Cummins—Customer Engineering Product Specialist

Job description

Description: Job Summary This senior technical position serves as a customer- and product-focused engineering specialist responsible for supporting the integration, optimization, and performance of Cummins powertrain products across a range of vehicle applications. The role acts as a technical liaison between Cummins, OEM customers, and cross-functional engineering teams to translate customer needs, real-world vehicle usage, and system requirements into optimized powertrain solutions. The position leads vehicle-level powertrain simulation, system-level engineering studies, data analytics, and proof-of-concept activities to improve fuel economy, performance, drivability, reliability, and overall powertrain efficiency. The role combines strong vehicle and powertrain engineering expertise with simulation, digital engineering, data analytics, and customer application knowledge to support product development and customer-specific solutions. The incumbent will work closely with Powertrain, Controls, Software, Vehicle Integration, Application Engineering, Telematics/Connected Vehicle, Product Development, and other cross-functional teams to convert engineering insights into validated product improvements and customer solutions. Key Responsibilities - Lead vehicle-level powertrain simulation and system-level engineering studies to optimize fuel economy, performance, drivability, energy efficiency, and overall vehicle performance. - Understand customer applications, operating environments, duty cycles, and real-world vehicle usage, and translate these into representative simulation scenarios and engineering requirements. - Apply vehicle and powertrain systems knowledge to evaluate engine, transmission, driveline, vehicle dynamics, controls, and hybrid/electrified powertrain performance. - Utilize simulation tools such as AVL CRUISE/CRUISE M, GT-DRIVE, VMS, CyberApps, AVL Drive, or equivalent platforms to perform system-level analysis, sensitivity studies, optimization, and performance assessments. - Analyze vehicle, test, and telematics data to identify operating patterns, fuel economy and performance loss drivers, system inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement. - Translate customer needs and the "voice of the customer" into technical requirements, simulation scenarios, product specifications, and engineering recommendations. - Support product selection, application, and integration decisions to ensure Cummins products are appropriately applied and optimized for customer requirements. - Develop and execute simulation-based proof-of-concepts (POCs) for new fuel economy, performance, drivability, controls, and powertrain optimization features. - Work with Controls and Software Development teams to convert feature concepts into software builds, integrate features at vehicle level, and conduct POC testing. - Correlate simulation results with physical vehicle and test data to validate models, quantify benefits, and improve simulation accuracy. - Develop MATLAB, Python, or similar scripts and automation tools for duty-cycle processing, data analytics, simulation execution, reporting, and engineering workflow improvement. - Develop and improve duty-cycle processing, classification, and automation methodologies using real-world and telematics data to support scalable vehicle-level simulation and product development. - Identify opportunities to enhance existing simulation capabilities and develop new analytical methods, engineering tools, and digital workflows. - Apply systems engineering, structured problem-solving, Analysis Led Design (ALD), Six Sigma, and data-driven methodologies to resolve complex technical problems. - Lead resolution of complex product and application issues by determining root causes, evaluating alternatives, and implementing robust technical solutions. - Ensure product installation and integration meet Cummins requirements, customer system requirements, and applicable operating environments. - Develop and communicate technical data, simulation results, engineering recommendations, and project status to internal stakeholders, customers, and business leadership. - Serve as a technical representative and customer advocate during product development, design reviews, product change activities, and application/integration discussions. - Collaborate with OEM technical counterparts to address technical requirements, product application challenges, installation issues, and performance improvement opportunities. - Stay current with competitor technologies, advanced powertrain architectures, Software Defined Vehicles (SDV), connected vehicles, hybrid/electrified powertrains, and emerging digital engineering methods. - Lead smaller business-impact projects or own complex components, systems, products, or services with a high degree of technical ambiguity and accountability. - Lead and improve engineering processes, tools, and work practices within the functional discipline. - Coach and mentor less experienced engineers and contribute to the development of technical capability within the team. - Build strong technical networks across Cummins, OEMs, suppliers, industry partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Requirements: Required Skills - Strong hands-on experience with vehicle-level powertrain simulation tools such as AVL CRUISE/CRUISE M, GT-DRIVE, VMS, CyberApps, AVL Drive, or equivalent. - Strong knowledge of vehicle and powertrain systems, including: - Engine systems - AMT/manual/automatic transmissions - Driveline systems - Vehicle dynamics - Engine and transmission controls - Hybrid and electrified powertrains - Vehicle-level fuel and energy consumption - Strong analytical and problem-solving capability