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Lead Design Engineer - Exterior Trim

Our Global Automotive client based in Coventry is seeking a new Lead Engineer - Exterior Trim on a permanent basis. The role will be based in Coventry and offers a hybrid working pattern; 3 days onsite and 2 remote.

Working in both pre and post KO vehicle programme phases, the Advance Product Creation (APC) Body, Trims, Adv. Mnf. & Technology teams are responsible for engineering design, development & integration of the following vehicle zones on new vehicle programmes:

- Cockpit (IP, Console), Interior Trim, Seats & Restraints.

- BIW, Closures & Mechanisms, Exterior Trim, Lighting & Optical Quality (OQ)

- Chassis

- HVAC

APC Function responsibilities include:

- Advanced Manufacturing Engineering

- Technology development - steering new technology for vehicle programme readiness.

- The APC team may also be asked to lead and/or support innovation projects.

- The APC Lead Engineer, Exterior Trim will manage their module team, responsible for technical delivery to cost, quality & time. They are also responsible for the welfare and professional development of their respective module team members.

- Note that any APC engineer may be asked to work in a non-core module area as project needs dictate, therefore must be able to demonstrate a flexible approach.

Lead Engineer for this role will ideally be able to demonstrate relevant engineering experience, gained from working on module area systems design & development, from concept to production.

Candidate requirements include:

- Degree qualified or similar qualification as a minimum.

- CAD (Catia v5/v6) operative skills are preferred. The successful candidate will be able to create & manipulate geometry for primary communication of concepts and schemes.

It is anticipated that c.30% of Lead Engineers time will be spent on geometry interrogation.

- Catia v5 / v6 skills, able to demonstrate high technical competence – Generation of 3D geometry & sectional data. (Key module utilisation: Part design & Geometric Surface design).

- Experience of using TCUA (Team Centre) & PLM preferable

- Engineering experience in delivery of the designated module systems in the automotive

sector or similar industries

- Evidence of engineering skills, including ability to manage & resolve engineering issues.

- Understands roles & needs of different client groups. Evidence of working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve results.

- Compliance with company procedures & quality standards

- Involvement in process improvements

- A desire to strive for improvements to achieve high customer satisfaction

Mentorship of other team members as required.

- Lead the module team, ensuring tasks are assigned & deliverables are produced to the required standard & meeting the prescribed timing.

- Comfortable leading & managing activities for multi-location teams.

- Conduct performance assessments of team members as required via appraisal system.

- Generate development plans & training requirements for team and self.

- Support other APC activities as required.

- Supervise & Validate:

- Lead engineering BoM development. Cost / weight pack development. Weight BoM management

- Lead PMXU generation – Part identification in BoM for unique or carryover status

- Lead DFMEA & DVP creation & maintenance

- Lead Design surface (CAS) feasibility ‘FC' checks. Provide feasibility advice & guidance.

- Lead engineering feasibility ‘EF’ inputs & hard-point generation/ review / approve.

- Provides requirements and guidance to aid design development.

- Lead engineering section (Vehicle and Master Section) generation.

- Lead data generation for engineering releases to support project delivery.

- Lead generation of documentation and reports for project delivery.

- Lead cross functional integration reviews for components & systems, considering technical application, form, function & harmonisation of the execution.

- Develop timing plans.

- Develop scope-of-work documents with key deliverables identified.

- Identify resource profiles required to deliver projects to time & within budget constraints.

- Drive closure of issues & establish the cost, weight & timing impacts.

- Lead the development of 3D models & 2D drawings for module engineering. Arrange & lead digital reviews & sign-off events for module related activities.

- Represent the module area team at meetings.

- Lead the module deliverables through to the programme required gateway.

- Development of engineering systems & quality systems

- Benchmarking of competitor vehicles & reporting of findings

- Lead the generation / development of design rules & guidelines.

- Deliver APC engineering project work for both parent company & 3rd party customers.

- Interface with cross functional teams (Package, Analysis, Manufacturing, DVA etc) & implement recommendations where appropriate to create a right first-time release.