Hard Trim Engineer

We are seeking a skilled Hard Trim Engineer to join our vehicle interior engineering team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for design, developing, and validating rigid interior trim components, ensuring they meet quality, safety, and manufacturability standards.

• Manage daily Piston Interiors activities for assigned engineering projects, including documenting and tracking open issues, and regularly interfacing with the customer.
• Ensure new product designs and development activities remain on schedule and within budget.
• Apply advanced product knowledge and strong engineering fundamentals to develop robust, cost‑competitive, and innovative product designs. Create all supporting engineering documentation—including DFMEAs and DFAs—and drive alignment with the internal CFT, including Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, and Program Management
• Develop and manage the product validation process from DVP&R creation through final approval, including test tracking, report review, and required plan updates.
• Organize and lead cross‑functional (OE/JIT/Piston/Suppliers) open issues reviews, document outcomes, and drive corrective actions as needed.
• Attend JIT/OEM pre‑production and craftsmanship build events and document findings through detailed trip reports.
• Support Piston plants and suppliers during key builds, special projects, and product launch events, providing comprehensive trip reports with clearly defined action items.
• Contribute to the development of Was/Is and 2‑Pager cost documentation for potential customer changes and maintain an up‑to‑date cost tracker.
• Obtain customer authorization for engineering changes and trials prior to release.
• Issue error‑free drawings, specifications, and BOMs (header cards) for approved EO and Sample Request releases.
• Lead root‑cause analysis for Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing issues, using data to develop and implement action plans.
• Identify, generate, and pursue cost‑reduction and profit‑improvement opportunities.
• Assist customers with warranty and field issues by interpreting needs and providing timely information.
• Support new and maintenance business quoting activities by analyzing incoming data and RASIC documents and participating in customer technical reviews.
• Lead strategic R&D product development initiatives to drive innovation, technical differentiation, and competitive new products.

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline and a minimum of 5 years of relevant design experience, preferably in automotive interior trim products.
• Knowledge of injection molding, casting, stamping, and welding/assembly processes.
• Strong time management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize assignments effectively. ‑management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize assignments effectively.
• Knowledge of DFMEAs/ DFA’s, DVP&R’s and their creation is preferred.
• Strong conceptual, problem solving, and analytical abilities. ‑solving, and analytical abilities.
• Demonstrated success in leading product development from concept through commercialization.
• Able to work independently, collaboratively within a team, or in a team‑lead capacity.
• Proficient in basic computer applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.).
• Preferably technically and mechanically adept.

We are an affirmative Action/EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.