Designer, Product Engineer, Business Development

Overview

THE COMPANY

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation. In 2023, Continental generated sales of €41.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 56 countries and markets.

Conti Tech is one of the world’s leading industry specialists. The Continental group sector offers its customers connected, environment-friendly, safe, and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 42,000 employees in more than 40 countries and sales of some 6.8 billion euros (2023), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America.

This position is located in Winchester, Virginia. There is no relocation or sponsorship available for this role.

Design and project management support for automotive interior design projects in the Americas region, focusing on surface design developments, color, grain, prints, and customer approvals within the product life cycle (PLC).

• Design and Customer Responsibility: development of feasible designs (grain, color, prints, combinations) and ensuring customer approvals, including documentation within the PLC process.
• Participate in design developments and design releases for customer projects.
• Identify customer/market design needs and present designs internally/externally.
• Own surface design developments with the affected customers.

• Strategy Design Americas: support Segment Automotive Interior and Segment Liv Tec in the Americas for strategic decision-making and/or acquisition phases of strategically important customer/market projects; network and expand partnerships between SSL Design and affected customer departments; observe competitive design technologies/activities with sales.
• Design – Plant Support Winchester.
• Design and Project Management: initiate/monitor trial batches through internal processes; track color and grain developments through internal development processes; track internal design projects.

• Americas customer project management of design projects in the Americas; attend color, print, or/and texture evaluations at suppliers, production, and customers; manage escalations within the Americas Design department.

• Collaborate and advise all BA SSL stakeholders and PLC-related departments; build and extend collaboration between SSL and customer departments; primary task is acquisition of new projects.
• Reporting based on defined cycles within a defined reporting system (1:1 meetings, dashboard, action list, etc.). Include: report status updates and projected timelines to customers; report to internal departments with recommendations based on customer feedback; document customer approval status (ISAR, transfer form roller to serial status, master creation).

• Collect input from customers; present color submissions and grain developments; build collaboration between SSL Design and customer departments; support PM team for acquisition of new projects; conduct internal presentations.
• Team member within a PM team; responsibility for surface design developments with the affected customer; collaborate with all parties involved in the PLC; collaborate with Creative Design, Automotive Design, Liv Tec Design, DTS SSL.

• Monitor and analyze the American market for colors, textures, prints, materials of competitors; recognize design and color trends; observe SSL vs competitors in color, grain, prints, structures, surface characteristics, haptics.

• Travel to suppliers, fairs/trade shows, and customers; prepare design presentations; present SSL product portfolio design samples and presentations.

Environment
:
Safety is our highest priority and safety procedures and guidelines must always be adhered to. Applicants must be able to work in a manufacturing industrial environment and wear PPE such as safety boots, safety glasses, and hearing protection.

• Education: Bachelor s Degree in related field.

• Degree in Design
• 3 years of experience
• Adobe Suite experience
• Previous experience in production and product management

• Competitive Pay
• Immediate Benefits
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Discounts, including tire discounts
• Competitive Bonus Program
• Employer 401(k) Match
• On-Site Gym
• And more benefits that come with working for a global industry leader

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.