Accessories Product Dev Engineer Sr Accessories Product Dev Engineer Sr Accessories Product Dev Engineer Sr

Volkswagen AG•Auburn Hills, MI

39d•Hybrid

About The Position

Worldwide, the Volkswagen Group has a long tradition of dramatic innovations. The Volkswagen Group with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group comprises twelve brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN.Brief Role DescriptionThis position is a career level 20P and is located in Auburn Hills, MI with a role classification of Hybrid. Feed the US development, sales and lifecycle phases within the accessory channel for the Audi Brand aftersales team in the US. Create an accessory development process together with all liaisons at Global headquarter level (e.g. AUDI AG Quality, R&D, Legal). Lead accessory development projects from concept to launch milestones. Plan and manage development projects for localized accessories and ensures that the products meet and exceed Volkswagen’s Group technical and quality requirements. Own relationships with the colleagues from AUDI AG to ensure technical approvals for the respective products and drive day-to-day engineering functions through the supervision of project plans and milestones. He or she will be responsible for all technical and project-related documents and for testing and validation with laboratories. In charge of all project-related communications with technical counterparts in Germany and manage relationships and technical discussions with AUDI factories related to accessories. Possible Tasks within this RoleMain responsibility – assign 80% of time spent Ideation phase: Support After Sales Business Development Manager to identify gaps in AGA product portfolio to realize local sourced opportunities Product planning phase: Manage research and analysis of accessories & applications in the market Conduct concept and feasibility studies Preparation of product decision forms for internal decision makers. Points for consideration: Technical – Tech. premises, feasibility, timeline Sales – Planned sales volume, requested product features Pricing/ Controlling – Financial KPI’s, Benchmark pricing Quality – German GQ requirements, Test procedure, VWGoA Group integration Design - Feedback from AUDI Design Upon completion of consulting with all internal counterparts, the role is responsible for the “Lastenheft” (technical specification / requirement sheet) Product realization phase: Supports the initial contact phase with pot. suppliers: Preparation of inquire documents for the purchasing dept. Evaluation of quotes and feedback from the supplier Support commissioning of service Project kick-off Organization and conducting of kick-off with all required participants Management of all project related documents (Meeting Minutes etc.) Product developments process Create and manage development project plan Tracking of individual project milestones Escalate critical path milestones in a timely manner In case of deviations or delays – definition of counter measures with all respective parties Control and management of project related budget Coordinate and manage technical drawings, reports and documentation Ensure on schedule market introduction Technical development process Creation and review of test plan with related counter parts Finalization of product design together with AUDI AG Initiation of prototyping Responsible for Pre-Production Test Coordinate and execute manufacturing kick-off Review first of tooling samples Conduct product test run Approve product validation test Responsible to initiate product set-up in all systems (TEVON, BEON, etc.) Technical approval Coordinates the process for approvals from AUDI AG within his field of competence Ensures that AUDI AG issues approvals for respective local sourced products Possible Tasks within this Role Contd. Lifecycle phase: After market introduction: Comparison of project budget figures with actual figures Support of organization (Field force, ports, dealers and customers) in case of technical inquiries Realization of pot. lifecycle measures (e.g. Software-Updates) Overall Accessories portfolio Data entry & management Maintain data accuracy (supersessions, part introduction) eCommerce data management Management of local sourcing program Strategic approach to source through local vendors for the US market to increase annual sales, building a local development business case focused on US market needs Develop a domestic source strategy to increase offerings for future vehicles (focus on BEV’s) Identification of gaps in AGA product portfolio to realize local sourced opportunities Research and evaluate product concepts for integration into the accessory portfolio Develop business cases and product development applications for potential local products Leads the overall product management process from ideation to market introduction Additional responsibilities – assign 20 % of time Consult After Sales Business Development Manager for all accessory business case formulations Create component performance specifications Lead discussions and feedbacks with Safety Affairs group Organization and coordination of test fleet Generate new product ideas and concepts Support supplier interface and selection

Requirements

7+ years of engineering or technical development experience (optional: experience within the VW Group or manufacturer level)
Familiarity and/or experience with automotive accessories or parts
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or in a related technical field
Advanced analytical skills relating to spreadsheet or database use
Understanding of engineering principles
Engineering drawing interpretation and creation
Knowledge of engineering and testing standards
Strong focus on customer service
Familiarity with automotive accessories management (at best within VWGoA)
Supplier Management
Language skills: English – Native or bilingual proficiency
Strategy development / operational delivery
Communication skills – interpersonal, presentation and written
Influencing and negotiation skills
Problem solving
Resource management
Product and Process FMEA
DVP&R coordination and management
Understanding of core homologation processes and systems (e.g. BMG online)

Nice To Haves

VW Group AG and/or AUDI AG OEM engineering or technical development experience
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
Working knowledge of MS Project
CAD (e.g. CATIA) knowledge
Hyper-KVS and Quasi-LIMS
Project Management certification
Understanding of AUDI PEP development process
German language – professional working proficiency

Responsibilities

Feed the US development, sales and lifecycle phases within the accessory channel for the Audi Brand aftersales team in the US.
Create an accessory development process together with all liaisons at Global headquarter level (e.g. AUDI AG Quality, R&D, Legal).
Lead accessory development projects from concept to launch milestones.
Plan and manage development projects for localized accessories and ensures that the products meet and exceed Volkswagen’s Group technical and quality requirements.
Own relationships with the colleagues from AUDI AG to ensure technical approvals for the respective products and drive day-to-day engineering functions through the supervision of project plans and milestones.
He or she will be responsible for all technical and project-related documents and for testing and validation with laboratories.
In charge of all project-related communications with technical counterparts in Germany and manage relationships and technical discussions with AUDI factories related to accessories.
Support After Sales Business Development Manager to identify gaps in AGA product portfolio to realize local sourced opportunities
Manage research and analysis of accessories & applications in the market
Conduct concept and feasibility studies
Preparation of product decision forms for internal decision makers.
Create and manage development project plan
Tracking of individual project milestones
Escalate critical path milestones in a timely manner
In case of deviations or delays – definition of counter measures with all respective parties
Control and management of project related budget
Coordinate and manage technical drawings, reports and documentation
Ensure on schedule market introduction
Creation and review of test plan with related counter parts
Finalization of product design together with AUDI AG
Initiation of prototyping
Responsible for Pre-Production Test
Coordinate and execute manufacturing kick-off
Review first of tooling samples
Conduct product test run
Approve product validation test
Responsible to initiate product set-up in all systems (TEVON, BEON, etc.)
Coordinates the process for approvals from AUDI AG within his field of competence
Ensures that AUDI AG issues approvals for respective local sourced products
Comparison of project budget figures with actual figures
Support of organization (Field force, ports, dealers and customers) in case of technical inquiries
Realization of pot. lifecycle measures (e.g. Software-Updates)
Data entry & management
Maintain data accuracy (supersessions, part introduction)
eCommerce data management
Strategic approach to source through local vendors for the US market to increase annual sales, building a local development business case focused on US market needs
Develop a domestic source strategy to increase offerings for future vehicles (focus on BEV’s)
Identification of gaps in AGA product portfolio to realize local sourced opportunities
Research and evaluate product concepts for integration into the accessory portfolio
Develop business cases and product development applications for potential local products
Leads the overall product management process from ideation to market introduction
Consult After Sales Business Development Manager for all accessory business case formulations
Create component performance specifications
Lead discussions and feedbacks with Safety Affairs group
Organization and coordination of test fleet
Generate new product ideas and concepts
Support supplier interface and selection