Exterior Lead Engineer

Desired Competencies (Technical/Behavioral)

Must-Have*

• Lead the design and development of bumper, grille, exterior finisher, and underfloor systems from concept to production
• Significant experience in an automotive engineering environment, particularly in exterior systems development
• Demonstrable experience working on bumpers, grilles, exterior finishers (eg, trim, appliques), and underfloor shields
• Proven ability to lead projects or technical work streams

• Proficiency in automotive CAD software (CATIA V6, 3DX)
• Strong understanding of plastic injection molding, tooling, and manufacturing processes for exterior components
• Familiarity with automotive quality standards, material selection, and regulatory requirements
• Knowledge of aerodynamic principles, pedestrian safety regulations, and their impact on exterior design
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or automotive engineering

• Good working knowledge of product creation & delivery, change control, product definition and change management processes
• Able to use structured problem‑solving tools and techniques to resolve technical and quality issues
• Experience of component verification methods, through component, system, and vehicle‑level test methods
• Manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Good communication and collaboration skills
• Demonstrable experience managing and influencing key stakeholders
• Experience with project management/agile methodologies

• Deliver the commodity plan to quality, cost and time, including maintaining the Worldwide Engineering Release System (WERS) and/or iCreate
• Own and deliver the Engineering Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) deliverables
• Manage Change Requests, expenditure forecasting and the relevant supplier teams in support of delivery of programme milestones
• Manage vehicle test plans, including detailed planning of test and development stages through to sign‑off and support Engineering test teams with rectification of issues
• Resolve issues with component engineering and vehicle attribute teams to develop designs that meet targets
• Ensure all appropriate design and launch standards are met throughout design maturation
• Provide input into new feature development
• Ensure all programme design solutions meet programme targets for cost and weight, legal regulations, requirements‑management & design‑verification documentation, and Crafted Quality and World Class Product Audit (WCPA) requirements
• Maintain up‑to‑date project/programme documentation, including meeting minutes, foundation and programme design analysis documents, quality history and bill of design, regulatory requirements & company standards
• Undertake any other work as directed by the line manager in connection with the role

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background or identity, and we encourage candidates who may not meet every listed requirement to still apply. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure a fair and accessible experience.