating with the team
Technical skills and experience with much of the following:
  • Installation and setup of:
    • Joint fastener torque control equipment
    • Assembly conveyor equipment
    • MES Systems
    • Component Verification Systems 
    • Electrical Testing Systems
    • Inspection Vision Systems
    • Vibration and welding equipment (sonic, heat stake and infrared welding)
    • Assembly fixture design
  • Injection molding equipment selection, process setup, installation and malfunction troubleshooting
Just as important as your experience and skills will be the following characteristics and competencies:
  • Strong written, verbal and listening communication skills
  • An energetic and enthusiastic approach and can-do attitude
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with team members and other stakeholders 
  • Excellent analytical skills with demonstrated problem-solving ability
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision
In addition, you will be required to travel approximately 10%. Travel ebbs and flows and could eventually swell to 25% at times. 

The Role

Role Overview

Reporting to the Executive Director of New Business Development, as Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, you will be responsible for managing multiple engineering projects that support plant operations in our Detroit facility. These projects will range from process development to machine specifications, labor estimates, and tool development to support interiors manufacturing. 

Role Details

You, along with a team including an Industrial Engineer and several program managers, will deliver on projects addressing process flow and other operations, ensuring best practices from vendor processes to bringing together all the required elements to build the lines and ensure they run effectively and efficiently. In addition, you'll lead multifunctional groups for successful product launches. You will directly interact with the customer regarding OEM processes and customer requirements, including but not limited to, Process Sign-Off (PSO), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Technical Specification (TS), and International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements.

While you will have strong people around you, this is a hands-on role, not one where you will delegate most responsibilities. For example, you will directly reach out to suppliers for quotations, coordinate supplier responses, follow-up by asking questions and raising concerns, then gather modified responses before putting together a comparison matrix and making a recommendation. You will come up with ideas on how things should be done, do mock ups, spreadsheet, what/if scenarios -- really get in there and gain intimate knowledge of every project. 

In performing your role, you will:
  • Represent DMS in a professional manner with customers and suppliers at all levels of their organizations
  • Interface as needed with the customers and vendors regarding technical issues
  • Take ownership of PDCA items  
  • Take initiative from senior leadership
  • Gain full understanding of DMS operations (sequencing/sub–assembly, shipping and receiving)
  • Follow and improve the DMS business systems
  • Work very closely with the other engineers to ensure continuity 
  • Attend manufacturing meetings with management and customers
  • Train and mentor less experienced team members
Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

What's in It for You

Professional development & exposure
As Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, you will enjoy wide exposure in Detroit and other areas of the company (for example you could visit our newly opening plant in Toledo). You'll expand your skills and experience as you take on and resolve a steady stream of unique challenges in this role. You will share ideas with the DMS team and work directly with contacts at major OEMs, gaining insight into their organizations. Day in and day out, you'll have multiple opportunities to add to your knowledge base and demonstrate your ability to deliver results.

Career options
As we continue to grow we'll be looking for proven performers to take on leadership roles. As such, we are dedicated to supporting employee growth and development by providing the tools and training needed for success, and by creating advancement opportunities. From early onboarding and shadowing as you come up to speed, to ensuring you have the tools and training you need to continue to widen the scope of your role, DMS is behind you.
​
It's about making a difference
We opened our doors in 2012 with 50 people who shared a common vision to create manufacturing jobs in Detroit for the first time in decades, and to rebuild local communities to help drive the city's rebirth. Today, our 1,000 talented team members, mostly Detroit residents, are producing a million vehicle dashboards a year and turning their own dreams into sustainable opportunities for themselves and for many generations to come.

A positive career home
Detroit Manufacturing Systems is building a unique, world-class culture in which people can enjoy working and building their careers. We don't just care about the work, we care about the individuals doing the work and take steps to nurture the whole person via our healthy family atmosphere, employee growth and development programs, comprehensive benefits and so much more. DMS is a great place to make your career home.

Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive salary and bonus incentive program, we offer an outstanding benefits package. Our benefits include comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance programs; a 401(k) plan with company match that vests day one; flexible spending accounts; tuition assistance, even when the educational opportunity is not directly job-related; company-paid employee life insurance and short-term disability insurance; voluntary employee life insurance and long-term disability insurance; generous paid-time-off and more!

Video: Corp! Magazine interviews Andra Rush, CEO of Detroit Manufacturing Systems and owner of Rush Group, about what motivates her to leverage her entrepreneurial drive in transforming communities. As one of our colleagues puts it, Rush and DMS have turned a 'hood into a true neighborhood. Rush was honored by President Obama in his State of the Union address in January 2014, along with GM CEO Mary Barra, for demonstrating the "strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams."

