Position OverviewThe Novelis North America Automotive Technical Development team is looking for a Senior Technical Development Engineer, located in Novi, Michigan. The Senior Technical Development Engineer is a senior individual contributor who applies broad automotive aluminum expertise to develop, qualify, launch, and improve products and manufacturing processes. Serving as a trusted technical advisor to OEM customers and internal teams, this role independently leads complex, multi-functional work from concept through production, resolves non-routine technical issues, and influences decisions that support customer satisfaction, product performance, operational capability, and profitable growth.
This is a TCP (Technical Career Path) role, meaning the candidate will be evaluated at the time of hiring for the appropriate level within the TCP framework. Depending on experience and expertise, the selected candidate may be hired as a Lead Engineer or another level such as Senior Engineer, or Engineer.
ResponsibilitiesCustomer and Technical Leadership
- Build trusted relationships with OEM engineering, manufacturing, materials, and purchasing teams; translate customer needs into clear product, qualification, and technical support plans.
- Advise customers on alloy and surface selection, forming, joining, assembly, and application requirements; contribute technical guidance during design and manufacturing reviews.
- Influence customer and internal decisions through clear recommendations, risk communication, and alignment of technical solutions with commercial and business priorities.
Product, Process, and Project Delivery
- Independently lead multiple product and process development, qualification, and launch projects from concept through stable production, establishing scope, landmarks, risks, resources, and success criteria.
- Develop, negotiate, and maintain customer and product delivery specifications in collaboration with R&D, Product Development, Customer Solution Centers, Quality, Supply Chain, manufacturing sites, and tolling partners.
- Plan and direct plant, laboratory, tooling, and customer trials; analyze results using sound engineering and statistical methods and convert findings into actionable recommendations.
Complex Problem Solving and Risk Management
- Diagnose and resolve complex or ambiguous issues involving material performance, forming, joining, assembly, surface quality, and manufacturing processes, often where precedent is limited.
- Lead root-cause investigations, evaluate technical and business trade-offs, define corrective actions, and increase significant launch, quality, capacity, or customer risks.
- Apply independent judgment within established business and technical policies while engaging subject-matter experts and leadership when decisions have broader customer or operational impact.
Business Impact and Knowledge Transfer
- Deliver technical outcomes that improve qualification success, product quality, customer confidence, manufacturing robustness, cost, and growth potential.
- Act as a senior technical resource across North American Automotive operations, integrating customer, product, process, and business knowledge to advance critical initiatives.
- Document and transfer learning, standards, and guidelines to Technical Service, manufacturing, and development teams; provide technical coaching and guidance to less-experienced colleagues.
Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Materials, Metallurgical, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, or a related engineering field.
- Typically 8-10 years of relevant experience in automotive sheet metal, aluminum product or process development, manufacturing, technical service, or application engineering.
- Demonstrated expertise in aluminum sheet products and automotive forming, joining, assembly, surface, or qualification processes.
- Proven track record to lead complex engineering projects, resolve non-routine technical problems, and deliver results across customer and manufacturing environments.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence across functions and organizational levels without direct authority.
- Ability to work independently, handle contending priorities, and make risk-based decisions with appropriate partner alignment.
Preferred Qualifications- Master's degree in Engineering, Statistics, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Experience in an aluminum rolling mill or sheet manufacturing environment.
- Knowledge of battery electric vehicle and body structure applications, APQP, automotive qualification and launch processes, statistical analysis, SAP, CAD, or forming simulation.
- Black Belt certification or advanced project management experience.
Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship
What We OfferNovelis' benefits say a lot about how we care for each other. Our employees and their families have many different needs. As a result, our benefits offer choices on many levels and are high in quality, driven by the marketplace, and affordable. In addition to core benefits, we provide these unique to the industry benefits:
- Family Growth Programs: Paid parental Leave, Adoption Assistance, Fertility Treatment, Childcare Discount and Nursing Mom Support
- Employee Assistance Programs: free resources available 24/7 to you and your family in the areas of mental health, family life, and career and financial guidance
- Wellness Programs: incentives for wellness activities, wellness spending account, programs for building healthy habits, virtual physical therapy for joint, back, and pelvic health, health management programs and more.
- Diabetes Management Program
- Pet insurance
- Identity Theft Protection
- PerkSpot Discount Program
- Tuition assistance and career development programs!
#LI- MB1
#LI- Hybrid
Location ProfileNovelis' Novi office is located twenty-five miles northwest of the heart of the motor city. Its 100+ employees provide dedicated commercial sales technical support and recycling teams for Novelis' growing automotive customer base. Novi is also the location of the company's Customer Solution Center which accelerates innovation between Novelis and automakers for the next generation of vehicle design. As one of the fastest growing cities in Michigan Novi offers a host of destination shopping and specialty expos fine dining options and outdoor recreation activities. Our Novi team is a key sponsor to community events such as Habitat for Humanity and local schools with its FIRST Robotics team and STEM education programs.
