Design Engineer - Interior Trim

ZipRecruiter; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a detail-oriented Interior Trim Engineer to lead the design and development of innovative interior door trim systems. This exciting role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to create high-quality, cost-effective designs while managing project timelines and supplier relationships. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in automotive design, particularly with Catia V5, and a strong understanding of manufacturing constraints. If you're passionate about automotive engineering and eager to tackle challenging projects, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Strong background in automotive design focusing on interior trim.
• Extensive experience with Catia V5 for CAD design.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of leather-wrapped interior door trim components.
• Manage external design resources and suppliers for timely delivery.

Skills

Automotive design & development

Catia V5

Project management

Leather-wrapped component design

Financial awareness

Tools

Catia V5

Job description

Job Description

Design Engineer - Interior Trim - Doors

Location: Hybrid – 3 days on-site

Contract: Until 31st March 2026 (Potential extension)

Hours: 35 per week

Inside IR35

Driving Licence: Essential

Overview

We are seeking an Interior Trim Engineer – Doors to support the design and development of interior door trim systems. This role focuses on creating high-quality, cost-effective designs while collaborating with cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will have strong experience in Catia V5, automotive interior trim design, and project management.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Development

• Lead the design and development of leather-wrapped interior door trim components using Catia V5.
• Create design specifications from cascaded requirements, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Generate and implement innovative concepts and solutions for design challenges.
• Conduct cross-functional design reviews, collaborating with internal teams and external partners.
• Ensure components are designed for manufacturability, meeting cost and quality targets.

Project & Supplier Management

• Manage external design resources and suppliers to deliver high-quality designs on time and within budget.
• Plan and track project-related activities, ensuring milestones are met.
• Support engineering validation and testing, ensuring compliance with system requirements.
• Represent the Body & Trim R&D department in relevant group forums.

Collaboration & Process Improvement

• Work cross-functionally with Production, Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Electrical Engineering, and Test & Validation teams.
• Ensure best practices in systems engineering (V-model) and design for manufacturing.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Automotive design & development background, with a focus on interior trim.
• Extensive Catia V5 experience – ability to generate feasible concept ideas in CAD.
• Strong understanding of leather-wrapped component design and manufacturing constraints.
• Proven experience managing projects, suppliers, and D&D partners.

Skills & Experience

• Experience with VW systems and processes.
• Financial awareness related to cost-effective design and budget management.
• Understanding of systems engineering V-model for system development.

This role is ideal for a detail-oriented Interior Trim Engineer – Doors looking to take on challenging projects in the automotive sector.