Trim Engineer

Performance Seats•Clinton Township, MI

116d

About The Position

The Trim Engineer is responsible for participating in and executing the design, development, and implementation of Performance Seats soft trim, and helping plan, design, and direct engineering trim programs. The role oversees trim product execution and program deliverables, including design requirements, customer and industry requirements, governmental regulations, and customer expectations. It works closely with OEM design studios and cross-functional teams to support seat design, styling, manufacturing feasibility, and production readiness. The engineer develops and maintains trim patterns, drawings, specifications, bills of materials, color matrices, and appearance guidelines. Responsibilities also include selecting materials and attachment strategies; determining material usage, scrap rates, tooling needs, and project specifications; coordinating prototypes, sample builds, measurements, fitments, and benchmarking; and supporting costing, manufacturing processes, troubleshooting, supplier training, and audits. The role creates and maintains APQP-related documentation, including DFMEA and DVP&R, and supports quality, environmental, health, and safety processes. The position requires a four-year degree in Trim Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Industrial Engineering. Six years of trim engineering experience is preferred. Candidates must demonstrate strong communication, leadership, organizational, and presentation skills; be proficient in Microsoft Office; and perform an onsite sew test during the onsite interview. Travel is required as needed. The work environment is usually moderately noisy, and the role has physical requirements including standing, walking, frequent hand use, stooping, and lifting up to 50 pounds. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Four-year degree in Trim Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.
Strong leadership and supervisory ability.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to interact effectively with employees, customers, and management at all levels.
Strong time-management, organizational, and presentation skills.
Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future employment-based visa sponsorship.
Ability to perform an onsite sew test during the onsite interview.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including standing, walking, talking, hearing, frequent hand and finger use, reaching, pulling, grasping, stooping, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
Visual acuity to read instructions, operate a computer and machinery, and inspect products.

Nice To Haves

Six years of trim engineering experience.
Knowledge and practical application of foam skiving and A-surface management, including comfort, design intent, and manufacturability.
Experience with paper and digitized pattern development.
Basic knowledge of hand tools used to assemble a complete seat.
Knowledge and practical application of automotive cut-and-sew construction techniques, materials and lamination selection, retainers, and attachment methods.
Familiarity with DVP&R, DFMEA, DFM/A, 8D, APQP, PPAP, benchmarking, VA/VE, GD&T, AutoCAD, and CATIA V5.
Familiarity with ISO/TS 16949 quality and ISO 14000 requirements and procedures.
Familiarity with 5S processes and reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

Execute engineering specifications, guidelines, customer and industry requirements, governmental regulations, and customer expectations for products and programs.
Use trim product data management systems or equivalents for program IDs, sewing components, materials, and related information; create trim bills of materials and maintain color matrices.
Create patterns and markers using Optitex PDS or equivalent tools.
Work with OEM design studios to ensure Performance Seats design themes and specifications are met.
Order and manage soft-trim development materials, inventory, sample-shop equipment, and tools.
Support Phase 1 costing analysis and quoting for soft-trim components and subassemblies; help define requirements, deliverables, timing, project-team support, and budget needs.
Support foam A-surface design and development to meet seating design, comfort, and styling objectives.
Review design inputs and drawings for completeness against project tasks and deliverables.
Create and maintain trim DFMEA, DVP&R, and other APQP/PAP documentation.
Maintain sewing specifications and appearance guidelines for cut-and-sew soft-trim parts and assemblies.
Develop prototype and production bills of materials, determine tooling requirements, define internal and external project specifications, and address legal and regulatory requirements.
Create and release trim-cover drawings and develop paper and digitized patterns.
Apply automotive cut-and-sew construction techniques and select cover materials, lamination, retainers, and attachment strategies.
Determine material usage, scrap rates, and trim-cover bill of materials.
Support manufacturing engineers with sewing processes and sewing layouts.
Troubleshoot issues and support problem resolution through the complaint-management process.
Document and support styling properties and concept trim-cover development; coordinate seat measurements, including H-point, reporting, and test-sample builds.
Support seat fitments and applications, including one-off installation and measurement, benchmarking, and teardown.
Develop embroidery logos.
Assess manufacturing feasibility and support production, supplier training, and supplier auditing.
Maintain current field knowledge through continuous learning and professional development to meet compliance and regulatory requirements.
Follow health, safety, and environmental standards and procedures; participate in investigations and the 8D process as needed; report injuries, illnesses, accidents, and hazardous or unsafe conditions.
Support Performance Seats Total Quality Management, ISO/TS 16949 quality, and ISO 14000 environmental management systems by following approved policies and procedures.
Deliver trim engineering phase outputs, including trim-development timing and freeze dates, trim eBOM with preliminary usage and utilization rates, trim patterns, master appearance samples, patterns and drawings, trim CSO, trim specifications and requirements, and retainer and attachment concepts.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Travel as needed.
Perform a sew test onsite during the onsite interview.