Interior Seating -Lead Engineer

Location: Gaydon, UK (On-Site) 6 months contract position

The Role

As a Seating Lead Engineer, you will be supporting all engineering activities related to Design & Release of BIW commodities, from concept to launch and working closely with interfacing component owners, Purchasing, STA, Manufacturing and suppliers.

Your responsibilities:

• Lead the design and development of interior seating systems and sub-systems for both new programmes and model year actions in line with the programme timescale and deliverable cadence.
• Build CAD concept, define interfaces and boundary diagrams, manage CAD update/releases in the system.
• Lead developments till component sign off (completion of DV for first application) delivering to cost, quality, weight, attribute and timing.
• Development & implementation of an efficient and effective design process (based on ‘should designs’).
• Lead the delivery of CAD geometry and functional requirements through the Virtual Series Phase on time.
• Coordinate FEA/CAD/TEST activities for in house and outsourced development.
• Work with AVA team to update core AVA model based on development and geometry update.
• Lead Evidence Based Engineering Reviews with the BCE Tech Centre groups.
• Manage/liaise with other areas of Body Engineering, other functional areas, suppliers and the Programme teams to ensure successful delivery, on time and to the committed cost.
• Deliver the commodity plan to quality, cost and time, including maintaining the Worldwide Engineering Release System.
• Deliver the Engineering Advanced Product Quality Planning deliverables.
• Coordinate the Management of Change Requests, expenditure forecasting and the relevant supplier teams in support of delivery of the programme milestones.
• Work on component and vehicle test plans, including detailed planning of test and development stages through to sign off and support Engineering test teams with rectification of issues.
• Assist in the resolution of issues with component engineering and vehicle attribute teams to develop designs that meet requirements.
• Ensure all appropriate Jaguar Land Rover standards are met throughout design maturation.
• Ensure all programme design solutions meet: Programme targets for cost and weight, Legal regulations and Requirements Management & Design Verification documentation, Optical Quality and Premium Consumer Product Audit requirements.
• Keep all Technical documentation up to date including meeting minutes, Foundation and Programme Design analysis documents, Quality history and bill of design.

Your Profile

Essential skills/knowledge/experience:

• Mechanical Engineering Degree qualified, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of automotive seating system design, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge and use of Problem-solving Techniques in the development process (e.g. 8D, 5 Why).
• Experience in DFMEA, Control Plan, Special Characteristics.
• Previous experience of managing quality projects, technical and process issues within a Project Team environment.
• Experience of Product development/product integration/manufacturing of materials used for seating system of the vehicle.
• A good understanding of change management processes.
• Experience with CAD tools preferably 3DX - CATIA V6.
• Core Tools (APQP: PPAP: DFMEA: Control Plan).
• In depth knowledge and experience in using 8D methodology.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• 3DX, Catia V5/V6, seating system design.

Desirable skills/knowledge/experience:

• Familiarity with seat safety systems (e.g., airbags, sensors, ISOFIX).
• Experience with premium vehicle programs and luxury interior design.
• Knowledge of global standards (FMVSS, UN-ECE, Euro NCAP).
• Ability to work across multiple sites and manage complex supplier relationships.