Sr. Product Engineer - Seating

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute system requirements for the seating products and related commodities including system architecture and functional feasibility
• Outreach and work with suppliers and outside contractors to maintain efficient working relations and accomplish key outsourcing activities like part sourcing or contract design.
• Achieve customer-driven system targets for function, cost, and weight. Support customers with technical information and initiatives.
• Participate in the iterative process with the design/product performance to deliver the optimal balance of form vs. function vs. cost
• Formalize innovative seat solutions considering relevant Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Work on metal stamping/forming designs, foam and/or plastic materials for different seating solutions
• Devise and/or integrate mechanisms for different seat system features and functions while meeting required regulatory, durability and weight-cost targets
• Optimize designs with the appropriate analytical and physical assessments including engineering calculations, applied mechanics analysis, and regression checks/testing
• Interpret and scrutinize Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation results, debug or assist in CAE model corrections for meeting the objective and integrate recommendations into product design. Further aid in correlating physical test outcomes to the CAE analysis
• Create & review engineering cost estimates: material costs, design-development costs, validation costs, etc.
• Complete and release seating components, sub-system, and detail designs utilizing a mix of in-house design and supplier engineering as required
• Utilize Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) tools as appropriate during design, validation, and launch of the product(s)
• Implement designs, processes, and material selections to achieve/surpass desired execution of seat craftsmanship, fit & finish, and appeal
• Work with purchasing and supplier quality teams to ensure parts are sourced correctly and meet required quality levels; assist in Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
• Collaborate with cross functional teams such as Manufacturing, Procurement, Quality, Operations, etc. to ensure seating system manufacturing and assembly feasibility and serviceability
• Lead and cultivate a departmental work culture of growth, efficiency, continuous improvement, and innovation
• Pursue new product development using IMMI product development process. Complete all engineering activities within the process and fulfill all APQP requirements
• Design and lead projects and work collaboratively to execute said projects with various internal competencies such as CAPE, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance
• Develop and execute validation testing to qualify designs through the product development process
• Gain peer and management product insight through informal and formal design reviews
• Utilize design tools available to maximize development time while ensuring optimal product design

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in the mechanical and/or automotive engineering field with 4+ years focusing on transportation seat system design and development
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in seat structure design and development – primarily for high volume products involving designing for processes such as forming, stamping, drawing, etc.
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in seat motion and/or feature adjustment mechanism design and development
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in design, development and/or integration of seat foam and plastic components
• Minimum of 4+ years of experience and knowledge of 3D CAD software: CATIA V5 or SOLIDWORKS
• Knowledge about industry/safety/regulatory standards: FMVSS, CMVSS, SAE, ASTM, etc.
• Knowledge of FEA analysis, principles, material properties, and experience of implementing it for seat design
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, DFA-DFMA
• Ability to travel up to 25% within and outside of the U.S. to various unanticipated project sites based on project needs
• Display effective utilization of appropriate software, systems, and manual tools, and other core specific necessary tools