Principal Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Engineer - Materials and Failure Analysis Expert to join our team at ZF. As a key member of our Engineering organization, you will be responsible for leading the implementation of a new Materials Lab in Monterrey, Mexico, and providing engineering and consultancy services on materials and related production processes.

• Advise, arrange, and coordinate investigative processes for the evaluation of failures, interpretation of results, reporting findings, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Provide engineering and consultancy services on materials and related production processes, including teardown of components and laboratory testing to support regional and global engineering and production teams.
• Lead the implementation of a new Materials Lab in Monterrey, Mexico, including development of the laboratory footprint and its technical capabilities aligned with corporate R&D and local customer needs.
• Develop and implement lab policies and procedures, ensuring compliance to site ISO/IEC Quality and EHS requirements.
• Coordinate purchasing of lab needs within budget constraints, including maintenance, calibration, and consumables.
• Closely work with Northville Materials lab to optimize lab efficiency and balance regional lab testing capacity.
• Develop and implement policies for a safe and organized work environment.
• Teardown of mechanical and electronic assemblies to facilitate analysis while preserving areas of interest.
• Use various Materials Lab analytical and testing techniques to support routine and complex customer requests.
• Precise sectioning and metallographic preparation, specializing in difficult samples such as solder joints, printed circuit boards, and small components.
• Produce work to an excellent standard of accuracy and workmanship.
• Advise customers of appropriate investigative processes for the evaluation of failures, interpretation of results, reporting findings, and implementation of corrective actions.
• Liaison with other regional and global engineering and quality functions.
• Generate detailed lab testing reports and attend customer meetings as required.

• Bachelor of Science in Materials, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent field.
• 8+ years of professional experience in testing or quality organization, including hands-on experience in lab testing environments.
• Engineering experience in automotive electronics components preferred.
• Familiarity with test specifications of major OEMs and international standards (ISO, ASTM, SAE, CISPR, IEC, DIN).
• Knowledge of electronic assembly of PCBs and electronic materials.
• Knowledge of metals (casting, forging, sheet steel, welding) and polymer materials.
• Practical experience of metallographic techniques.
• Practical experience using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and other non-destructive analytical techniques: X-ray, FTIR, etc. (training will be given as appropriate).
• Ability to manage / lead multiple projects and priorities.
• Solid understanding of budgets and ability to develop business cases for operational and capital needs.
• Business fluent English language skills (written and spoken).
• Limited local and international travel may be required.

• Benefits above the law.
• Major Medical Expenses Insurance.
• Global growth opportunities.
• Competitive Wage.