Keys to Success

Technical knowledge will be essential in this role. You'll need to be adept at managing and monitoring a broad array of details, and also able to think on your feet. But just as important as technical skills will be your interpersonal abilities. Working effectively with management, team members and customers will take interpersonal finesse and at times a thick skin. You will be clear in your communications, exceptional in your problem-solving abilities and confident in your work. Earning credibility with your supervisor and other stakeholders will be key to your success.

Overall, you'll influence through matrixed relationships, helping people gain a better understanding and heightened awareness of processes. At the same time, you'll need to be willing and able to be assertive when necessary. You can't excel in this role by sitting behind a desk and sending emails. You'll need to get out from behind the desk and get hands-on daily.

In addition, to be an outstanding Advanced Manufacturing Engineer and support our core values, you will demonstrate:
  • Integrity by adhering to high ethical principles and professional standards
  • Trustworthiness by being honest, dependable and earning the confidence of others
  • The Will to Win by being tenaciously driven to accomplish stated objectives
  • Excellence by consistently being the best you can be
  • Responsibility by being reliable and trustworthy
  • Accountability by being willingly accepting responsibility for your actions
  • Dignity by behaving in accordance with the company’s basic principles
  • Respect by treating others as you would have them treat you

About Us

Our Mission

Create sustainable jobs and opportunities in the city of Detroit through automotive manufacturing excellence and people development.

Economic revitalization

DMS, formed in June 2012 through a joint venture between Rush Group Limited LLC and Faurecia, has brought a new, large-scale manufacturing facility to Detroit for the first time in decades and is helping to revitalize the city and the state of Michigan through significant job creation.

Since 2012, our workforce has grown from 50 to 1,000 strong.

Our team members build more than 1 million instrument panels a year (in fact, we built more than 1.5 million in 2015). By achieving best-in-class performance and profitability, DMS contributes to the health and sustainability of its team members, partners, suppliers and the community -- and we're working to create opportunity and prosperity for the next Seven Generations. Click on the image at right to see a larger view of our Seven Generations philosophy.

DMS majority partner Rush Group is 100 percent owned by Andra Rush, a Native American entrepreneur with 30 years of automotive industry experience. Ms. Rush serves as DMS CEO and president.

Rush Group

Andra Rush is the founder, chair, chief executive officer and president of Rush Group, which operates auto suppliers Dakkota Integrated Systems and Detroit Manufacturing Systems, along with Rush Trucking, a Corporation that is 100 percent owned by Ms. Rush and specializes in logistics, truckload, expedited and LTL transportation for the automotive industry. Rush Group is the largest woman-owned enterprise in Michigan and one of the largest Native American-owned businesses in the U.S.

Faurecia

Formed in 1997 and based in Nanterre, France, Faurecia ranks among the largest automotive suppliers in the world, delivering instrument panels, center consoles, cockpits, door panels, door modules and acoustic systems for global OEMs.

Spotlight Your Skill & Talent as our Lead Manufacturing Engineer Supporting Operations Projects & Major OEMs

Join a Thriving Organization that Provides Opportunity through Career Growth & Development

Leverage your strong Tier 1 automotive industry experience to join a successful and growing Tier 1 supplier and play an integral role driving manufacturing projects to support plant operations and major OEMs. You will serve as project lead and make an impact managing multiple engineering projects for our established plant in Detroit. Projects will primarily include process and tools development, machine specifications and labor estimates.  

Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS) has created robust momentum and growth, winning new programs in part by trying new processes and approaches. We encourage our people to "color outside the lines" and will welcome your fresh ideas. A solid performer who combines industry and technical knowledge with emotional intelligence, including the ability to work with multiple levels and titles and diverse personalities, can chart a rewarding career along a variety of paths. DMS is also unique in its philosophy -- revenue and profits are important, but our emphasis is on creating jobs and building community. You bring your head to any job, but at DMS you also bring your heart.

Detroit Manufacturing Systems is a world-class automotive supplier making a difference in Detroit. We opened our doors in June 2012 and assembled our team of 25 automotive parts production and supply chain experts at a small table in the middle of an empty warehouse. In about a year, we launched five production lines and eight injection molding machines and hired 700 people, mostly Detroit residents. Today, we are 1,000 strong with 16 injection molding presses and five programs for our valued customers. We now build more than 1.5 million instrument panels per year.

Pictured: In our Detroit facility, 1,000 salaried and hourly team members use state-of-the-art technology to manufacture and assemble injection molded interior trim components for global automotive brands. You'll help ensure we maintain an unparalleled commitment to quality and efficiency.

