Description
We are looking for an experienced Exterior Parts Design Engineer with a minimum of 3 years of automotive experience in the development of exterior body components and plastic parts. The role combines hands-on design responsibility with technical leadership of components and subsystems throughout the complete product development lifecycle.
As Exterior Parts Design Engineer / Component Owner, you will act as Component Owner for assigned exterior components and subsystem areas throughout the entire product development process. You will be responsible for the design and development of exterior body parts such as bumpers, grilles, spoilers, trims, claddings, wheel arch moldings, and other related plastic components. A key part of the role involves creating and maintaining 3D CAD models and drawings in accordance with OEM standards and requirements.
You will lead technical activities and coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of components and subsystems. This includes driving design reviews, risk assessments, technical problem-solving, and engineering decisions, while managing interfaces between exterior systems and the surrounding vehicle architecture.
You will also be responsible for planning and monitoring design activities, deliverables, timing, and maturity status for your assigned components. Working closely with suppliers, you will support development and industrialization activities, as well as engineering change management throughout the project lifecycle. In addition, you will participate in DFMEA, tolerance analysis, design verification, and validation activities to ensure robust and high-quality solutions.
As a key technical contact, you will regularly communicate project progress, technical status, and potential risks to customers and other project stakeholders, contributing to successful project execution and customer satisfaction.
To thrive and succeed in this role, you have:
- A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or equivalent.
- At least 3 years of experience in automotive exterior component development.
- Strong knowledge of plastic component design and injection molding processes.
- Experience with automotive exterior systems and visible Class-A related components.
- Experience as Component Owner, Technical Lead, or equivalent responsibility is highly meritorious.
- Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6, Creo, NX, or similar CAD systems.
- Knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and automotive product development processes.
- Experience coordinating suppliers and cross-functional engineering teams.
As a person, you are a confident and engaging leader with a strong ability to build trust and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You are experienced in driving and leading technical activities forward, even without formal line management responsibility, and are motivated by achieving results through collaboration and influence. You are structured, proactive, and solution-oriented, with a natural ability to identify opportunities and address challenges effectively. You communicate fluently in English and can adapt your message to different audiences. You have a strong sense of ownership and accountability, with a focus on delivering high-quality results on time while keeping customer value and business needs at the forefront.
At AVL, you will become part of a global engineering company at the forefront of development, simulation, and testing for the future of mobility. The company drives innovation to create a greener, safer, and better mobility future.