Exterior Trim Design & Release Engineer
About The Position
Develop and release automotive exterior trim components, including A-surface parts, from concept selection through design maturation and production launch. Define component requirements, interfaces, packaging, attachment strategy, and design direction in collaboration with cross-functional teams. Lead design reviews and supplier discussions, and resolve issues affecting geometry, appearance, fit, function, cost, and timing. Prepare and review engineering deliverables, including drawings, models, specifications, engineering change documentation, and design-release data. Lead tooling kick-off and follow tooling progress through design reviews, tool trials, part inspections, and corrective actions. Plan and coordinate component testing, verification, and validation; track results and drive resolution of test failures. Develop and maintain DFMEAs, identify design risks, and ensure mitigations are reflected in product definition and the validation plan. Support build events, manufacturing readiness, issue resolution, and launch activities. Manage interfaces with adjacent systems, such as body structure, lighting, sealing, closures, and other exterior components. The role is located in Dearborn, Michigan, or Long Beach, California, and is a six-month contract.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
- Experience engineering and releasing automotive exterior trim parts, including A-surface components.
- Experience taking parts from concept and design maturation through tooling, testing, verification, and launch.
- Working knowledge of 3DEXPERIENCE (3DX) for product definition, release, and lifecycle-data management.
- Experience developing or maintaining DFMEAs and managing design risk.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and product requirements.
- English proficiency at C1-C2 level.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of exterior materials and processes, including injection molding, extrusion, compression molding, painting, plating, and substrate/finish interactions.
- Knowledge of appearance requirements, Class-A surface interfaces, grain and gloss, color matching, and cosmetic quality.
- Knowledge of tolerance stack-up, fit-and-finish, gap-and-flush, water management, corrosion, and environmental durability.
- Knowledge of supplier tooling, design-for-manufacturing, part inspection, and corrective-action processes.
- Knowledge of change management, build issue tracking, and production readiness.
Responsibilities
- Develop and release exterior trim components, including A-surface parts, from concept selection through design maturation and production launch.
- Define component requirements, interfaces, packaging, attachment strategy, and design direction with cross-functional teams.
- Lead design reviews and supplier discussions; resolve issues affecting geometry, appearance, fit, function, cost, and timing.
- Prepare and review drawings, models, specifications, engineering change documentation, and design-release data.
- Lead tooling kick-off and track tooling progress through design reviews, tool trials, part inspections, and corrective actions.
- Plan and coordinate component testing, verification, and validation; track results and drive resolution of test failures.
- Develop and maintain DFMEAs, identify design risks, and ensure mitigations are reflected in product definition and the validation plan.
- Support build events, manufacturing readiness, issue resolution, and launch activities.
- Manage interfaces with adjacent systems, including body structure, lighting, sealing, closures, and other exterior components.
