Innovation Project Engineer - Product

Faurecia•Columbus, IN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Innovation Project Engineer – Product leads end-to-end technical development of innovation projects, translating product strategy and market insights into feasible, high-quality industrial solutions. Partnering closely with Product Line Manger and Innovation Project Engineer - Process, the role drives development from concept through pre-development and acquisition readiness while managing risk, enabling technology transfer, and ensuring alignment with business, cost, timing, and quality targets for successful downstream customer programs.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering
Minimum 5 years in a commercial or light vehicle product development or project management role
Minimum 3 years in a customer facing role as program manager or commercial/sales experience
Lead cross-functional teams in a highly collaborative environment
Knowledge of manufacturing and assembly processes
Knowledge of product development processes
Working Knowledge of marketing, costing, and sales
Strong written and oral communication skills
Project Management Skills
Results oriented & customer focused
Teamwork & collaboration
Strong business acumen

Responsibilities

Plan and execute technical development for innovation projects, translating Product Line strategy into structured, executable engineering work plans.
Lead hands‑on engineering execution from concept through pre‑development and acquisition readiness.
Maintain ownership of engineering scope, deliverables, and technical progression across innovation projects.
Own the technical definition and maturation of innovation solutions using science‑based methods, including analysis, simulation, experimentation, and data‑driven design decisions.
Lead design development, iteration, and convergence to meet functional, durability, and performance requirements.
Use test results, measured data, and engineering fundamentals to guide technical trade‑offs and decision‑making.
Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risk through application of DFMEA.
Define and execute prototype builds, testing, and validation activities to confirm assumptions and reduce uncertainty.
Ensure innovation solutions reach an appropriate level of technical maturity and robustness prior to targeting acquisitions or program application.
Design innovation solutions with strong, efficient manufacturing methods in mind, incorporating process capability, scalability, material selection, and cost drivers early in development.
Collaborate with manufacturing and process experts to ensure designs are industrially feasible and suitable for high‑volume, repeatable production.
Ensure innovation outcomes balance technical performance with manufacturability, cost, and operational efficiency.
Partner with the Product Line Manager to align technical execution with product strategy and innovation priorities, while retaining ownership of technical planning and execution.
Act as the technical execution lead within cross‑functional innovation teams, supporting reviews, alignment, and decision‑making.
Deliver technically mature, well‑documented solutions to enable effective transfer into acquisition and downstream customer programs.