By Katie McKy

 

 

The automotive sector puts you in the driver’s seat.

 

 

The Wall Street Journal forecast record sales for the automotive sector in 2016, powered by cheap gasoline and low interest rates. However, there's another factor putting ever more drivers behind the wheel, and that's the profusion of innovation in this sector.

Cars are self-parking and self-driving, linked to global positioning satellites and smartphones. They're more comfortable, efficient and safer. This is a golden age in the automotive industry, so hop aboard and follow these engineers thriving in this field and at these companies.

 

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Rief’s Passion for Cars Manifests at Nissan

Sonia Rief is the director of vehicle program management and regional chief vehicle engineer for Nissan Rogue at the Nissan technical center, North America. She’s one of more than 247,500 employees who work in 160 countries. Nissan has more than 22,000 employees in the U.S., including 16,000 manufacturing jobs at assembly plants in Tennessee and Mississippi. It’s headquartered stateside in Smyrna, TN.

However, Nissan is more than gargantuan. It produces alluring dream machines with a quality that Rief describes as “spice.”

And she’s happy to be part of it all: “I love our products. Nissan does a great job of keeping performance and exciting design alive in all of our products. In my opinion, design can flatten out in high-volume products. Nissan doesn’t let this happen, even in our highest-volume vehicles, like Altima or Rogue, which are intended to appeal to a wide variety of customers. Everything has spice and uniqueness.”

That spice comes from the creative latitude tendered to Nissan's employees, she says. “You'd be surprised by our flexibility. Nissan empowers individuals to make decisions quickly in the development process, which helps us deliver products more quickly to consumers.”

But even with the flexibility, sometimes you have to stretch to grow creatively, Rief contends.

“In 2009 I took a special assignment in Japan to identify cross-company, cost-saving synergies within the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Our goal was to identify opportunities to share platforms and technologies, totaling 1.5 billion Euros in savings. This was a challenging assignment not only for the large financial target, but it also took me outside my comfort zone in several ways,” she explains.

“My background is in engineering, while this assignment focused more on business operations. Also, while the business culture in Japan is very different, it was made more complex by the fact that my primary counterpart was French. I quickly had to learn and adapt to both Japanese and French business cultures to work successfully in the Alliance. I asked a lot of questions, set goals and tracked the progress toward them, and kept an open mind about how best to reach those goals.”

Whatever the challenge, Rief feels leveraging your strengths while strengthening your weaknesses is paramount: “Build on your strengths. Focus on what you do well, and bring your best in those things to the company…[and] don’t let your weaknesses distract you or hold you back!”

For Rief, the automotive sector is where her passion and profession intersect. She attended college in North Carolina where racing is a large part of the culture. She studied mechanical engineering because she liked math and loved the way it’s used to produce something fantastic. Her interest in cars was piqued when she became a member of North Carolina State University’s Legends Racing team.

“[I] was then fostered [via] participation in racing groups outside the university. Although my internships were with a local power company, and I found thermodynamics interesting, when an automaker was on campus recruiting, it seemed like a good opportunity to pursue a job that overlapped with my personal interests. I accepted a position as a durability test engineer and moved to Detroit after graduation,” she recalls.

And she excels today by balancing: “You have to balance what you want the engineering design to be with what it needs to meet a specific set of parameters. Meeting all of the requirements - high quality and low cost, implemented on time - with the right design to meet the customer’s expectation is a daily challenge.”

Find career opportunities at Nissan at nissan-northamerica.com/corporate-information/careers. Connect with the firm on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Google+.

 

Nissan Fast Facts

• Nissan Technical Center North America (NTCNA) is responsible for blending technology and engineering to create cars that deliver total customer satisfaction.

• NTCNA has a proving ground facility located on 3,050 acres in Stanfield, AZ.

• The NTCNA proving ground also features a 5.7 mile high-speed oval and four individual road courses designed to test vehicle durability, reliability and ride comfort.

• NTCNA employs more than 1,200 people and represents an investment of $238 million.

• NTCNA has operations in Michigan, California and Arizona.

Source: nissanusa.com/about/corporate-info

 

Zahir Rises to the Challenge at GM

Azzam Zahir, director of insider threat and risk for General Motor's IT, is tasked with responding to internal threats and risk to Detroit, MI-based GM’s IT infrastructure, digital assets and sensitive information. Zahir leads 21 people in this task, but the crown wasn’t too comfy when he first donned it.

“It was challenging when I transitioned from a technical role to a leadership position. Prior to [this move], I had a more granular, detailed approach when working on projects. I was unsure if I’d be able to see the broader picture or scope of programs and initiatives, and [unsure as to] how I might communicate my views. I sought feedback from those in leadership roles I admired and asked for blunt feedback. That helped me develop the skills needed to improve,” he explains.

However, this wasn’t the first time Zahir had to adapt on the fly.

“I’ve been an IT professional my entire career. I had prior manufacturing experience having worked for one of the most recognizable brands in the world and a Fortune 500 company. However, I’d never worked in automotive and thought it would be challenging and rewarding. I couldn’t have been more correct [about] that.”

It’s challenging because of the size and complexity, he says. “The complexity would surprise you. GM and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. Our 215,000-plus employees work in 396 facilities touching six continents, they speak more than 50 languages, and touch 23 time zones. From electric and mini-cars to heavy-duty, full-size trucks, monocabs and convertibles, our dynamic brands offer a comprehensive range of vehicles in more than 120 countries around the world,” notes Zahir.

“Prior to joining GM, I was like a lot of people who questioned how hard it could be actually be to produce the products and services we provide. It’s a challenging environment to work in, but I’m confident GM is on the right path.”

And if you want to be rewarded with promotion like Zahir, heed his advice: “Learn the power of managing through influence. Oftentimes, people who may be looking to promote you will either intentionally or unintentionally take notice of your ability to manage your peers as that’s sometimes a more difficult task than managing people who report to you. Managing vertically is a different skill set, but managing horizontally through influence can be priceless when it comes to getting things done.”

Zahir also advises strategically stretching yourself: “I was told to always pursue experiences or roles that would help build my career. I make a point to talk with leaders in positions in which I’m interested and find out more about their career paths. The advice was simply to ensure I was taking into account all aspects of a move rather than just leaving from one ‘job’ to another. It’s been priceless advice for me.”

Discover job opportunities at GM at careers.gm.com. Connect with the company on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google+.

 

GM Fast Facts

• Employs 215,000 people.

• Serves six continents.

• In 23 time zones.

• Headquartered in Detroit, MI.

• 10 automotive brands: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, Baojun, Wuling and Jiefang.

Source: gm.com/company/about-gm.html

 

Quintero Follows Her Passion at Chrysler

Maria Quintero, a foundation brakes release engineer at Auburn Hills, MI-based Chrysler, was drawn to automotive engineering by a passion for cars. And it's one that's fuel-injected at Chrysler.

"My passion for cars drove me to the automotive industry. The fact that what we design is something we can get our hands on in a relatively short period of time is very exciting. It’s also very fast-paced, so it never gets boring. Every day is filled with challenges and opportunities to learn new things. I love the fact I can drive a truck and validate design changes almost immediately,” she says.

Quintero's passion for her profession further derives from her work conditions and colleagues, both of which, she says, make her job “very pleasant.”

To get where she is, the engineer’s had to be the cognitive equivalent of an Olympic gymnast: “Even though I majored in electrical engineering, my current job requires more mechanical engineering experience, and that creates a challenge. I’ve been open and willing to learn new concepts and ask questions as much as I can so I can perform better and avoid getting frustrated.”

It helps Chrysler - which is part of the London, U.K.-based Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies - has the educational infrastructure to perpetually update its employees.

“I like the fact that FCA invests so much in their employees. I was part of the Chrysler Institute of Engineering (CIE) program where they sponsor our Master in Engineering, as well as various training programs. All employees [also] have access to resource groups within the company, and that makes it feel as if you’re working in a small company.”

And what kind of mechanical engineering does Quintero do? “I overview design, development, manufacturing and release of foundation brake components for the current and future generation of the Ram 1500.”

If you're considering this sector or Chrysler, then get grease under your fingernails, literally or figuratively, as soon as possible, and stay as agile as an Olympic gymnast, Quintero counsels.

“Getting involved with extracurricular activities and projects, getting good grades, as well as getting internships, will really make the job-search process a lot smoother. As a college graduate you need to keep your mind open to new opportunities and new places because it’s hard to know what you’ll succeed in if you don’t try it.”

Plus, getting grease under your fingernails further showcases your potential. “Extracurricular activities and/or projects related to the automotive industry…will not only give you an idea of what we do, but it’ll also provide future employers a better vision [about] how you’d develop in this industry.” 

