Emissions and OBD Engine Calibration Quality Sr. Engineer

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI), is the design, technology and engineering arm for all North American models of the Korea-based Hyundai Motor Group. The Electrified Propulsion Test & Verification (ePTV) team is one of the groups within the Electrified Propulsion Development division responsible for delivering propulsion system performance, emissions compliance, onboard diagnostics, quality, validation, and technical support for Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia vehicles.

HATCI is seeking a highly motivated and technically accomplished Senior Emissions, OBD, and Powertrain Quality Engineer to lead complex engineering investigations related to customer field concerns, assembly plant issues, vehicle emissions compliance, and onboard diagnostics performance. This role serves as a senior technical contributor responsible for identifying, analyzing, and resolving engine calibration, emissions, OBD, drivability, and propulsion system quality concerns impacting gasoline and hybrid vehicle programs.

The successful candidate will leverage advanced engineering analysis, data analytics, vehicle testing, and cross-functional collaboration to perform root-cause investigations and develop robust corrective actions. This individual will play a key role in establishing a closed-loop quality process focused on preventing recurring issues and improving calibration development and validation methodologies.

This position requires extensive expertise in powertrain controls, emissions systems, diagnostics, calibration development, and vehicle data analysis. The ideal candidate combines strong technical leadership, exceptional problem-solving skills, and the ability to independently drive investigations from issue identification through implementation of corrective actions. This position reports to the Emissions and OBD Quality Manager.

• Lead complex root-cause investigations involving engine calibration, emissions, OBD, drivability, catalyst performance, and propulsion system quality concerns identified through customer feedback, warranty data, assembly plant operations, and regulatory compliance programs.
• Perform detailed analysis of vehicle logs, calibration data, emissions results, warranty information, telematics data, service reports, and engineering test data to identify underlying failure mechanisms.
• Serve as the technical lead for high-priority quality investigations and provide recommendations to engineering management regarding corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop and implement engineering solutions that improve vehicle quality, emissions compliance, calibration robustness, and diagnostic effectiveness.
• Identify systemic weaknesses in calibration development, vehicle controls, validation methods, and verification processes and drive improvements across vehicle programs.
• Utilize development, durability, environmental, altitude, summer, winter, and special test data to identify trends and improve issue detection methodologies.
• Analyze large-scale vehicle datasets from warranty systems, connected vehicles, fleet programs, and development testing to identify emerging trends before customer impact occurs.
• Apply advanced statistical methods, predictive analytics, anomaly detection techniques, and AI-assisted engineering tools to accelerate issue identification and resolution.
• Collaborate with calibration, controls, certification, durability, software, validation, and quality teams to implement robust countermeasures and preventive actions.
• Support assembly plants by providing technical expertise in issue triage, data collection strategies, root-cause analysis, and corrective action verification.
• Investigate emissions deterioration mechanisms and develop recommendations that improve catalyst durability, emissions compliance margins, and diagnostic robustness.
• Develop technical reports, executive summaries, and engineering recommendations for management reviews and vehicle program assessments.
• Establish engineering metrics and data visualization tools that monitor vehicle quality performance, diagnostic effectiveness, and emissions compliance trends.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on emissions, OBD, powertrain controls, diagnostics, data analytics, and investigation methodologies.
• Support North American and Korean engineering teams through cross-functional collaboration on vehicle quality and compliance initiatives.
• Travel domestically and internationally up to 15%.

Educational Requirements

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  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited university.
  • M.S. degree in Engineering or related field preferred.
  
  
  
  

  Related Industry Experience Requirements

  
  
  
  
  • 7+ years of automotive engineering experience.
  • 5+ years of experience in emissions, OBD, aftertreatment development, calibration, powertrain controls, durability, or vehicle quality engineering.
  • Demonstrated success leading highly technical investigations involving vehicle quality, calibration, emissions compliance, or production support activities.
  • Experience independently managing multiple engineering projects and complex technical issues.
  • Proven ability to influence technical decisions across cross-functional engineering organizations.
  • Experience utilizing vehicle data, field information, and engineering testing to develop corrective actions and process improvements.
  
  
  
  

  Required Skills and Knowledge

  
  
  
  
  • Deep understanding of gasoline and hybrid propulsion systems, combustion processes, engine controls, and emissions control technologies.
  • Advanced expertise in emissions and OBD root-cause investigations involving catalyst efficiency, oxygen sensors, fuel systems, combustion stability, thermal management, and diagnostic monitor performance.
  • Strong understanding of engine calibration development processes, verification methodologies, and production launch support activities.
  • Extensive knowledge of catalyst aging mechanisms, emissions deterioration factors, aftertreatment systems, and useful life emissions compliance requirements.
  • Experience analyzing vehicle emissions data and deterioration trends relative to certification requirements and engineering targets.
  • Strong knowledge of CAN, LIN, Ethernet, UDS diagnostics, J1979, and vehicle communication protocols.
  • Expertise with ETAS INCA, ATI Vision, CANape, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent calibration and development tools.
  • Strong knowledge of statistical analysis, anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and advanced engineering problem-solving techniques.
  • Experience working with telematics, connected vehicle data, warranty databases, and large-scale engineering datasets.
  • Ability to translate complex technical findings into concise recommendations for engineering leadership.
  • Exceptional analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities with a demonstrated ability to solve highly complex technical issues.
  
  
  
  

  Preferred Requirements

  
  
  
  
  • Direct experience supporting full useful-life emissions durability programs (0-150,000 miles).
  • Experience with Python, SQL, MATLAB, Databricks, Power BI, Tableau, or similar data analysis and visualization platforms.
  • Advanced experience with OBD monitor development, validation, and regulatory compliance activities.
  • Experience applying machine learning, predictive analytics, anomaly detection, or AI-based engineering methods to vehicle development programs.
  • Knowledge of EPA, CARB, and global emissions compliance requirements.
  • Experience supporting assembly plant quality investigations and production launch activities.
  • Ability to function as a recognized technical expert within emissions, diagnostics, calibration, and vehicle quality disciplines.
  
  
  
  

* Zero-dollar Employee Premiums on Medical, Dental, and Vision for You and Your Family

* 100% Employer-paid Disability and Life Insurance

* Generous Paid Time Off, Including Vacation, Sick, and Abundant Holidays

* Competitive Salaries

* A Global Environment that Fosters Diversity

* Retirement Savings and Planning Benefits

* Access to Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Candidates applying for positions with Hyundai KIA must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.




• HATCI is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Veteran. VEVRAA Federal contractor.