Lead Engineer

Job Summary

Owns design intent along the whole product lifecycle (conceptualization, development, and launch support). Follows the Yanfeng International Operating System (IOS) and the PMP-XSO project management tools and executes the deliverables accordingly to ensure maturation of the design concepts, fulfilment of customer requirements, and successful industrialization. Expected to have full knowledge of the engineering skillset and perform independently. Additionally, mentoring other engineers to grow their technical capabilities, coaching them on their professional interests, and demonstrating an authentic interest in developing the team is essential to the role.

• Design Creation: Executes with proficiency, leads, and mentors others on the creation of engineering deliverables while ensuring its completion with expected quality and within program deadlines. Has experience and performs independently tasks such as a) understanding the principles of physics to perform basic engineering analysis (free body diagrams, plastic properties, degradation, creep/stress, fatigue, etc.), b) performing design effects and failure mode analysis, c) making sure company's lessons learned and design guidelines are being used to refine design concepts, d) reviewing and optimizing dimensional engineering concepts (locator systems, datums, fixing elements, etc.) to ensure achievement of functional targets, and executing component/assembly stack-ups studies in support of manufacturing & craftsmanship goals, e) applying six sigma principles to create robust designs that fulfill DFSS, f) ensuring all special/critical characteristics are documented through the DFMEA and incorporating Poka concepts. G) leveraging materials knowledge (plastics is a must) to ensure product requirements are met, h) working with customers and suppliers to acquire part data, specifications, samples and quotes as necessary (specs, CAD, drawing, RASIC, SOW) and i) understanding and analyzing design intent creating and utilizing 2D layouts 3D sections and 3D assemblies.
• Requirements and Validation: Understands customer SOW and RASIC and comprehends its impact on engineering’s responsibilities; can translate the findings into design CTQs. Has awareness of the industrialization requirements, constraints, and past issues by frequently visiting on site his assigned projects in the Plants. Collaborates with Requirement, Test, and Validation engineers to define verification methods and documentation needed for product performance requirements. Since the early stages of the design process, uses the appropriated tools to predict performance (e.g., calculations, CAE simulations, Moldflow analysis, etc.) and uses experimental methods sparingly to confirm his findings (prototyping, early builds, lab testing). Oversees build events to ensure appropriated level of product is being tested; collaborates with Program management, Launching, and other areas as appropriated to ensure ordering of parts, build events, checking, packaging and shipping occurs as planned, taking care for samples integrity; raises red flags in a timely manner to solve issues that could impact testing negatively.
• Problem solving: Confronts and addresses issues as they arise; helps team to overcome obstacles contacting appropriate resources. Supports root-causing activity and can discern when problems fall within engineering jurisdiction. In those scenarios, takes the full ownership of the investigation and, involving the right stakeholders, uses the problem-solving methods such as DMAIC, KT, 5-Whys, Yanfeng 5S process, PDCA, etc. to find realistic and feasible solutions. Captures critical product issues through A3's and collaborates with Product SMTE to document knowledge and new lessons learned. Approves trade-offs between product performance, cost, and timing. Can address high complexity issues, involve stakeholders, conduct design reviews to evaluate ideas, and ensure the team uses the appropriate tools to document findings (e.g., A3s @ PLM).
• Costs and risk management: Can deliver designs that meet program profitability targets. Has experience on the product, coaches’ others on decision making, and makes the tough questions to ensure engineers decide consciously over cost drivers. Contributes and delivers to program ROS roadmap items enabled by cost optimization workshops. Has proficiency using, following, and participating in XSO reviews while providing required engineering documents.
• Design communication: Oversees the drawing schedule to ensure drawings and 3D models are released on time for tooling. Oversees early maturation of DV/PV drawings. Approves BOM creation/changes in PLM. Ensures eBOMs & mBOMs are accurate and up to date in compliance with IOS standards. Can support development of the PFMEA and Control Plans. Coordinates the review, presentation and release of technical work and other documentation, utilizing the YFAI Change management system (Teamcenter) to store information, request approvals, and communicate changes.
• Communication: Can communicate effectively with offshore engineering teams as required (language, communication, and cultural skillset). Has strong presentation skills to provide professional, clear, and concise technical support to internal and external customers. Supports programs reviews with design information, tactical plans, and issues highlights and effectively communicates the technical evolution of the design to the SDT. Maintains continuous communication with the customer (build relationships and trust with technical counterpart at OEM) to keep it informed about team operations and performance, while simultaneously defending our organizational interests. Internally, becomes the technical voice to the customer.
• Product launch and tactical plans: Ensures all engineering requirements from the PMP-XSO project management tools are achieved. Meets the expectations of program timing, with full and completed release of engineering deliverables on time per PMP/XSO commitment dates. Ensures information handoff occurs on time and with expected quality, following YFAI standards and requirements (Teamcenter). Assists with final product PPAP, providing needed information from Engineering standpoint, including assisting Quality team on understanding dimensional disposition. Finally, Lead Engineers are capable to develop and maintain timelines, with stakeholder involvement, to track and achieve Engineering deliverables including drawing releases, product issue resolution, customer milestones, etc. Has talent on naming business needs and giving direction to others to achieve the goals.
Occasional out of the country traveling.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 Minimum years of experience in automotive interiors desired.
• Experience in successfully managing conflict resolution, strong negotiations skills, managing customer complaints, and escalation topics.
• Demonstrated Project Management skills (e.g. PDCA) or the ability to document, plan, market, execute, control, close and manage programs, projects, orders, activities or systems.
• Design and development expertise.
• Prior experience working on a Global Team (Mexico, China, Europe) and/or Global Program desired
• Automotive seating product knowledge (Structure/Complete Seat/Component) preferred.
• Plastic resin and materials selection knowledge as related to interior components.
• Dimensional management and tolerancing experience. Ability to develop component and sub-assembly GD&T tolerancing and tolerance stack-up studies in support of manufacturing & craftsmanship goals.
• Product launch experience.
• Product validation experience.
• CAD or CAD viewer ability.
• Good communicator.

• Good problem solver.

  Experience with change control and BOM management with a database system such as PLM.

  Position requires 10% travel, including overnight travel to support customer and launch needs

  Essential Common Requirements for all Employees:

  • International Operating System (IOS): Understand, apply and meet all function-related IOS requirements.
  • Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS): Understand, apply and meet all function-related EHS requirements.
  • Product Safety: Understand, apply and meet all function-related Product Safety requirements.
  • Compliance: Understand, apply and meet all function-related Compliance requirements
  • Information Security: Understand, apply and meet all function-related IT / Information Security and confidentiality of YFAI information requirements.
  • Must comply with all company policies and procedures.
  • Employee must have the ability to work additional hours and / or overtime as needed or assigned to complete job duties on time.
  • Ability to multitask, interact politely and professionally with customers, suppliers and vendors, and work cooperatively with employees at all levels.
  • Ability to maintain predictable and regular attendance, arrive to designated location on time, or be at assigned location ready to work for assignment (plant, corporate office, or remote).