Combustion and Emissions Systems Technical Specialist

Job Summary

We are looking for a talented Combustion and Emissions Systems Technical Specialist to join our team specializing in Engine Performance for our location in Rocky Mount, NC. In this role, you will contribute to both new and current product systems, focusing on optimizing engine and aftertreatment performance to deliver high‑quality, reliable solutions for our customers. You will lead efforts that include engine performance and fuel‑economy optimization, hardware selection, diagnostic and feature refinement, emissions optimization, and incident resolution. A key aspect of this role involves evaluating performance at both the engine and vehicle levels, including hands‑on assessment, validation, and testing activities.

You will collaborate closely with cross‑functional stakeholders—engineers, technical managers, project leaders, manufacturing partners, and suppliers—to gather input, negotiate technical approaches, and ensure alignment throughout the development cycle. You will deliver clear technical guidance, insights, and recommendations that support data‑driven decision‑making across projects. This position requires independent leadership of smaller business‑impact initiatives or ownership of complex components and systems, often working through higher levels of ambiguity while maintaining full accountability to the project team. You will also execute both established and emerging engineering processes with a high degree of independence while continuing to deepen your product and technology knowledge. Additionally, you will help champion the advancement and improvement of work processes and systems within your functional discipline to enable stronger execution across the business unit.

To be successful in this role, you will bring a solid understanding of internal combustion engines and aftertreatment systems, along with hands‑on experience in engine testing, chassis dynamometer or test cell operations, and familiarity with data acquisition and instrumentation. Experience presenting technical content to external customers is preferred, as is proficiency with data processing tools such as MATLAB, Concerto, Excel, or similar platforms. Familiarity with on‑highway emissions legislation, calibration practices, and OBD tuning is beneficial and will further contribute to your effectiveness in this position.

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways: 

• Stakeholder Collaboration & Influence:
  Obtains input and negotiates with stakeholders: collaborates with cross‑functional engineers, project leaders, product teams, and suppliers to provide insights, recommendations, and guidance that support project decisions and further technical analysis.
• Project-Level Technical Decision Making:
  Makes independent technical decisions: drives short‑term project activities—including analysis, testing, and communication—that directly influence project progression at a level beyond senior or lead engineers.
• Process Application & Continuous Improvement:
  Applies and enhances engineering processes: utilizes and improves methodologies such as PPP, PPT, VPI/VPC, ESW, and FEP while leveraging advanced thermal and fluid‑science tools (e.g., GT‑Power, Fluent, Converge, Concerto, CyberApps, CDAT, Calterm, ECM tools) to enable high‑quality decision making.
• Leadership of Complex Workscopes:
  Provides independent leadership: takes ownership of smaller business-impact projects or complex system/component work with higher ambiguity, ensuring full accountability to the project team.
• Execution of Work Systems & Technology Development:
  Delivers consistent, high-quality execution: independently carries out established and emerging engineering work processes while continuing to expand product and technology expertise.
• Process & System Improvement Leadership:
  Leads improvements across functional disciplines: champions the development and refinement of work processes and systems within the business unit to strengthen engineering execution.
• Coordination & Mentorship:
  Guides and supports team members: coordinates technician and student‑employee tasks and contributes to knowledge transfer by coaching less-experienced engineers through direct or indirect leadership.
• Technical Expertise & Influence:
  Acts as a recognized specialist: operates as an expert in a specific discipline or product area, shaping technical direction within project teams while developing deeper competency in key technical areas.

To be successful in this role you will need the following: 

• Combustion & Emissions Science:
  Applies deep understanding of combustion processes, fuel‑oxidizer reactions, pollutant formation, and system modeling to accurately interpret and predict system behavior and guide sound technical decisions.
• Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer & Thermal Systems:
  Leverages strong analytical and intuitive knowledge of fluid flow and heat transfer principles—along with modeling and experimental tools—to evaluate system performance and resolve key thermal and fluid‑related challenges.
• Thermodynamics & Energy Conversion Systems:
  Uses expertise in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and energy conversion to assess and optimize the performance of systems such as internal combustion engines, fuel cells, batteries, and gas turbines with a data‑driven approach.
• Product Failure Mode Avoidance & Problem Solving:
  Anticipates and mitigates potential failure modes by analyzing system interactions, identifying root causes, and implementing durable, customer‑focused solutions that improve product reliability and prevent recurrence.
• Systems Engineering & Systems Thinking:
  Translates stakeholder needs into clear, verifiable system requirements; evaluates system interactions and lifecycle impacts; and applies structured systems-thinking methods to guide architecture decisions and maintain alignment across the project.
• Modeling, Simulation & Functional Analysis:
  Utilizes computational tools and analytical methods to predict system or component capability, influence design choices, and ensure product performance aligns with requirements at all integration levels.
• Effective Communication & Collaboration:
  Clearly communicates technical information across diverse audiences and builds strong working relationships that support effective decision-making, cross-functional alignment, and project success.
• Decision Quality & Results Orientation:
  Demonstrates strong judgment in complex or time-sensitive situations and consistently drives projects forward while navigating challenges with focus and resilience.

Education, Licenses, Certifications:

• College, university, or equivalent Bachelor's degree in Engineering or appropriate STEM field is required. 
• Post-graduate (Master's) degree relevant to this discipline area may be required for select roles. 
• This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations. 

Experience: 

• Prior Senior or Lead Engineer equivalent work experience in a relevant discipline area is required with a demonstrated track record of technical problem solving and quality decision making. 
• Knowledge of MS Office tools is preferred.

• Drive Performance Optimization Across New and Existing Engine Platforms:
  Work on both new and current product systems to optimize overall engine performance. This includes improving fuel economy, refining hardware selection, enhancing diagnostic strategies and feature behavior, resolving product issues, and ensuring tailpipe emissions are optimized to meet regulatory and customer expectations.
• Lead Vehicle-Level Assessment and Validation:
  Conduct performance evaluations at the vehicle level—including on‑road assessments, chassis dynamometer testing, and validation activities—to ensure the engine and aftertreatment systems operate as intended under real-world conditions.
• Engage and Align with Cross‑Functional Stakeholders:
  Obtain input and negotiate technical direction with engineering teams, project leaders, manufacturing partners, supplier representatives, and other key stakeholders to maintain alignment and ensure high‑quality decisions throughout the development process.
• Deliver Technical Insights to Guide Project Decisions:
  Provide clear, data‑driven technical guidance, recommendations, and insights that enable the project team to make informed decisions on system architecture, design paths, risk mitigation, and product improvements.
• Independently Lead Complex Workscopes:
  Provide leadership for smaller high‑impact projects or take full ownership of complex components, systems, or services that involve significant ambiguity, ensuring accountability for technical quality, timeline, and stakeholder alignment.
• Execute Established and Emerging Engineering Processes:
  Carry out engineering workflows with a high level of independence, contributing to both established processes and evolving technologies while continuing to build deeper product expertise.
• Champion Continuous Improvement Within the Function:
  Support efforts to refine and elevate work processes, engineering methods, and system‑level practices across the business unit, helping strengthen organizational capability and execution efficiency.