About The Position
As a Hard Trim and Overhead Systems Design Release Engineer (DRE), you will be responsible to develop and integrate injection molded hard trim and overhead components into the vehicle interior. Specific component integration that you will be responsible for include: Injection molded hard trim components. Headliner substrate. Overhead system components (lights, coat hooks, assist handles, etc.). This position involves responsibility for development activities throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle including: Definition of requirements, Design execution balancing imperatives (fit, finish, DFA, DFM, cost, etc.), Release of all components, Approval of validation results. This role requires an engineer to lead and drive a cross-functional product development team including collaboration with various engineering groups (Engineering Design, Interior Restraints Systems, Adjacent Interior Components, Body Systems, CCC Overhead and Hard Trim components, Electrical System, HVAC System, Cargo Management System) and groups outside of engineering (Creative Design, Purchasing, Ergonomics, Manufacturing, Value Added Assembler, Quality, Suppliers).
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or U.S. Equivalent (mechanical preferred).
- 4+ years entry-level automotive experience.
- Strong interest in learning about plastic materials, compression molding, and injection molding processes.
- Experience using an engineering problem-solving process to define requirements, evaluate concepts, document decisions, and support testing or validation.
- Experience with 3D CAD, engineering drawings, basic GD&T, and dimensional evaluation.
- Hands-on experience with prototype builds, physical measurements, component fit, finish, ergonomics, or testing.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams and communicating technical information clearly to engineering, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, or other stakeholders.
- Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and present technical recommendations using tools such as Excel or PowerPoint.
- Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, accountability, and willingness to learn within a structured engineering development environment.
Nice To Haves
- Injection molding, compression molding, plastic materials, or interior trim experience.
- Automotive vehicle development, build, launch, or supplier experience.
- NX/Unigraphics, Teamcenter, Vis Mockup, or similar engineering tools.
- Exposure to DFMEA, PFMEA, DFSS, Red-X, structured problem solving, or PRTS.
- Experience evaluating fit, finish, tolerance variation, assembly ergonomics, or manufacturing feasibility.
- Experience supporting vehicle programs or collaborating with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, and suppliers.
Responsibilities
- Develop and integrate injection molded hard trim and overhead components into the vehicle interior.
- Manage specific component integration including injection molded hard trim components, headliner substrate, and overhead system components (lights, coat hooks, assist handles, etc.).
- Define requirements for components.
- Execute designs balancing imperatives such as fit, finish, DFA, DFM, and cost.
- Release all components.
- Approve validation results.
- Lead and drive a cross-functional product development team.
Benefits
- From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions.
- Total Rewards resources.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