The Requirements

To be a good fit for the Advanced Manufacturing Engineer opportunity, you will have the following education, skills and experience:
  • A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required; an advanced degree preferred Quick question for you - click here
  • 8 + years of experience as an automotive Tier 1 Manufacturing Engineer  Quick question for you - click here
  • 5+ years of experience managing the design, procurement and installation of major equipment (valued at $1MM+)
  • 5+ years of experience in interior core manufacturing or interior assembly  
  • Excellent  computer skills, including intermediate to advanced skill with the following software:
    • MS Office Suite, particularly Excel (e.g. VLOOKUPS, formulas), Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
    • AutoCAD (2D drawing skill required, 3D modeling a plus)
    • MS Project
    • Visio
    • Time Study Stopwatch and MOST/MOD apps
  • Broad knowledge of equipment (note, we are not fully automated; workflow includes manual and equipment processes)
General advanced engineering experience and expertise in most of the following:
  • Developing
    • Process flows and layouts
    • Line balance breakdowns
    • Capital lineups
    • Customer owned tooling lineups
    • Proposal comparison matrices, recommendations, and conclusions
  • RFQ writing -- Statement of Requirements and Specifications
  • Coordinating supplier responses and driving iterative improvement process for best proposals
  • Presenting proposals to the cross-functional teams and the management team
  • Preparing industrialization plan and tracking progress
  • Overseeing the development, installation and debug of equipment; resolving issues as they arise and communicating with the team
Technical skills and experience with much of the following:
  • Installation and setup of:
    • Joint fastener torque control equipment
    • Assembly conveyor equipment
    • MES Systems
    • Component Verification Systems 
    • Electrical Testing Systems
    • Inspection Vision Systems
    • Vibration and welding equipment (sonic, heat stake and infrared welding)
    • Assembly fixture design
  • Injection molding equipment selection, process setup, installation and malfunction troubleshooting
Just as important as your experience and skills will be the following characteristics and competencies:
  • Strong written, verbal and listening communication skills
  • An energetic and enthusiastic approach and can-do attitude
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with team members and other stakeholders 
  • Excellent analytical skills with demonstrated problem-solving ability
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision
In addition, you will be required to travel approximately 10%. Travel ebbs and flows and could eventually swell to 25% at times. 

The Role

Role Overview

Reporting to the Executive Director of New Business Development, as Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, you will be responsible for managing multiple engineering projects that support plant operations in our Detroit facility. These projects will range from process development to machine specifications, labor estimates, and tool development to support interiors manufacturing. 

Role Details

You, along with a team including an Industrial Engineer and several program managers, will deliver on projects addressing process flow and other operations, ensuring best practices from vendor processes to bringing together all the required elements to build the lines and ensure they run effectively and efficiently. In addition, you'll lead multifunctional groups for successful product launches. You will directly interact with the customer regarding OEM processes and customer requirements, including but not limited to, Process Sign-Off (PSO), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), Technical Specification (TS), and International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements.

While you will have strong people around you, this is a hands-on role, not one where you will delegate most responsibilities. For example, you will directly reach out to suppliers for quotations, coordinate supplier responses, follow-up by asking questions and raising concerns, then gather modified responses before putting together a comparison matrix and making a recommendation. You will come up with ideas on how things should be done, do mock ups, spreadsheet, what/if scenarios -- really get in there and gain intimate knowledge of every project. 

In performing your role, you will:
  • Represent DMS in a professional manner with customers and suppliers at all levels of their organizations
  • Interface as needed with the customers and vendors regarding technical issues
  • Take ownership of PDCA items  
  • Take initiative from senior leadership
  • Gain full understanding of DMS operations (sequencing/sub–assembly, shipping and receiving)
  • Follow and improve the DMS business systems
  • Work very closely with the other engineers to ensure continuity 
  • Attend manufacturing meetings with management and customers
  • Train and mentor less experienced team members
Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

What's in It for You

Professional development & exposure
As Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, you will enjoy wide exposure in Detroit and other areas of the company (for example you could visit our newly opening plant in Toledo). You'll expand your skills and experience as you take on and resolve a steady stream of unique challenges in this role. You will share ideas with the DMS team and work directly with contacts at major OEMs, gaining insight into their organizations. Day in and day out, you'll have multiple opportunities to add to your knowledge base and demonstrate your ability to deliver results.

