Job Description
Design Leader
Division:  FCM DIV ENGINEERING
Contract Type: 
Job Location:  AUBURN HILLS HQ R&D
Job Description: 

Forvia, a sustainable mobility technology leader

We pioneer technology for mobility experience that matter to people.

Your mission, roles and responsibilities

The Design Leader oversees the complete design process from initial concept through final customer release. This role is accountable for delivering fully developed CAD models and prints that align with project milestones, product and process specifications, and customer requirements. Responsibilities are divided into two main areas: design activities and cross functional collaboration.

1.    Design Activities
•    Develop system packaging concepts and overall product layouts
•    Lead and coordinate Design activities within assigned programs
•    Ensure consistency across systems, sub systems, and components
•    Maintain alignment between internal and customer PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems
•    Collaborate with design teams to meet customer milestones
•    Ensure proper use and compliance with DCS (Design Check Sheet), GD (Generic Drawings), and CAD quality standards
•    Manage CAD data exchanges with customers and suppliers
•    Oversee and maintain the Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM)
•    Conduct design studies as requested by the Product Development Leader (PDL) and Product Experts
•    Ensure all data delivered to the customer meets internal and customer standards

2.    Cross Functional Team Engagement:
•    Participate in packaging reviews and formal customer events
•    Help define critical characteristics (KPC – Key Product Characteristics; KCC – Key Control Characteristics)
•    Conduct customer requested design studies
•    Collaborate with Product Development Leader (PDL) and Product Experts on TOP5 priorities
•    Partner with Product Experts on DCS application and deviations
•    Work with Process Experts on DFM (Design for Manufacturing) reviews
•    Support Process Planning activities such as EDW (Equipment Design Workshop) and PFA (Process Flow Analysis)
•    Participate in weekly APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) meetings
•    Engage in prototype activities, including PPKO (Prototype Plant Kick Off)
•    Drive continuous design improvement through cross functional collaboration
•    Support 3D and 2D design and drawing reviews

Your profile and competencies to succeed

The ideal candidate will have/be:
•    A bachelor’s degree with 5 years of experience, or a Mechanical Engineering degree with relevant product development experience; automotive industry experience preferred
•    Training and proficiency in program specific CAD tools (Catia V5, NX, Creo)
•    Experience with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems
•    Knowledge of primary manufacturing methods
•    Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team
•    An international mindset

What we can do for you

  • At Forvia, you will find an engaging and dynamic environment where you can contribute to the development of sustainable mobility leading technologies.  
  • We are the seventh-largest global automotive supplier, employing more than 157,000 people in more than 40 countries which makes a lot of opportunity for career development. 
  • We welcome energetic and agile people who can thrive in a fast-changing environment. People who share our strong values. Team players with a collaborative mindset and a passion to deliver high standards for our clients. Lifelong learners. High performers. Globally minded people who aspire to work in a transforming industry, where excellence, speed, and quality count. 
  • We cultivate a learning environment, dedicating tools and resources to ensure we remain at the forefront of mobility.  Our people enjoy an average of more than 22 hours of online and in-person training within FORVIA University (five campuses around the world) 
  • We offer a multicultural environment that values diversity and international collaboration. We believe that diversity is a strength. To create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity create real value for the company, we have adopted gender diversity targets and inclusion action plans. 
  • Achieving CO2 Net Zero as a pioneer of the automotive industry is a priority: In June 2022, Forvia became the first global automotive group to be certified with the new SBTI Net-Zero Standard (the most ambitious standard of SBTi), aligned with the ambition of the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Three principles guide our action: use less, use better and use longer, with a focus on recyclability and circular economy. 

Why join us

FORVIA is an automotive technology group at the heart of smarter and more sustainable mobility. We bring together expertise in electronics, clean mobility, lighting, interiors, seating, and lifecycle solutions to drive change in the automotive industry.

With a history stretching back more than a century, we are the 7th largest global automotive supplier, employing more than 157,000 people in 43 countries. You'll find our technology in around 1 out of 2 vehicles produced anywhere in the world.

In June 2022, we became the 1st global automotive group to be certified with the SBTI Net-Zero Standard. We have committed to reach CO2 Net Zero by no later than 2045.

As technological innovation and the need for sustainability transform the automotive industry, we are ideally positioned to deliver solutions that will enhance the lives of road-users everywhere.