As a Lead Engineer – Engineering Design, you will be a key contributor to our Global Engineering Design/CAD team in Chennai, reporting to the CAD Manager LL6. This role is integral to our product development cycle, focusing on systems-level design ownership across diverse automotive domains such as Interior or Exterior commodities, Such as IP/CNSL, Door Trim, Hard Trims / Frt and RR Fascias and Functional Trims. You may lead a small team of designers or own a system or subsystems , guiding them in creating designs that adhere to Ford Engineering requirements and Design Standards using Catia V5 / V6 environment. A core part of your responsibility will be to ensure timely and quality CAD design deliverables in line with Ford GPDS timelines. This position requires strong technical acumen in digital pre-assembly, BOM management, clearance checks, and the ability to implement design actions based on CAE/CFD analysis and testing. You will also be expected to manage the CAD design lifecycle within the PML tool (Teamcenter /3DX) and continuously seek opportunities for efficiency and innovation.
- Execute projects and establish systems-level design ownership, working either as an individual contributor or as the leader of a small design team.
- Perform Design of Interior Exterior Plastics commodities in Catia V5, in line with Engineering requirements and Ford Design Standards.
- Meet Ford GPDS timelines and quality standards for CAD design deliverables.
- Demonstrate good knowledge in Digital Pre-assembly process and BOM.
- Perform Dynamic and static clearance checks.
- Ensure CAD / BOM alignment.
- Implement Design actions based on analysis using CAE / CFD / outdoor & indoor tests.
- Develop designs according to Plastics design specifications & manufacturing processes.
- Manage CAD design Lifecycle in PML tool (Teamcenter).
- Run Design reviews.
- Actively participate in efficiency and innovation initiatives.
- Perform Engineering Design with minimal supervision.
- Collaborate with D&R Engineers and other cross functional teams to perform all CAD related deliverables with respect to Ford standards.
- Ensure every Gateway/Milestone targets are achieved with respect to Ford standards and Design rule requirements.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical/Automobile) or related disciplines.
Experience:
- Min 6 years of experience in the Automotive Industry.
- Minimum 6 years of design experience (CATIA V5) in any of the automotive systems.
- Candidates should ideally have 6+ years in Automotive Product Development.
Functional/Technical Skills:
- In-depth CAD tool skills (Catia V5 / V6).
- Expertise in vehicle systems and sub-systems (Door Trims/ IP/CNSL, Exterior Plastics, Interior Trims, etc),
- Work experience with PLM tools (Teamcenter /3DX).
- Knowledge of engineering quality tools: FMEAs, Six Sigma, etc.
- Knowledge of applied systems engineering, Six Sigma methodologies.
- Knowledge in New Product Introduction process, its milestones, and its delivery success criteria for engineering.
- Knowledge of material cost, business equations, and basic finance.
- Excellent Written and Verbal communication
Working knowledge with Office Tools
