Seat Trim Cover Engineer

A Seat Trim Engineer is responsible of driving and leading the cost, quality and development of seat trim covers on all variants of material combinations (leather, vinyl, cloth, carpet, non-woven, hidden gussets) 
He is responsible of design and release of seat trim covers and be a technical expert on materials like leather, textiles, carpet, vinyl, threads/stitching process and understand attachment strategy through the use of J-clips, clips, hog rings, velcro and use of other trim components.

The position requires strong cross-functional coordination with purchasing, finance, supplier and manufacturing teams, as well as continuous interaction with global materials and engineering organizations to ensure compliance with certifications, standards, processes and use of new technologies.

Lead the seat trim development with a cross-functional collaboration with supplier.

High collaboration and effective communication to work and visit seat trim manufacturing plants, trim development centers and seat JIT manufacturing plants. 

Product management and control of cost, quality and parts availability of seat trim covers. 

Design and release seat trim covers and its components. 

Technical experience on seat materials like leather, vinyl, cloth, carpet, non-woven, hidden gussets and threads)

Lead technical and commercial discussions with suppliers. 

Ensure program milestone compliance (GPDS).

Collaborate and coordinate with seat systems engineer and seat complete engineer to ensure and deliver a seat with high quality appearance. 

Manage and ownership of BOM (Bill of Materials), timing and release of part numbers. 

Problem solving skills with robust problem statement and root cause definition for seat trim cover quality and launch issues. 

Expertise on manufacturing processes like cut & sew, lamination, decorative stitching, perforation and tack and sew.

Lead validation and certification of materials on seat trim covers and support testing at seat complete level. 

Support program launches and travel to plants/supplier sites as required.

Support and sign off Engineering Statement of Work with suppliers. 

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Master’s degree preferred).
Minimum of 3+ years of relevant professional experience on automotive interiors or seat trim covers.

Technical Knowledge:

BOM release systems (e.g., WERS, AVBOM or similar).
Software: Lectra, CATIA, MS Office, Vismockup, Teamcenter, MS Project.
Technical experience on seat materials like leather, vinyl, cloth, carpet, non-woven, hidden gussets and threads)
Expertise on manufacturing processes like cut & sew, lamination, decorative stitching, perforation and tack and sew.
Experience with cost control and quality assurance.
Knowledge of material validation and specifications.
Familiarity with GPDS, PDP, and quality methodologies (Green Belt, 5D, 8D).

Skills:

Strong supplier negotiation skills.
Leadership and problem-solving capabilities.
Team-oriented mindset.
Excellent communication skills.
Project management and organizational abilities.
Advanced English proficiency (written and spoken).
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
Willingness to travel as required