Engineer III-Mechanical

Your journey to a meaningful career starts with ZF LIFETEC

About the Team:

At the heart of our inflatable restraint systems is the gas generator—commonly known as the inflator. Within the North American Inflator Engineering team, you will work across multiple engineering disciplines to develop, refine, and apply inflator technologies to the wide range of restraint systems produced by ZF Lifetec.

Our team plays a direct role in developing lifesaving technologies that protect drivers, passengers, and families on the road every day
. The work you do here contributes to advancing occupant safety and reducing injuries in real‑world crash scenarios.

Come join our team in Mesa, AZ
, where engineering meets real‑world impact.

Support mechanical product design, customer applications engineering, and continuous improvement activities related to inflator technologies and production processes.

• Provide application engineering support for assigned customer programs and inflator technologies.
• Develop program timelines, engineering development plans, and technical presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to support new product launches and resolve production or design issues.

• Review designs for compliance with engineering principles, company standards, and customer specifications.
• Lead efforts to resolve design and testing challenges and support technical advancements.

• Apply knowledge of inflator ballistic performance and tuning to achieve system‑level restraint requirements.
• Release engineering drawings, specifications, test plans, and reports.
• Plan and manage prototype builds to ensure on‑time customer delivery.
• Utilize engineering methodologies including:
  • Statistical analysis
  • Root cause analysis
  • Margin testing
  • Fault tree analysis
  • FMEA
• Apply Six Sigma and Lean principles to improve product quality and production efficiency.

• Support plant quality objectives and actively participate in continuous improvement activities.
• Follow safety and environmental guidelines, including participation in safety meetings, inspections, and pollution‑prevention initiatives.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Aerospace preferred).
• 5+ years of related experience.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently, while also thriving in a diverse, global team environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication, technical report writing and project management skills. Conversational German language a plus.
• Strong mechanical aptitude, understanding of physics, and working knowledge of basic statistics.
• Computer skills, including Minitab, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; CAD software (experience preferred).

• Manual dexterity for approximately half the workday.
• Continuous walking and active effort throughout the facility.
• Ability to lift up to
  50 lbs
  and work in various areas across the plant.

• Collaborative, team‑oriented environment
• Annual Incentive Plan
• Paid Vacation & Personal Time
• 401(k) plan
• Paid Holidays

ZF LIFETEC Mesa Operations screening process includes a substance abuse screening test, ATF lifetime background check, and verification of eligibility for employment. U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident Status Required.

Be part of our ZF Lifetec team as Engineer III-Mechanical and apply now!

Contact

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are more than just words for us. They are at the core of the ZF Way that propels our team members towards their utmost success. We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a natural reflex. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that every member of ZF can rise to their full potential.

We aim to embed this in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape next generation mobility, safety, sustainability and social justice.

With four generations across 118 nationalities in 41 countries, ZF combines a unique variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Together, we…