About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com .
JOB SUMMARY
The Principal Engineer, Product Configuration owns the engineering product structure for a next-generation commercial chassis platform from concept through production launch.
This role serves as the technical authority for product configurations, engineering Bills of Material (eBOM), manufacturing Bills of Material (MBOM), option structures, efficiency, engineering releases, and configuration governance. Working across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Strategic Sourcing, Product Integration, and external partners, this position ensures the digital product definition accurately reflects the physical vehicle throughout the product lifecycle.
The Senior Product Configuration Engineer develops the configuration management processes, standards, and engineering data structures that enable scalable product development, manufacturing, service, and future product expansion.
This is a high-autonomy role for an experienced engineer who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys creating structure where little exists, and wants ownership over one of the foundational engineering systems supporting a new commercial chassis platform.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Product Configuration Ownership: Own the engineering product structure, configuration strategy, and digital product definition for the commercial chassis platform throughout the product lifecycle.
• BOM Architecture: Develop and maintain Engineering Bills of Material (EBOM), Manufacturing Bills of Material (MBOM), configurable BOM structures, and product hierarchies supporting prototype, production, and service operations.
• Configuration Governance: Establish configuration management standards, engineering release processes, product maturity states, revision control, and change governance to ensure product integrity.
• Option & Variant Management: Develop and maintain option logic, configuration rules, feature dependencies, effectivity, and product compatibility across multiple vehicle configurations.
• Engineering Change Management: Partner with engineering teams to evaluate Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), ensuring configuration integrity and downstream manufacturing readiness.
• Cross-Functional Product Integration: Partner with Systems Engineering, Product Integration, Manufacturing, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to ensure engineering data accurately supports vehicle development and production.
• PLM & ERP Integration: Maintain alignment between engineering data, PLM systems, ERP systems, manufacturing execution systems, and downstream business processes.
• Product Data Quality: Develop validation methods and perform configuration audits to ensure engineering data accuracy, completeness, traceability, and production readiness.
• Manufacturing & Launch Support: Support prototype builds, manufacturing launch, and production by resolving configuration issues, BOM discrepancies, engineering release conflicts, and product data challenges.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive improvements to product configuration processes, engineering data management, digital product definition, and release workflows supporting future platform scalability.
• Operate in Ambiguity: Create structure and drive execution where product definitions, engineering releases, manufacturing processes, and configuration requirements evolve simultaneously.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR SUCCESS
• Deep understanding of configurable product development, product structures, and engineering configuration management
• Strong understanding of Engineering BOMs, Manufacturing BOMs, service structures, option management, and engineering releases
• Experience with PLM systems (3DEXPERIENCE), or equivalent product lifecycle management platforms
• Experience integrating engineering data with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, or equivalent
• Strong understanding of Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), revision control, and product maturity management
• Ability to read engineering drawings, CAD assemblies, specifications, and vehicle product structures
• Experience supporting prototype development, manufacturing launch, and production change management
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to provide technical direction across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and business functions without direct authority
BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 10+ years of experience supporting configurable products, engineering configuration management, product data management, vehicle integration, or commercial vehicle product development
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Demonstrated ownership of product structures, BOM architecture, engineering releases, and configuration management from concept through production launch
• Experience developing engineering data supporting manufacturing, supply chain, and production operations
• Experience working across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Product Management, and external suppliers
• Experience implementing or improving PLM, ERP, product configuration, or engineering release processes
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
• Experience with commercial chassis, body-on-chassis platforms, vocational vehicles, or heavy-duty vehicle development
• Experience supporting clean-sheet vehicle programs or major platform redesigns
• Experience developing configurable product architectures and option management strategies
• Experience implementing PLM, digital thread, or Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) methodologies
• CMII, CM2, CMPIC, or equivalent Configuration Management certification
• Master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Systems Engineering, or Business Administration
• Experience supporting accelerated product launches in low-process engineering organizations
WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO
• Takes ownership of complex product configuration and engineering data challenges and drives them to resolution
• Thrives in fast-paced environments where product definition, engineering releases, and manufacturing requirements evolve rapidly
• Makes sound engineering decisions independently while balancing product integrity, manufacturability, traceability, and launch timing
• Thinks at the complete vehicle level and understands how engineering data drives every stage of the product lifecycle
• Creates structure, standards, and scalable engineering processes where little exists today
• Provides technical direction across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, suppliers, and external partners while maintaining ownership of the digital product definition
• Wants meaningful autonomy and the opportunity to establish the engineering foundation supporting an entirely new commercial chassis platform
INCLUDES
• Continued Professional Development
• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching
WORK CONDITIONS
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
• Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
• You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day
*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
Blue Bird® is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.
All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
#LI-Onsite