Learn about career paths with Chrysler at fcagroupcareers.com/Pages/default.aspx. Connect with the firm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr, YouTube and Google+.

 

Chrysler (FCA) Fast Facts

• FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group.

• FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, MI, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies.

• FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands, and the SRT performance vehicle designation.

• The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products.

Source: fcanorthamerica.com/company/AboutUs/Pages/AboutUs.aspx

 

Dorsey Switches Gears at Toyota

Jamila E. Dorsey, an interior trim design engineer at Plano, TX-based Toyota North America, has millions of bosses: the customers of Toyota.

“Toyota has a strong background in quality and continuous improvement, and is recognized as a leader in the industry in these areas, but not many know how important the voice of the customer is at each step of the vehicle development. When making design choices, we always consider the final impact to the customer, and if our choices will be pleasing the customer. The needs of our customers are strongly supported by all levels, even if they require extra effort and/or cost for the design,” she says.

As Toyota’s customers’ needs are supported, so are the needs of its diverse employees, Dorsey notes. “Toyota is also a good corporate citizen, and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. This is evident in their on-going support and expansion of affinity groups known as Business Partnering Groups (BPGs). BPGs are volunteer groups formed by Team Members with common interests and backgrounds. They engage team members outside of their core jobs. I’m a past board and current active member of the African American Collaborative (AAC) BPG at TTC.”

The engineer further points out Toyota listens to its employees and supports communities: “I’m also a Flint, MI native, so the Flint water crisis has been a scary situation for my family. Earlier this year, I felt a personal call to action, inspiring me to collaborate with the AAC to create a proposal to assist my hometown. Toyota agreed to our request to host a water drive, make a corporate donation to The Flint Child Health and Development Fund, and support a team member matching gift campaign.”

She continues: “Toyota’s willingness to support BPG efforts such as this demonstrates how they recognize the tremendous potential diversity has in continuing to increase relationships within the communities/regions in which they reside.”

Dorsey’s voice is also heard and heeded regarding her work. “Toyota is a large company, but it feels like a small company. The physical working environment is wide open to encourage communication. I can speak directly to the chief engineer about my design and my ideas. I’ve reported directly to our vice presidents and the president about issues throughout my career. I’ve been able to have my voice heard and change the direction of parts on our vehicles.”

Dorsey doesn’t just change the direction of parts on vehicles. She also changes the direction of her career.

“My first role at the company included vehicle and unit production planning. I utilized my industrial engineering skills to help with the planning and manufacturing of the design. After five years I decided I needed a new challenge and wanted to make a non-linear career transition into a design engineer role. I felt I’d make a unique contribution based on my background and learn a new part of the vehicle development. Toyota likes to strongly support and develop team members, so I was able to rotate to the job of design engineer. Being a design engineer has its own set of unique challenges,” she explains.

How did Dorsey succeed? “I’ve had to develop a new understanding for design, learn new skills to model and make drawings, and understand styling impact for my parts. I was able to achieve this with a good understanding of the Toyota way and the skills I’d developed for managing project schedule, utilizing my resources for support, and being willing to ask lots of questions.”

Whatever her role, Dorsey has found the automotive sector and Toyota have been perfect fit for her diagnostic mind.

“Engineering allowed me to use my analytical mind and innate ability to improve products and processes. I chose engineering as a profession because it presented me with the option to work anywhere in any industry, and it’s also a great foundation for other professions (i.e. medicine, law, business, etc.),” she states.

“The automotive industry moves quickly with a tangible product to the market. Technology and competition are always driving our products to change and be better, and Toyota meets that challenge.”

Want aboard? Dorsey suggests, “Interested readers should go to toyota.com and research [the company] to learn about our products and what we’re all about. [You can] determine if the company is a good fit for [your] unique skill set, values and career aspirations.”

She further advises readers to attend professional expos and career fairs (i.e., NSBE, SHPE, SWE, etc) since Toyota frequently attends and sometimes holds interviews on-site. “Being able to discuss your resume with a person and ask them questions can really make a difference.”

Visit toyota.com/careers for job opportunities at Toyota. Connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr, YouTube and Google+.

 

Toyota Fast Facts

• 70 percent of the vehicles sold in the U.S. are built in the U.S.

• 1,334,691 vehicles produced

• 365,000 jobs created in the U.S.

• $21.2 billion investment in the U.S.

Source: toyota.com/usa/operations