with the ability to interpret complex engineering and customer data. - Ability to translate real-world customer duty cycles and operating conditions into representative simulation models and scenarios. - Experience with simulation-to-test correlation and benefit quantification. - Working knowledge of MATLAB, Python, or similar scripting languages for data analysis, automation, duty-cycle processing, and simulation workflows. - Ability to develop engineering tools, scripts, automation workflows, and analytical methodologies. - Knowledge of telematics connected vehicle data, and digital analytics and their application to vehicle development. - Understanding of controls and software development processes and the ability to collaborate effectively with Controls and Software teams. - Experience developing and integrating performance or fuel-economy improvement features and conducting vehicle-level POC testing is highly desirable. - Knowledge of simulation model development, sensitivity analysis, optimization, and engineering data interpretation. - Strong technical documentation, presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills. - Working knowledge of MS Office tools. Experience - Vehicle-level fuel economy and performance improvement projects. - Duty-cycle development, classification, and automation using real-world or telematics data. - Simulation-to-test correlation and validation. - Controls feature development and software build integration. - Development of simulation-based POCs and engineering automation tools. - Exposure to competitor benchmarking and emerging automotive technologies. - Experience applying systems engineering and structured problem-solving methodologies to complex vehicle and powertrain challenges. Role Expectations The successful candidate will be expected to independently lead technically complex assignments, make sound engineering decisions, influence cross-functional teams, and translate simulation and data-driven insights into measurable customer and product improvements. The role requires a strong combination of vehicle/powertrain engineering depth, simulation expertise, digital engineering capability, customer orientation, and systems-thinking mindset. Responsibilities: Key Competencies Technical Competencies - Machine Integration and Optimization Applies vehicle and powertrain systems knowledge to integrate and optimize multiple systems and subsystems to achieve customer requirements for performance, fuel economy, reliability, cost, and quality. - Product Function Modeling, Simulation and Analysis Uses computational models, simulation tools, analytical methods, and engineering data to evaluate product and system capability against requirements and support technical design decisions. - Product Application Support Applies product, application, and industry knowledge to develop technical solutions and ensure Cummins products are correctly applied across customer applications. - Product Installation and Integration Quality Ensures powertrain products are correctly integrated into customer vehicles and operating environments and supports resolution of installation and integration issues. - Product Problem Solving Uses structured, data-driven problem-solving techniques to identify assignable and systemic causes, develop robust solutions, and prevent recurrence of product issues. - Technical Customer Management Acts as a technical interface between Cummins and OEM customers, providing engineering information, technical recommendations, training, and support throughout product development and integration. - Vehicle & Powertrain Systems Engineering Demonstrates strong understanding of engine, transmission, driveline, vehicle dynamics, controls, hybrid/electrified systems, and vehicle-level fuel/energy consumption. - Digital Engineering & Data Analytics Uses simulation, telematics, data analytics, scripting, and automation to generate engineering insights and improve product and vehicle performance. - System Requirements and Integration Translates stakeholder and customer needs into technical requirements, simulation scenarios, acceptance criteria, and system-level engineering solutions. Leadership & Behavioral Competencies - Builds networks and develops effective relationships across internal and external organizations. - Communicates effectively with technical and non-technical audiences. - Demonstrates strong customer focus and represents customer needs within Cummins. - Makes timely, high-quality technical decisions based on data and engineering judgment. - Drives results and maintains accountability for project and technical outcomes. - Manages complexity and ambiguity while maintaining focus on business and customer requirements. - Demonstrates resourcefulness in identifying and deploying appropriate technical and organizational resources. - Collaborates effectively across global, cross-functional, and multidisciplinary teams. - Demonstrates technical curiosity, innovation, and continuous learning. - Values diverse perspectives and works effectively across cultures and geographies. - Coaches and mentors less experienced engineers and contributes to technical capability development. Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in engineering or an appropriate STEM discipline is required. - A master’s degree in automotive, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Vehicle, Powertrain, or a related engineering discipline is preferred and may be required for select roles. - Relevant certifications or specialized training in vehicle simulation, systems engineering, controls, data analytics, or digital engineering would be an advantage. - This position may require licensing or authorization for compliance with applicable export control or sanctions regulations.