HVAC Controls Validation Engineer

Unclassified - Auburn Hills, MI

Full-time - Mid Level

Auburn Hills, MI

10,001+ employees

About the position

The HVAC Controls System Validation and Root Cause Engineer will lead the HVAC software validation activities for automotive vehicle programs, focusing on Automatic Temperature Control, Manual Temperature Control, and overall system climate control comfort logic. This role is critical in ensuring that HVAC systems meet the required performance standards and customer expectations. The engineer will be responsible for developing and executing comprehensive validation and testing plans for HVAC controls, documenting any issues found during testing, and following up to confirm that corrective actions have been implemented effectively. In addition to validation activities, the engineer will share lessons learned across global validation resources to promote continuous improvement in validation processes. A significant aspect of this role involves leading root cause analysis and issue resolution for systemic and interface issues encountered at assembly plants. This includes setting diagnostic trouble codes and addressing HVAC quality concerns related to controls logic, calibrations, or CAN communication that may prevent vehicles from passing end-of-line sign-off tests. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a strong understanding of HVAC systems and controls. The engineer will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure that all HVAC systems are validated thoroughly before they reach the customer, thereby enhancing the overall quality and reliability of the automotive products.

Responsibilities

• Development and execution of HVAC controls validation and testing plans
• Documentation of issues found and follow-up testing to confirm corrective actions
• Sharing of lessons learned across global validation resources
• Continuous improvement actions for validation processes
• Lead root cause and issue resolution on systemic/interface issues at assembly plants
• Setting diagnostic trouble codes and addressing HVAC quality concerns
• Ensuring compliance with end-of-line sign-off tests for customer vehicles

Requirements

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Electrical or Computer Engineering from an ABET accredited university
• 5+ years work experience in embedded controls hardware in the loop (HIL) validation or vehicle level validation of ECUs for functional performance and CAN/LIN bus communications
• CAN/LIN bus knowledge and/or circuit analysis experience
• Experience with Matlab/Simulink/Statflow and/or Vector CANoe, CANape or CAPL scripting
• Proficiency to root cause HVAC control issues in development and volume production programs
• Good knowledge of Microcontrollers and ECU hardware design
• Familiarity with BUS tools, scopes and other test equipment
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (DFMEA)
• Experience with Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R)
• Familiarity with control plans and agile software development
• Experience using proactive quality tools (Design for Six Sigma)
• Experience using reactive quality tools (Kepner-Tregoe / Shainin)

Benefits

• Flexible work
• Healthcare including dental, vision, mental health, and well-being programs
• Financial well-being programs such as 401(k) and Employee Share Ownership Plan
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Family building benefits like adoption assistance, surrogacy, and cryopreservation
• Social well-being benefits like subsidized back-up child/elder care and tutoring
• Mentoring, coaching and learning programs
• Employee Resource Groups
• Disaster Relief