Inside the Role
Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) is advancing Product Complexity Optimization as a strategic imperative to simplify its product and part portfolio, improve operational efficiency, strengthen long-term competitiveness, and support the company's strategic ambition to be the undisputed market leader.
The Technical Lead role serves as the primary technical leader and advisor for enterprise-wide complexity optimization across DTNA's product portfolio. It drives technical idea generation, proposal development, and evaluation activities required to identify and advance meaningful complexity optimization opportunities.
Working across Engineering and DTNA's key business functions, this position enables teams to challenge existing requirements, designs, standards, portfolio decisions, and manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for simplification. Success requires deep engineering expertise, broad vehicle knowledge, and a strong understanding of customer applications and business needs. The goal is to reduce unnecessary complexity without compromising customer value, product functionality, or vehicle capability. With high visibility across the Engineering organization, the role partners closely with Engineering leadership to prioritize and advance complexity optimization proposals.
The role is a critical enabler of DTNA's Complexity Optimization strategy, supporting the delivery of up to $250 million in sustainable cost savings and operational efficiency gains by 2030.
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
Job Description
What You Drive at DTNA
- Serve as DTNA's technical lead for complexity optimization, driving the identification, development, and evaluation of technical complexity optimization opportunities and developing technically and financially sound proposals.
- Guide Engineering teams in identifying opportunities to simplify DTNA's product portfolio, part portfolio, and manufacturing processes while preserving customer value, product functionality, and vehicle capability.
- Facilitate technical workshops and working sessions that identify optimization opportunities, challenge assumptions, and mature proposals toward decision readiness.
- Collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, Service, Sales, Marketing, Product Strategy, and other functions to build alignment and advance proposals.
- Identify and shape high-impact complexity optimization opportunities that deliver significant business value across DTNA's product portfolio and operations.
- Present complexity optimization recommendations, tradeoffs, risks, and investment cases to Engineering and executive leadership.
- Partner closely with Engineering leadership to prioritize opportunities and secure the resources needed to advance approved complexity optimization proposals.
- Serve as DTNA's technical advisor and thought leader for complexity optimization by establishing methods and best practices, mentoring teams, and influencing technical decision-making across the organization.
- Mentor and influence engineering leaders and teams to embed a complexity optimization mindset across DTNA's engineering culture
Knowledge You Should Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, industrial engineering, or a related technical field and 12+ years of engineering experience in an industrial, automotive, or commercial vehicle OEM environment, is required
- Broad system level understanding of vehicle architectures, systems, and product lifecycles
- Demonstrated experience influencing technical direction and decision‑making across multiple programs or platforms
- Strong understanding of product development processes, engineering governance, and cross‑functional interfaces
- Proven ability to evaluate technical, financial, and operational tradeoffs without owning detailed design execution
- Experience working in highly matrixed organizations with indirect authority
- Strong facilitation and communication skills, capable of guiding technical discussions and presenting complex topics to senior leadership
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, enterprise‑wide initiatives
- An attached resume is required
Exceptional Candidates Might Have
- Experience in complexity management, value engineering, modular architectures, standardization or design standards development
- Exposure to manufacturing, supply chain, or aftermarket considerations beyond core design engineering
- Master’s degree in engineering or engineering management
- Experience in the design and development of metal and plastic components and assemblies
- Prior experience contributing to enterprise transformation or cross‑product initiatives at DTNA or Daimler Truck
- Understanding of customer applications, business needs, and the factors that drive customer value
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.
