Design Release Engineer - Interior Pre program

Position Summary

The Senior Pre-Program Design Release Engineer synthesizes early program targets (cost, mass, complexity) with advanced interior theme styling. This role drives early-phase feasibility decision-making, oversees initial CAD practices, and manages technical sourcing documentation to enable a robust style freeze and execution handover.

Key Responsibilities

• Theme Feasibility: Synthesize program financial, mass, and complexity requirements with advanced interior design styling themes.
• Incompatibility Escalation: Evaluate advanced interior themes against baseline program assumptions and escalate technical or financial incompatibilities.
• Decision Frameworks: Drive In/Out/Explo decision-making matrices prioritizing quality, cost, timing, and functional performance.
• Architecture & BOM: Define part breakup, joint interfaces, and assembly sequences for the interior Program of Record (POR).
• Sourcing Documentation: Develop complete technical source packages including PBOM, eBOM, technical specification sheets, and preliminary DVP&Rs.
• CAD Guidance: Oversee master section development and initial 3D CAD releases while ensuring compliance with corporate design practices.
• Supplier Technical Reviews: Lead supplier technical reviews, rate assessments, and feasibility reviews prior to final sourcing.

Basic Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 8+ years of automotive product development or design release engineering experience.
• Systems Expertise: Advanced knowledge of PLM systems (Teamcenter) and CAD modeling software (CATIA V5 or Siemens NX).
• Manufacturing Depth: Strong understanding of DFM principles and interior processes (injection molding, plastic welding, foaming, vacuum forming, thermoforming).
• BOM Management: Direct experience managing Preliminary BOMs (PBOM), Engineering BOMs (eBOM), and technical requirements packages.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering or Business Administration.
• Direct pre-program or advanced engineering experience within an automotive OEM or Tier-1 supplier.
• In-plant experience, including tool tryouts, prototype assembly, and assembly plant launches.
• Deep familiarity with OEM style freeze milestones, theme evaluation, and surface criteria.