Trim Engineering Manager

Trillium Professional has a direct hire opportunity for a Trim Engineering Manager.

The Trim Engineering Manager manages the trim design and processes for a seating business unit.

• Provides technical leadership, develops the technical skills and knowledge and provides technical direction to the trim engineers and technicians on the team.
• Develops and provides resolution to customer trim technical issues through continuous interaction.
• Provides front line technical customer interface for trim, phases 1-6.
• Provides technical directions to trim engineers, technicians and support personnel.
• Approves all trim technical issues and works with team to ensure time, cost objectives and product performance are met.
• Understands and identifies the resource requirements to meet program/product objectives.
• Manage trim resources to maximize utilization, identifying the right resource for the task to meet program deliverables.
• Promotes and facilitates the use of best practices.
• Develops and manages the trim engineering budget.
• Capable of communicating effectively with all management levels.
• Provides support for global programs (as required) by leveraging lessons learned and experience accumulated during development.
• Facilitates and provides feedback for manufacturing feasibility if the program is manufactured in this region.
• Capable of communicating and building relationships with global teams for global programs.

• Leads trim product development for a seating business unit.
• Leads trim design reviews and open issues meetings.
• Ensures trim best practices and processes are applied appropriately.
• Reviews and ensures that DFMEAs are completed/updated prior to release of tooling and that all high RPNs have been designed out or have a corrective action plan.
• Designs trim patterns aligned with the trim, foam interface template and follows Design for Assembly guidelines.
• Maintains strong working knowledge of trim cover construction process.
• Coaches principles of 2D pattern design using manual patterns, Optitex 2D CAD tools and Lectra as appropriate.
• Provides engineering solutions based on data driven problem solving and application of the Basic Engineering Process (BEP).
• Develops and implements trim design solutions that meet quality, cost and craftsmanship objectives.
• Provides/influences complete seat and foam engineering input/direction to jointly achieve flawless seat appearance and craftsmanship.
• Supports complete seat build events.
• Recommends solutions to process issues within the sew and JIT facilities. Supports creation of manufacturing ODS documentation.
• Maintains strong working knowledge of equipment used in trim cover creation (NC cutter, sewing machines, etc.).
• Approves release of trim data in TPDM and PLM, including all required documentation, drawings, etc.
• Approves trim changes and deviations in TPDM and PLM.
• Reviews cost, performance, timing and investment versus customer targets with their core team members (PM, AFM). Ensures that the product meets internal and external targets and specifications.
• Ensures that a complete corrective action plan is in place (and agreed to with the core SDT) when the product is not conforming to expectations (including timing).

• Plans and executes all PLUS trim engineering deliverables for on time gate exits (cost, ED&D, requirements, manufacturability, EBOM, drawings, etc.).
• Negotiates directly with the customer to resolve trim issues.
• Provides clear direction from the voice of the customer to internal engineering groups.
• Manages issue resolution, aligned to the customer timelines.
• Integrates design development with all CS groups (foam, materials, metals, mechanisms, plastics, comfort and SMTEs).
• Supports the Director of Engineering and Platform Director in resolving customer and business unit trim issues and helps drive the integration of the SDT into the product development process.
• Coordinates activities with Manufacturing, Purchasing, Quality, etc. to support successful program execution and launch readiness.
• Uses and applies all standards and systems (PLUS, Lean, CPP, PLM, BEP).
• Possesses…