Customer Engineering Lead - Seating Systems

Responsibilities

• Lead the product design and development for various complete seat, frame, and mechanism acquisitions.
• Deliver an approved technical offer at Program Quote Review.
• Deliver BOMs, CAD files, and PowerPoint presentations for the technical offer.
• Interact closely with design, engineering, manufacturing, costing, quality, and purchasing personnel within multiple acquisition product teams to develop, review, analyze, release, optimize, integrate, and technically implement existing and new mechanisms, frames, and complete seat designs into new seating applications.
• Work closely with the validation department to develop test plans, confirm proper product performance, understand test lab capabilities, review results for accuracy and completeness, and maintain familiarity with internal and customer test specifications.
• Lead FEA activities as needed for all new designs.
• Lead customer engineering interface and technical presentations.
• Work closely with the design and engineering team members that are part of the global acquisition network.
• Provide information and recommendations internally and externally to customers of available off‑the‑shelf products, including trade‑offs of cost, timing, innovation, and performance.
• Maintain close contact with the engineering teams in NAO, Europe, Asia, and South America.
• Provide VA/VE ideas to improve products.
• Follow new mechanism and frame developments from the division leads in France and Germany, maintaining a database of available core products in each manufacturing location.
• Maintain familiarity with all innovation projects that may apply to future acquisitions.
• Develop and take responsibility for engineering budgets for assigned acquisitions.
• Assist in maintaining customer data management (CAD/Specs).
• Propose continuous improvement ideas in business efficiency and cost reduction.
• Capitalize on knowledge and share best practices and lessons learned across the organization and within the site.

• Good interpersonal skills – ability to work closely with customers both external and internal as well as local and worldwide, and to lead technical presentations and customer interface.
• Willingness to occasionally travel for short periods to support global acquisitions.
• Willingness to flex time to support acquisitions with global teams.
• Detail oriented – ability to manage BOM cost of quoted designs.
• Ability to take on multiple tasks, define priorities, show daily progress, and meet defined completion timing.
• Understanding of mechanical force transmission, material analysis, and drawing reading and tolerance.
• Trained in the use and proper application of GD&T using ASTM and ISO Standards.
• Knowledge and experience working with seat mechanisms, seat frames, and complete seats.
• Knowledge of automotive seating applications and requirements.
• Ability to visualize 3D using a CAD viewer; knowledge of Catia and/or NX is preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of testing methods and standards.
• Ability to work hands‑on with seats in metal shop, JIT shop, and test labs.
• Ability to analyze installed components within a complete vehicle interior.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in seating systems (7+ years preferred), with at least 3–4 years in product design & development.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, now or in the future.