Quality Engineer III

Inside the Role

Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) is the undisputed market leader and thrives as the innovator in the commercial vehicle industry. We are compelled to persistently push the envelope as we sharpen our focus on driver assistance, autonomous technology, and alternative fuel vehicles including electric and hydrogen. DTNA has created a strong engineering team to bring our vision to reality. This team exudes creativity, energy, innovation, and passion. Our commitment to innovation results in products that our customers, drivers, and operators crave. We are relentless in the pursuit of breakthrough processes and tools to accelerate the ultimate customer focused solutions to the market.

As a Quality Engineer – Risk Analysis & Specifications, you will safeguard the safety, reliability, and regulatory integrity of our Daimler Truck vehicles portfolio by leading early phase design risk and requirements processes. Through high‑quality DFMEAs, robust component and system specifications, and Designation Safety‑Relevant (DS) analysis, you will help engineering teams identify hazards, eliminate failure modes (including single‑point failures), prevent late design changes, and enable clear, manufacturable, and testable designs that perform reliably throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

You will also serve as the local ambassador and process owner for a global Component Specifications process and template transformation initiative, aligning local execution with global standards while making the process & template simpler, faster, and more robust for engineering teams and suppliers.

This role sits at the intersection of engineering rigor, systems thinking, and leadership influence—ideal for someone motivated by preventing failures that truly matter.

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

What You Drive at DTNA

Core Responsibilities

1. Safety & Design Risk Leadership

• Lead DFMEA, Component Specification, and Designation Safety‑Relevant (DS) processes to drive early risk visibility, strengthen requirements clarity, and reduce downstream design changes while preventing safety‑critical failures.

• Act as a risk authority and facilitator, guiding engineering teams to identify, assess, and reduce design risks prior to release.

• Ensure DFMEA findings are translated into clear actions, requirements, and traceable mitigations.

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2. DFMEA Excellence

• Moderate DFMEAs with system owners, component engineers, and test engineers, ensuring high technical rigor and constructive challenge.

• Assign, track, and verify closure of DFMEA actions before final design release.

• Lead DFMEA audits of supplier components, as required.

3. Component Specifications Ownership

• Serve as the local subject matter expert (SME) for Component Requirement and Contractual Implementation Specifications.

• Maintain local process standards, templates, and training; lead annual updates with cross‑functional stakeholders (Engineering, Purchasing, Legal, Supplier Quality, etc.).

• Author and review quality‑related specification content for systems and components.

4. Component Specifications Global & Local Integration

• Act as the DTNA representative and ambassador for the global Component Specifications initiative, ensuring local needs are reflected while aligning with global intent.

• Collaborate with global counterparts (Germany and India) to continuously improve specification quality and usability.

• Mentor and support the remote (India) team responsible for specification creation and coordination in development projects.

5. Program & Stakeholder Leadership

• Represent Engineering Quality in project governance forums and core team visual management meetings.

• Ensure all EQ deliverables are completed on time, at high quality, and escalated appropriately when risks emerge.

• Track and communicate engineering quality KPIs, open risks, and systemic issues—acting as a quality voice within Engineering.

Knowledge You Should Bring  

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronic, or Systems Engineering (or equivalent) and 5–7 years of relevant experience in product development, engineering quality, systems engineering, or design assurance within automotive, aerospace, or similar regulated industries, is required.

• Strong engineering fundamentals with demonstrated experience in design risk management for complex mechanical or mechatronic systems.

• Practical experience leading or moderating DFMEAs and driving risk reduction actions to closure.

• Experience working with component or system specifications (CRS / CIS or equivalent).

• Proven ability to influence without direct authority and challenge design decisions constructively.

• Excellent facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills across functions and levels.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple development activities in parallel.

• Comfort operating in ambiguity and change within large, matrixed organizations.

• Ability to work on-site at DTNA Portland.

• An attached resume is required.

Exceptional Candidates Might Have  

• Experience with safety‑critical systems, hazard analysis, or single‑point failure prevention.

• Experience applying DFMEA software tools (e.g., IQ‑FMEA RM Pro, XFMEA, Pro FMEA, etc.) to structure risk analysis, manage actions, and support design decisions.

• Familiarity with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS NG, ELM, JAMA, etc.)

• Experience with global or distributed engineering teams.

• ASQ certification or similar quality credentials.

• Experience with Problem Solving tools (e.g., Shainin, Six Sigma, etc.)

• Exposure to change management concepts (e.g., ADKAR).

• Familiarity with low level automation tools (e.g. Regrello, Power Automate, EWM, etc.)

• Interest or experience applying data analytics or AI to quality, risk, or process improvement.

#LI-RR1 #LI-Hybrid

Where We Work

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

Portland, OR 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.