Application Engineer, SWSDAB

Major Responsibilities:

• Analyze customer requirements, product specifications, and applicable regulations for steering wheel mechatronics systems, and derive feasible technical solutions in coordination with application design and global engineering teams.
• Support system definition and product alignment for customer projects, including clarification of system functions, interfaces, and boundary conditions.
• Coordinate technical activities across local and global teams for development, integration, validation, and launch of steering wheel mechatronics products for Japanese customers.
• Act as a key technical interface toward customers, preparing and leading technical discussions, design reviews, project updates, and issue resolution meetings.
• Support the creation, review, and maintenance of system requirements, specifications, and technical documentation, ensuring clarity, consistency, and traceability.
• Contribute to system architecture discussions, interface definition, and change management in collaboration with hardware, software, mechanical, and test engineering teams.
• Define, review, and coordinate test plans and validation together with internal teams and customers.
• Support hands-on engineering activities such as prototype evaluation, bench measurements, basic electrical checks, and debugging of system-level issues.
• Drive technical issue tracking, prioritization, and follow-up of action items in a structured manner within a global cross-functional team environment.
• Contribute to engineering quality activities such as FMEA, DRBFM, failure analysis, and design reviews to support robust product development.
• Support estimation and coordination of engineering effort, development needs, prototyping activities, and technical deliverables for assigned projects.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations, reports, and status updates to customers and internal stakeholders in cooperation with global team members.

Key Competencies:

• Experience in mechatronics, systems engineering, application engineering, or embedded automotive product development.
• Good understanding of automotive systems, ECUs, sensors, actuators, and mechatronic integration.
• Ability to analyze customer requirements and translate them into structured engineering tasks and technical discussions.
• Experience with requirements management, specifications, and traceability; familiarity with tools such as PTC Integrity or similar is an advantage.
• Understanding system development processes and engineering quality methods such as FMEA, DRBFM, and structured problem solving.
• Experience with automotive communication and measurement tools such as Vector CANoe, CANalyzer, ...
• Basic knowledge of automotive communication protocols such as CAN, CAN FD, LIN, or related interfaces.
• Hands-on capability for prototype support, bench testing, electrical measurements, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to coordinate technical topics independently across cross-functional and global teams.
• Strong communication and documentation skills in Japanese and English for customer and internal technical discussions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Project.
• Strong ownership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills in a multicultural engineering environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with steering wheel systems, HOD systems, or related automotive mechatronics products.
• Experience in customer-facing engineering roles with Japanese OEMs or Tier 1 automotive suppliers.
• Familiarity with ASPICE-based development processes and requirement traceability.
• Knowledge of functional safety concepts and participation in related engineering discussions.
• Ability to read basic electrical schematics and support root-cause analysis of system-level issues.
• Experience in technical coordination, project follow-up, or small-scale project management activities.
• Strong leadership, decision making, interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, along with the ability to research, analyze and recommend best practices.

Educational and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or a related engineering field; Master’s degree is a plus.
• Approximately 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in automotive mechatronics, systems engineering, application engineering, or embedded product development.
• Experience working with cross-functional engineering teams in product development, system integration, validation, or customer application projects.
• Experience in customer-facing technical discussions and coordination with internal and external stakeholders is preferred.
• Experience in the automotive industry, especially with Japanese OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers, is an advantage.

Be part of our ZF Lifetec team as Application Engineer, SWSDAB and apply now!

Contact

Ni Zhao

ni.zhao@zf-lifetec.com 

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT: 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are more than just words for us. They are at the core of the ZF Way that propels our team members towards their utmost success. We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a natural reflex. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that every member of ZF can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape next generation mobility, safety, sustainability and social justice. 

With four generations across 118 nationalities in 41 countries, ZF combines a unique variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Together, we solve problems, drive innovation and shape next generation mobility. 

Our company is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with us and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please contact us. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. ZF is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran