This position is responsible for testing, developing and validating new or improved automotive brake component designs or new applications of existing designs.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
- Plans, executes and reports on experimental and validation tests on brake products.
- Plans and analyzes dimensional measurement of brake components.
- Analyzes test results and recommends corrective actions in cases of performance non-compliance. Use the problem solving tools such as Six Sigma, Shainin, etc. when necessary.
- Works with design engineer and project manager to ensure the compliance of product with customer’s specifications and timing requirements.
- Designs and writes test procedures.
- Leads technicians in procedures and technical aspects of test and measurement execution
- Recommends and implements improvements to test equipment and procedures.
- Is approved to perform reference calibration on equipment necessary to their assigned task.
- Organizes test samples. Performs minor modifications to test samples when necessary. Ability to assemble brake products from components.
- Create fixture drawings using commercial software (Auto-Cad, Solid Works). Use of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing on drawings.
- Perform other duties as assigned
Education and/or Experience (minimum required for the position)
Bachelor's degree in Engineering (B. S.) from four-year college or university is minimally required; Master’s Degree in Engineering (M.S.) will receive higher consideration. Or, six or more years of related experience to foundation brake design or testing and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to read, analyzes, and interprets common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
- Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
- Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
- Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
- Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations.
- Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
- Ability to define problems collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
None
Physical Demands/Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Other Requirements
None
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (B.S.)
- Master's degree in Engineering (M.S.)
- Six or more years of related brake design or testing experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
- Experience planning, executing and reporting experimental and validation tests on brake products
- Experience with dimensional measurement of components and use of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)
- Proficiency with CAD software (Auto-Cad, SolidWorks) to create fixture drawings
- Familiarity with problem-solving tools such as Six Sigma and Shainin
- Ability to design and write test procedures and lead technicians in test execution
- Ability to perform reference calibration on necessary equipment
- Ability to organize, assemble, and perform minor modifications to brake test samples
What We Do
Akebono was founded over 90 years ago, and continues to provide the world’s automotive industry with advanced braking and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) solutions. The company’s commitment to innovation, process improvement, quality control and customer service has positioned it as a key resource for leading OEMs, Tier I brake suppliers and the automotive aftermarket. Key automotive OEM customers include Audi, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. Akebono manufactures a wide range of brake friction materials and foundation brake assemblies, including disc brake calipers and drum brakes, employing the Akebono Production System (APS). This business approach features proven quality control techniques to guarantee minimal process variation in all phases of production. Embraced throughout the organization, APS enables the company to consistently achieve nearly zero defects per million parts produced. Akebono operates R&D technical centers in the United States, Japan and France, and manufactures brake friction materials and components in 30 wholly owned or affiliated facilities worldwide. This includes four production facilities in Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina. All of Akebono’s operations have secured appropriate QS9000 and ISO14001 certifications, and the company has received a number of quality and performance awards from customers. Worldwide, a total of 8,279 people are employed by Akebono; 3,054 in North America. In 2012, the company’s worldwide sales totaled $2.1 billion (US). North American sales totaled just over $1 billion (US). Akebono has a proud legacy of achieving Japanese technological firsts. From its inception, Akebono initiated overseas technical tie-ups and offshore production. All of these activities stem from the constant demands of improving quality and increasing customer satisfaction.
