Senior Trim Engineering Manager

About the role

The Senior Trim Engineering Manager manages trim design and processes for a seating business unit and provides technical leadership to the trim engineers and technicians. The role covers the front-line technical customer interface for trim phases 1-6, approves trim technical issues, manages the trim engineering budget and supports global programs where needed. It reports to the Director of Engineering.

Key responsibilities

• Lead trim product development, design reviews and open issues meetings, and ensure best practices and processes are applied.
• Review and approve DFMEAs before tooling release, ensuring high RPNs are designed out or have a corrective action plan.
• Design trim patterns aligned with the trim/foam interface template and Design for Assembly guidelines, and coach 2D pattern design with manual patterns, Optitex 2D CAD and Lectra.
• Provide seat and foam engineering input, support seat build events and recommend solutions for sew and JIT facility process issues.
• Approve trim data, changes and deviations in TPDM and PLM, and review cost, performance, timing and investment against customer targets.
• Negotiate with customers, integrate design development with foam, materials, metals, mechanisms, plastics, comfort and SMTE groups, and coordinate with Manufacturing, Purchasing and Quality.
• Plan and execute PLUS trim engineering deliverables, manage the trim budget and PDx documents, and train and develop trim engineers and technicians.
• Apply Adient standards and systems (PLUS, Lean, CPP, PLM, BEP, Six Sigma, Kepner Tregoe, offshore design, trim SMTE) and drive improvement through lessons learned.

Required profile

• B.S. in Engineering and 10-15 years of trim product development experience.
• 5 years in a supervisory position in trim product development.
• Ability to communicate with all management levels and build relationships with global teams.
• Some global and regional travel required.

Required skills

• Trim design tools: Optitex, Lectra, TPDM, PLM
• Basic Engineering Process (BEP)
• Knowledge of trim cover construction and equipment such as NC cutters and sewing machines