Sustaining Engineer — USA New Rhode Island – MFG

Role Summary The Sustaining Engineer is responsible for the ongoing support and management of released production products and manufacturing processes. Serving as the engineering owner for released products, this role manages all product-related changes throughout the lifecycle, including design revisions, material changes, supplier changes, cost reduction initiatives, obsolescence management, and manufacturing-driven improvements. The Sustaining Engineer is accountable for evaluating, coordinating, implementing, and documenting all changes to released products throughout their lifecycle. This position works closely with Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Program Management, Customers, and Suppliers to ensure product changes are properly assessed, validated, documented, and implemented without disruption to production, quality, or customer requirements. Your Role • Serve as the engineering owner for released production products throughout their lifecycle. • Evaluate, coordinate, and implement engineering changes affecting released products, components, materials, specifications, manufacturing processes, and supplier-sourced parts. • Manage Change Requests (CRs), Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), and associated change management documentation. • Assess the impact of proposed changes on product performance, quality, manufacturing processes, tooling, cost, inventory, customer requirements, and regulatory compliance. • Lead cross-functional reviews of proposed changes with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Program Management. • Coordinate and execute product changes resulting from customer requests, supplier-driven changes, quality concerns, material substitutions, obsolescence issues, and cost-reduction initiatives. • Support root cause investigations and implement design, material, process, or product improvements as required. • Ensure all engineering changes are properly reviewed, validated, approved, documented, and implemented. • Maintain configuration control and product traceability throughout the product lifecycle. • Manage and maintain product documentation, including drawings, specifications, bills of materials (BOMs), and engineering standards, ensuring released product data remains accurate and aligned with approved engineering changes. • Coordinate product validation, testing, and qualification activities associated with engineering changes. • Support PPAP submissions, customer notifications, engineering change approvals, and validation activities as required. • Collaborate with suppliers to evaluate and implement supplier-initiated changes and support supplier development activities as needed. • Identify opportunities to improve manufacturability, reliability, efficiency, and product standardization. • Support product launches and end-of-life product management activities. • Develop and present technical reports, engineering analyses, implementation plans, and project updates to management. • Ensure compliance with customer requirements, internal procedures, quality management system requirements, and applicable industry standards. • Perform all other duties as assigned. • Strong understanding of engineering change management and product lifecycle management processes. • Knowledge of manufacturing processes, assembly methods, tooling, fixtures, and production equipment. • Ability to assess technical, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial impacts of engineering changes. • Strong project management and organizational skills • Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities. • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, BOMs, and technical documentation. • Experience with configuration management and document control systems. • Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills • Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. • Strong technical writing and documentation skills • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and ERP/MRP systems. • Ability to effectively communicate with customers, suppliers, and all levels of the organization. Your Background: • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required (Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering preferred). • Minimum of three (3) years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment required. Automotive manufacturing experience strongly preferred. • Candidates must have a proven track record of leading process improvements, implementing manufacturing equipment and tooling changes, and driving engineering projects to successful completion. • Experience managing engineering changes, drawing revisions, BOM updates, product improvements, and manufacturing change implementation. • Demonstrated experience delivering measurable improvements such as cost reduction projects, material substitutions, product redesigns, supplier change implementations, manufacturability improvements, and quality improvements. • Experience supporting released product throughout the production lifecycle. • Working knowledge of IATF 16949 and Automotive Core Tools, including APQP, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, PPAP, and Control Plans preferred. • Experience with product validation, change control, configuration management, and technical documentation. • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, assembly operations, and supplier management. • Ability to make sound engineering decisions with minimal supervision. Your Benefits: • Private health care effective day 1 of employment • Life and accident insurance • Paid Time Off (Holidays, Vacation and Parental leave) • Relocation assistance may be available • Learning and development opportunities • Discount programs with various manufacturers and retailers • Recognition for innovation and excellence • Opportunities to give back to the community • Tuition Reimbursement WHY JOIN US? • You can grow at Aptiv. Aptiv provides an inclusive work environment where all individuals can grow and develop, regardless of gender, ethnicity or beliefs. • You can have an impact . Safety is a core Aptiv value; we want a safer world for us and our children, one with: Zero fatalities, Zero injuries, Zero accidents. • You have support . We ensure you have the resources and support you need to take care of your family and your physical and mental health with a competitive health insurance package. At Aptiv, we deliver innovative solutions that people trust when it matters most. Progress is never static. It is about reaching further, exploring new possibilities, and enabling mobility. Aptiv empowers customers to create solutions people rely on—advancing safety and autonomy in Automotive and Commercial Vehicles, enabling mission-critical performance in Aerospace & Defense, and powering intelligent systems across Energy, Enterprise, and Telecommunications. We also drive precision and efficiency in Industrials & Robotics and support life-critical innovation in Medical technologies. Guided by our winning culture and values to Think & Act Like Owners, as One Team, and Play to Win, we turn commitment into results and achieve more together.   Join Us to Deliver Innovative Solutions That People Trust! n Medical technologies. Guided by our winning culture and values to Think & Act Like Owners, as One Team, and Play to Win, we turn commitment into results and achieve more together.   Join Us to Deliver Innovative Solutions That People Trust! #LI-MG1 Privacy Notice - Active Candidates: https://www.aptiv.com/privacy-notice-active-candidates Aptiv is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.