Seat Trim Engineer

Ford • Long Beach, CA

23h • $118,700 - $232,700 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford’s Electric Vehicles, Digital and Design (EVDD) team is charged with delivering the company’s vision of a fully electric transportation future. EVDD is customer-obsessed, entrepreneurial, and data-driven and is dedicated to delivering industry-leading customer experience for electric vehicle buyers and owners. You’ll join an agile team of doers pioneering our EV future by working collaboratively, staying focused on only what matters, and delivering excellence day in and day out. Join us to make positive change by helping build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.
In this position...
As a hands-on Seat Trim Technician, you’ll dive right into building, troubleshooting, and perfecting automotive seat trim systems. This is a role for someone who loves getting their hands dirty, takes pride in flawless craftsmanship, and is genuinely excited to grow into more engineering responsibilities. You’ll start strong on the floor while actively contributing ideas that shape better designs, processes, and products.
This is a fantastic role for a motivated technician who is hungry to progress their engineering skills including learning CAD tools, design principles, and full product development processes while continuing to thrive on the hands-on side. If you love turning raw materials into beautiful, functional seats and want your ideas to influence future programs, this is the perfect place to grow.

Requirements

• Associate degree of Science/Applied Science (AAS) in Automotive Technology or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience designing and developing seat trim components.
• 3+ years of experience using 3D CAD and trim software collaboratively (Catia V5/V6, 3DX, Optitex, Master trim etc.)
• Experience in the production release process
• Experience in a factory setting launching a new product

Nice To Haves

• B.S. in Mechanical, or Industrial, or Materials, or Automotive Engineering (Preferred but not essential)
• Proficiency in CAD Dassault Systems 3DX CATIA for 3D modeling and design.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical principles, materials science, and manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with automotive industry standards and regulations.
• Understanding of ergonomics and human factors in seating design.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Attention to detail and a focus on delivering high-quality solutions.
• Previous experience in the automotive industry or with seating systems is preferred but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Build and Prototype Seat Trim: Cut, sew, wrap, and assemble high-quality trim covers for cushions, seat backs, headrests, armrests, and full seat systems. Work directly with foams, frames, substrates, and a wide range of materials (leather, fabric, vinyl, etc.) to create show-quality prototypes and production-intent samples.
• Hands-On Craftsmanship & Quality: Perform detailed fit checks, tension adjustments, stitching evaluations, and surface inspections. Hunt down and resolve wrinkles, puckering, alignment issues, or material challenges to deliver seats that look and feel exceptional.
• Support Testing and Validation: Assemble seats for durability, wear, environmental, and crash testing. Document results, identify failure modes, and help implement fixes quickly.
• Contribute to Engineering & Design: Use your practical experience to provide real-world feedback on patterns, material choices, and assembly methods. Collaborate on 2D pattern development, 3D trim design refinements, and process improvements. Bring forward innovative ideas that reduce cost, improve manufacturability, or enhance comfort and appearance.
• Material & Process Experimentation: Help evaluate new fabrics, foams, stitching techniques, and automation opportunities. Work side-by-side with suppliers and engineers to qualify materials and optimize sewing/assembly workflows.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with design/styling, seat engineers, manufacturing teams, and program managers. Be the voice of practical reality in meetings while enthusiastically supporting new concepts from the ground up.
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively suggest and help implement changes that make builds faster, cleaner, or higher quality. Take ownership of trimming-related problem-solving and contribute to DFMEA/PFMEA discussions, lessons-learned sessions, and cost/weight reduction initiatives.
• Documentation & Organization: Maintain accurate build records, patterns, BOMs, and test notes. Help keep the trim shop clean, safe, and running efficiently.
• Design and Develop Seat Trim Components: Create and optimize 2D flat patterns, 3D trim covers, and soft trim designs for seat cushions, backs, headrests, armrests, and related components using CAD tools and pattern-making software.
• Material Selection and Sourcing: Evaluate, select, and qualify fabrics, leathers, vinyl, foams, and other trim materials in collaboration with suppliers, balancing durability, appearance, cost, comfort, and regulatory compliance.
• Prototype and Build Seats: Cut, sew, assemble, and install trim covers onto seat frames, foams, and substrates. Participate in full seat builds, including mechanical assembly and fitment verification.
• Release and Validate Designs: Define component specifications, interface documents, and requirements. Lead or support design release processes, DFMEA/PFMEA activities, and validation testing (durability, wear, environmental, crash, etc.).
• Craftsmanship and Quality Assurance: Conduct hands-on inspections for wrinkles, tension, alignment, stitching quality, and overall seat appearance. Troubleshoot and resolve fit, finish, or manufacturing issues to achieve flawless craftsmanship.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work closely with styling, engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and program teams to ensure seamless integration of trim with overall seat and vehicle systems.
• Process Improvement: Support industrialization efforts, including sewing processes, automated cutting, and assembly methods. Contribute to cost reduction, weight optimization, and manufacturability improvements.
• Documentation and Compliance: Maintain accurate drawings, patterns, bills of materials (BOMs), and test reports. Ensure all work complies with OEM standards, safety regulations, and quality systems (e.g., IATF 16949).

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree