Design Engineer - Exterior Trims and Ambient Lighting

Expleo; Chennai; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Expleo in Chennai is seeking a Design Engineer to develop exterior trim components and ambient lighting, using CATIA V5/V6. You will ensure Class-A surface integration, work with BIW, styling, and CAE teams, and coordinate with suppliers for feasible tooling and cost-effective designs.

The role emphasizes DFM/DFA, regulatory compliance, and pedestrian safety, with a background in mechanical or automobile engineering and experience in GPDS/APQP.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in automotive exterior trim design and ambient lighting.
• Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6 and ENOVIA.
• Good understanding of Class-A surface integration.
• Knowledge of plastic part design, GD&T, tolerance stack-up.
• Experience with GPDS and APQP processes.
• Familiarity with pedestrian safety and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop exterior trim components (bumpers, grilles, claddings, spoilers, wheel arch trims, pillar appliques, rocker panels, garnish parts) and ambient lighting.
• Create and modify 3D CAD models using CATIA V5/V6.
• Develop designs aligned with Class-A surfaces and define mounting strategies, attachment features, and part interfaces with BIW and adjacent systems.
• Ensure compliance with gap & flush, section requirements, and vehicle master sections.
• Collaborate with CAE teams for simulation studies and provide countermeasures.
• Work closely with Styling Studio, Body Engineering (BIW), Closures, Lighting, and Manufacturing teams.
• Coordinate with suppliers for feasibility, tooling concepts, and cost-effective design solutions.
• Ensure smooth design integration across systems while maintaining styling intent and functional performance.
• Ensure DFM/DFA compliance, including draft analysis, ribbing, wall thickness, and tooling feasibility.
• Ensure compliance with OEM standards, regulatory requirements, and pedestrian safety norms.
• Good knowledge of materials (PP, ABS, PC/ABS, ASA, composites) and surface finishes (painted, textured, chrome plating).

Skills

Automotive exterior trim design

CATIA V5/V6

ENOVIA

Class-A surface integration

Plastic part design, GD&T

GPDS / APQP

Pedestrian safety & regulatory

Education

Bachelor’s/ Master’s Degree in Mechanical or Automobile Engineering

Tools

CATIA V5/V6

ENOVIA

Job description

Overview

Design Engineer - Exterior Trims and Ambient lighting

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities & Tasks:

• Design and develop exterior trim components (bumpers, grilles, claddings, spoilers, wheel arch trims, pillar appliques, rocker panels, and garnish parts) and Ambient Lighting.
• Create and modify 3D CAD models using tools like CATIA V5/V6.
• Develop designs aligned with Class-A surfaces and define mounting strategies, attachment features (clips, snaps, fasteners), and part interfaces with BIW and adjacent systems.
• Ensure compliance with gap & flush, section requirements, and vehicle master sections.
• Collaborate with CAE teams for simulation studies and provide countermeasure.
• Work closely with Styling Studio, Body Engineering (BIW), Closures, Lighting, and Manufacturing teams.
• Coordinate with suppliers for feasibility, tooling concepts, and cost-effective design solutions.
• Ensure smooth design integration across systems while maintaining styling intent and functional performance.
• Ensure DFM/DFA compliance, including draft analysis, ribbing, wall thickness, and tooling feasibility.
• Ensure compliance with OEM standards, regulatory requirements, and pedestrian safety norms.
• Good knowledge of materials (PP, ABS, PC/ABS, ASA, composites) and surface finishes (painted, textured, chrome plating).

Qualifications

Bachelor’s/ Master’s Degree in Engineering in Mechanical / Automobile Engineering.

Essential skills

Essential:

• Strong expertise in automotive exterior trim design/Ambient lighting
• Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6 and ENOVIA
• Good understanding of Class-A surface integration
• Knowledge of plastic part design, GD&T, tolerance stack-up
• Experience with global development processes (GPDS, APQP)
• Familiarity with pedestrian safety and regulatory requirements

Desired skills

Desirable:

Experience

4-7 years