Career options
As we continue to grow we'll be looking for proven performers to take on leadership roles. As such, we are dedicated to supporting employee growth and development by providing the tools and training needed for success, and by creating advancement opportunities. From early onboarding and shadowing as you come up to speed, to ensuring you have the tools and training you need to continue to widen the scope of your role, DMS is behind you.
​
It's about making a difference
We opened our doors in 2012 with 50 people who shared a common vision to create manufacturing jobs in Detroit for the first time in decades, and to rebuild local communities to help drive the city's rebirth. Today, our 1,000 talented team members, mostly Detroit residents, are producing a million vehicle dashboards a year and turning their own dreams into sustainable opportunities for themselves and for many generations to come.

A positive career home
Detroit Manufacturing Systems is building a unique, world-class culture in which people can enjoy working and building their careers. We don't just care about the work, we care about the individuals doing the work and take steps to nurture the whole person via our healthy family atmosphere, employee growth and development programs, comprehensive benefits and so much more. DMS is a great place to make your career home.

Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive salary and bonus incentive program, we offer an outstanding benefits package. Our benefits include comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance programs; a 401(k) plan with company match that vests day one; flexible spending accounts; tuition assistance, even when the educational opportunity is not directly job-related; company-paid employee life insurance and short-term disability insurance; voluntary employee life insurance and long-term disability insurance; generous paid-time-off and more!

Video: Corp! Magazine interviews Andra Rush, CEO of Detroit Manufacturing Systems and owner of Rush Group, about what motivates her to leverage her entrepreneurial drive in transforming communities. As one of our colleagues puts it, Rush and DMS have turned a 'hood into a true neighborhood. Rush was honored by President Obama in his State of the Union address in January 2014, along with GM CEO Mary Barra, for demonstrating the "strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams."

Keys to Success

Technical knowledge will be essential in this role. You'll need to be adept at managing and monitoring a broad array of details, and also able to think on your feet. But just as important as technical skills will be your interpersonal abilities. Working effectively with management, team members and customers will take interpersonal finesse and at times a thick skin. You will be clear in your communications, exceptional in your problem-solving abilities and confident in your work. Earning credibility with your supervisor and other stakeholders will be key to your success.

Overall, you'll influence through matrixed relationships, helping people gain a better understanding and heightened awareness of processes. At the same time, you'll need to be willing and able to be assertive when necessary. You can't excel in this role by sitting behind a desk and sending emails. You'll need to get out from behind the desk and get hands-on daily.

In addition, to be an outstanding Advanced Manufacturing Engineer and support our core values, you will demonstrate:
  • Integrity by adhering to high ethical principles and professional standards
  • Trustworthiness by being honest, dependable and earning the confidence of others
  • The Will to Win by being tenaciously driven to accomplish stated objectives
  • Excellence by consistently being the best you can be
  • Responsibility by being reliable and trustworthy
  • Accountability by being willingly accepting responsibility for your actions
  • Dignity by behaving in accordance with the company’s basic principles
  • Respect by treating others as you would have them treat you

About Us

Our Mission

Create sustainable jobs and opportunities in the city of Detroit through automotive manufacturing excellence and people development.

Economic revitalization

DMS, formed in June 2012 through a joint venture between Rush Group Limited LLC and Faurecia, has brought a new, large-scale manufacturing facility to Detroit for the first time in decades and is helping to revitalize the city and the state of Michigan through significant job creation.

Since 2012, our workforce has grown from 50 to 1,000 strong.

Our team members build more than 1 million instrument panels a year (in fact, we built more than 1.5 million in 2015). By achieving best-in-class performance and profitability, DMS contributes to the health and sustainability of its team members, partners, suppliers and the community -- and we're working to create opportunity and prosperity for the next Seven Generations. Click on the image at right to see a larger view of our Seven Generations philosophy.

DMS majority partner Rush Group is 100 percent owned by Andra Rush, a Native American entrepreneur with 30 years of automotive industry experience. Ms. Rush serves as DMS CEO and president.

Rush Group

Andra Rush is the founder, chair, chief executive officer and president of Rush Group, which operates auto suppliers Dakkota Integrated Systems and Detroit Manufacturing Systems, along with Rush Trucking, a Corporation that is 100 percent owned by Ms. Rush and specializes in logistics, truckload, expedited and LTL transportation for the automotive industry. Rush Group is the largest woman-owned enterprise in Michigan and one of the largest Native American-owned businesses in the U.S.

Faurecia

Formed in 1997 and based in Nanterre, France, Faurecia ranks among the largest automotive suppliers in the world, delivering instrument panels, center consoles, cockpits, door panels, door modules and acoustic systems for global OEMs.
Detroit Manufacturing Systems is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
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