Principal Engineer, Product Configuration

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