Senior Project Engineer III

Inside the Role

Inside the Role
Daimler Truck North America is the market leader and thrives as the voice of the trucking industry. In the Detroit Powertrain Test Center, we are driving the powertrain validation for our global Daimler Truck brand including conventional diesel and alternative powertrain components. The Senior Project Engineer will lead Detroit Powertrain Test Center projects from concept through closeout, managing mechanical, electrical, controls, automation, facility, process equipment, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role translates technical requirements into clear scopes of work, budgets, schedules, risk assessments, KPIs, and project plans while coordinating across internal stakeholders, engineering partners, DTNA operations, vendors, architects, contractors, and subcontractors. The position is responsible for tracking cost and schedule performance, resolving project challenges, reviewing construction documentation and field activities, supporting commissioning and acceptance, ensuring complete closeout documentation and training, and providing technical guidance to deliver safe, maintainable, standards-compliant projects aligned with business and operational goals.

Posting Information

We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist our candidates with their application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected.

We Take Care of Our Team

Position offers a starting salary range of $108,000 – $139,000 USD

Pay offered dependent on knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits include annual bonus program; 401k company contribution with company match up to 6% as well as non-elective company contribution of 3 - 7% depending on age; starting at 4 weeks paid vacation; 13+ calendar holidays; 8 weeks paid parental leave; employee assistance program; comprehensive healthcare plans and wellness programs; onsite fitness (at some locations); tuition assistance and volunteer paid time off; short-term and long-term disability plans.

What You Drive at DTNA

• Lead Detroit Powertrain Test Center engineering projects from concept through closeout, including test mechanical and electrical infrastructure, controls and automation, facility/process support equipment, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Design, communicate, and implement complete operational plans while evaluating project scale, selecting the appropriate management approach, and preparing project packages aligned with front-end loading, execution, quality gates, closeout, and continued optimization.
• Manage a portfolio of active projects by translating technical requirements from internal test center stakeholders and external engineering partners into detailed scopes of work, budgets, schedules, risk assessments, KPIs, and status reporting.
• Track project cost burndown against approved budgets, monitor performance and schedule progress, resolve operational challenges, and apply decision-making frameworks that balance resources, timelines, technical requirements, and budget constraints.
• Coordinate activities across project teams, leadership, engineering partners, DTNA operations, vendors, architects/engineers, contractors, and subcontractors to ensure safe, accessible, maintainable, and standards-compliant project delivery.
• Review construction documents, contractor and subcontractor pre-task plans, submittals, schedules, field questions, construction progress, and project documentation; coordinate utility outages and responses through the DTNA Project Manager as needed.
• Participate in pre-bid reviews, construction meetings, facility operations coordination, campus coordination meetings, punch list walks, commissioning, acceptance activities, and project closeout.
• Support closeout by ensuring as-built documentation is completed, DTNA Master CAD files are updated, facility maintenance and operating manuals are collected, and appropriate operations training is coordinated.
• Provide technical guidance to project teams, connect stakeholders with appropriate technical resources, represent DTNA Infrastructure team as required, and assist in developing concept layouts, designs, scopes of work, and budgets.

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Structural, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience, including experience with manufacturing, automotive testing infrastructure, facility/process equipment, powertrain test systems, or comparable technical operations.
• Knowledge of core systems engineering principles and integration between mechanical, electrical, controls, and software and facility systems within heavy-duty engine, internal combustion, electric mobility, or powertrain testing environments.
• 3+ Experience in engineering related to manufacturing or automotive testing infrastructure and equipment: ex. HVAC, ventilation, heating/cooling systems, power utilities, safety control and annunciation systems, process controllers, maintenance systems, and technical operations.
• Knowledge of industry standards and regulatory codes (IBC, NEC, NFPA, etc.) and the ability to interpret into technical project requirements
• 3+ years of experience in project management methods and ability to identify use case for each method depending on project complexity and scope: ex. agile, scrum, lean, waterfall
• Ability to provide all components of project management including: scheduling and milestones, resource planning, cost tracking, risk and issue tracking, cross-functional coordination, documentation and traceability
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage project partners for the purpose of exchanging information, handle sensitive topics, translate and simplify communication
• Ability to interpret engineering project materials, including mechanical and electrical drawings, schematics, CAD models, technical reports, written procedures, building codes, regulatory requirements, and industry standards such as IBC, NEC, and NFPA.
• Minimum 5 years of experience of Project management knowledge and experience, including selecting appropriate methods based on project complexity and scope(agile, scrum, lean, water fall), managing multiple projects, developing schedules and milestones, planning resources, tracking costs, managing risks and issues, coordinating cross-functional teams, and maintaining documentation and traceability.
• Minimum 5 years experience with project management and business tools such as Microsoft Project, Oracle, Primavera P6, Planview, Celoxis, cPlace, RPM, Microsoft Office, and database tools.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve root causes of complex technical problems, communicate barriers to management, and apply sound judgment across engineering disciplines.
• Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage project partners, simplify technical information, handle sensitive topics, and work effectively in a global environment with union and salary employees.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to work across multiple engineering disciplines.

Exceptional Candidates Might Have

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Structural or Industrial Engineering.

Where We Work

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)-

Detroit, MI US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule Type:

Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides an unparalleled customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration.

At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with cutting-edge solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of innovative success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio is second to none, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all.

That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving.

Additional Information

• Visa sponsorship will only be open to current Daimler Truck North America employees working under an existing U.S. Daimler Truck North America Visa

• All other applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application

• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check

• Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen

• Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions

• EEO - Disabled/Veterans

Daimler Truck North America is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status.

For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.