Innovation Project Engineer

Job Title:

Innovation Project Engineer

Location:

Coventry

Driving the future of automotive. We’re Lear For You.

Lear, a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, enables superior in-vehicle experiences for consumers around the world. Our diverse team of more than 165,000 talented employees in 37 countries is driven by a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability. Lear is Making every drive better™ by providing the technology for safer, smarter, and more comfortable journeys. Lear, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, serves every major automaker in the world and ranks #186 on the Fortune 500.

Further information about Lear is available at , or follow us on Twitter @Lear Corporation

The Innovation Project Engineer will drive activities within Lear’s regional Innovation Hub under the umbrella of the companies EU & Africa Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering team. This is a unique opportunity for a Project Engineer to work closely with Subject Matter Experts from Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality and IT departments to drive the concept and lead the delivery of applied technologies / Industry 4.0 initiatives into Lear’s regional operation.

The ideal candidate will have a background in manufacturing innovation through technology and processes, with a focus on integrating and deploying advanced technologies to drive efficiency, quality, and productivity in manufacturing operations. The Innovation Project Engineer is responsible for the ideation, concept to deployment of innovative solutions and technologies which bring productivity to different processes within the company. This is a hands‑on, lab‑based position, ideal for someone who loves practical problem‑solving, experimentation, and engineering craftsmanship.

• Project Management: Lead the planning, execution, and completion of Innovation projects across the EMEA region, ensuring they meet timelines, budgets, and technical requirements; manage project resources, including personnel, equipment, and budget, to maximize efficiency and effectiveness; work closely with cross‑functional teams, such as operations, IT and production, to ensure the smooth transition of products from development to implementation.
• Innovation and Product Development: Ensure that Innovation initiatives align with operation needs and the company’s strategic goals; collaborate with product development teams to create prototypes, run proof of concepts, and optimise products before scaling across business; identify and assess emerging technologies (e.g., AI, robotics, IoT, AR/VR) that could be deployed on projects; ensure all solutions comply with company and industry standards, regulations, and security protocols including proper documentation and intellectual property protection;
  
  encourage continuous learning and stay updated with the latest technological advancements.
• Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate with regional departments to ensure that Innovation efforts are aligned with business needs and market demand; communicate the progress, challenges, and outcomes of Innovation projects to senior management, providing regular updates and recommendations for future actions; build and manage relationships with external partners, including universities, research institutions, and suppliers, to foster collaboration and access new technologies or knowledge.

• Confidence in presenting and interfacing with senior stakeholders from multi‑cultural backgrounds and functional disciplines.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel within the role.
• Analytical and critical thinking:
  Strong analytical skills to understand business processes and requirements.
• Lean thinker: understands the benefits of standardisation and can explain clearly when challenged.
• Business Acumen – understands the business impact of innovation initiatives. Aligns efforts with the strategic goals.
• Exposure of working within the manufacturing sector from various industries.
• Strong project management skills, with experience leading complex research projects from concept to completion.
• Broad…