Algorithm & Functional Development Manager in Brighton

Company Overview: LinHR’s Client is a leading global tier 1 auto parts supplier, celebrated for its innovation and excellence in the automotive industry. With two major Engineering sites in the USA—located in Moraine, OH, and Brighton, MI—and a combined team of approximately 150 employees, we are committed to driving technological progress and nurturing a vibrant, collaborative work environment.

Position Summary: We are seeking an Algorithm & Functional Development Manager, who leads a team responsible for designing, implementing, and validating control algorithms and software functions for the company’s products and systems. This role combines technical leadership, project management, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver robust, production-ready algorithms that meet performance, safety, quality, and cost targets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical leadership and architecture: Own the overall strategy and roadmap for algorithm and functional development within the product line(s). Define system and software functional requirements in collaboration with systems, hardware, and product engineering. Lead the design of control algorithms, signal processing, diagnostics, and functional logic for embedded or application-level software. Establish standards for modeling (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink), coding, documentation, and configuration management. Review and approve key technical design decisions, ensuring alignment with safety, regulatory, and cybersecurity requirements as applicable.
• Development lifecycle management: Plan, organize, and manage the full development lifecycle for algorithms and functions, from concept through production release. Translate business and customer requirements into detailed technical specifications and use cases. Oversee implementation, integration, and unit/component testing, including model in the loop, software in the loop, and hardware in the loop validation where applicable. Ensure effective defect tracking, root cause analysis, and resolution for functional issues discovered in development, test, or field use. Drive continuous improvement of development processes, toolchains, and automation (e.g., CI/CD, test automation, static analysis).
• Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with product management and systems engineering to prioritize features, clarify requirements, and balance scope, quality, and timelines. Collaborate with hardware, mechanical, and test engineering to ensure algorithms and functions are properly integrated at the system level. Support customer programs by explaining algorithm behaviour, performance trade-offs, and proposed solutions to issues. Work closely with quality, safety, and validation teams to define acceptance criteria and ensure compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ASPICE, ISO 26262, DO178, etc., if relevant to your industry).
• People leadership and team development: Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of algorithm engineers and functional developers. Assign projects, manage workload and priorities, and set clear performance and development goals. Provide coaching, technical mentoring, and career development for team members, including training on tools, methods, and standards. Recruit, onboard, and retain talent necessary to meet current and future business needs.
• Project and portfolio management: Define project plans, estimates, resource allocations, and schedules for algorithm/functional development activities. Track progress against milestones, manage risks and dependencies, and communicate status to stakeholders. Support make vs buy decisions and evaluate external solutions, tools, or libraries where appropriate. Manage development budgets within area of responsibility, balancing innovation, speed, and cost.

REQUIREMENT QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
• Typically, 7+ years of experience in algorithm development, control systems, signal processing, or related software/functional development, including 2+ years in a technical leadership or people management role.
• Demonstrated experience developing and deploying algorithms in embedded or real-time systems (e.g., automotive, industrial, robotics, motion control, or similar domain).
• Strong proficiency with relevant tools and languages (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Python, model-based development, or equivalents used in your organization).
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritise work, and deliver results within scope, timeline, and budget constraints.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in relevant engineering or science discipline.
• Experience in the automotive or manufacturing industry with exposure to product development cycles (e.g., APQP, ASPICE).
• Knowledge of functional safety or regulatory standards relevant to your products (e.g., ISO 26262, IEC 61508).
• Background in control theory, estimation, optimisation, or machine learning applied to real-world systems.
• Experience working in Agile or hybrid project management environments.

TRAVEL REQUIRED (%): >50% travel to meet customers and suppliers with day travel to the various manufacturing facilities as required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Ability to use and understand Windows Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and SharePoint, Microsoft (email). This is additional to the computer skill requirements as stated in the requirement qualifications.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to read and understand engineering prints/drawings. Good level of analytical skills and interpersonal skills. Ability to work on a team. Ability to guide the efforts of support personnel. Good team building skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk and to sit; use hands to manipulate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and to talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision, colour vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What We Offer: Competitive salary 90K to 110K and performance-based incentives. Comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, medical, dental, vision, Pcard, Travel card, 401(k) with company match. A dynamic, inclusive work environment where your ability to unite people and execute solutions will directly impact business success. LinHR is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under LinHR's Employment Accommodation Policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. LinHR is an equal opportunity employer seeking to live its values in all we do. We are committed to taking proactive steps to provide and create opportunities for historically marginalised groups. We seek applicants who will strengthen our commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from Indigenous, Black and other racialised persons, 2SLGBTQI+ people, individuals with disabilities, and other members of marginalised communities to consider working with and for LinHR. We recognise that structural barriers shape experiences and job qualifications, and therefore we seek to use employment equity to differentiate between candidates who meet the required qualifications. We encourage people to apply even if they feel that the position would be a stretch. LinHR uses AI-assisted tools only to support screening and efficiency, never to make final decisions. All hiring decisions are made by human professionals, and candidates may request human review at any time.