Sr. DRE Engineer-Seat Complete

Senior Design Release Engineer, Seat Complete

At Slate, we're building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.

• Lead the development of cost, weight, and functionally efficient Seat Complete systems including integration of JIT components, Foam, Trim, Structures, Heat and Vent.
• Directly impact occupant comfort being responsible for the design and release of the Seat complete, including supporting hardware and software.
• Apply engineering disciplines and take on full responsibility for APQP documentation, including DFMEA, Engineering Specifications, DVP&R, Drawings, Control Plans.
• Collaborate with Purchasing in the sourcing of new Seating components / systems, whether for material cost reductions or new platforms, conducting supplier technical reviews to ensure the best source for the product from a functional and financial perspective.
• Create, specify, and release Seating components, working directly with our Vehicle Integration teams to ensure vehicle functional objectives are met.
• Work with affected teams to ensure that accessories (like removable trim covers, heated and vented trim covers, audio accessories and more) are properly accommodated by the Seat and Electrical systems.
• Ensure compatibility with interfacing systems and components, including attaching hardware and joint design.
• Manage changes to parts / systems and resolve all functional, durability, and assembly issues identified.
• Deliver products to meet quality and reliability requirements and arrive on time for program milestones, with all necessary documentation and identification / labeling.
• Lead Design Reviews for each component / system at required milestones.
• Act as the primary liaison between Slate and suppliers of the parts under your umbrella.
• Engage with Accessories, Body, Restraints, Design, Manufacturing, Safety, Vehicle Integration (NVH, Vehicle Dynamics), and Vehicle Evaluation and Verification to deliver robust Seating systems to production that meet vehicle level performance and component requirements.
• Ensure validation of the Seating system, reviewing test loads, set ups, reports, and results for both internal and external testing.
• Create or assist in the creation of Product Assembly Documents and ensure joint development for your parts.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field is required. Master's degree is preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in automotive Seating System engineering.
• Applications-specific experience in at least 3 of the following areas / components:
• Seat JIT Integration.
• Seat complete FMVSS, IIHS and other 3rd party rating validation.
• Seat foam and trim design.
• Seat Structure design.
• Strong product knowledge in steering rack components, tuning variables, and specification.
• Strong understanding of occupant kinematics and their effects on vehicle validation.
• Experience working with Catia V5 (opening and saving models / drawings, editing drawings, section cutting and taking measurements, etc.). Modeling skills are also a plus.
• Experience working within a PLM and releasing components and processing engineering changes.
• Functional experience with all NHTSA / FMVSS, CARB, EPA, FCC, or other regulatory requirements.
• Technical writing and documentation experience.
• Ability to lead teams and meetings through technical tradeoffs and optimized solutions with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
• Highly adaptable and proactive, excelling in fast-paced start-up and new model launch environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

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