Application Engineer

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.; Vonore (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. in Vonore, TN is seeking a Senior Application Engineer for the Seating Solutions team.

You will act as the technical bridge between customers and our engineering and sales groups, transforming client needs into manufacturable seat solutions for automotive and commercial vehicles. You will collaborate with OEMs and internal teams to guide design decisions, support product development, and ensure programs launch successfully, leveraging strong seating systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in application or design.
• Strong seating systems knowledge and DFMEA/PFMEA familiarity.
• Willingness to travel 10-20% to customer sites and plants.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical contact for assigned customers, guiding seat design and manufacturability.
• Lead customer discovery, requirements clarification, and project scoping discussions.
• Translate requirements into internal engineering documentation, drawings, and specs for seat assemblies.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing engineering, and quality teams to ensure cost-effectiveness and compliance.
• Support product development cycles including design validation, prototypes, changes, and launches.

Skills

Seat design experience

Engineering leadership

CAD (CATIA/SolidWorks)

DFMEA/PFMEA

Customer liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

Job description

THIS POSITION IS LOCATED IN VONORE, TN. RELOCATION SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE SELECTED CANDIDATE.

Position Summary

If you’re energized by solving complex customer challenges and bringing ideas to life, this role is for you. As a Senior Application Engineer with CVG’s Seating Solutions team, you will be the technical bridge between our customers and our engineering and sales organizations, helping transform customer needs into high-quality, manufacturable seating solutions for the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. You’ll collaborate closely with OEMs and internal teams to guide design decisions, support product development, and ensure programs launch successfully. The ideal candidate combines strong seating systems knowledge with the ability to communicate clearly, manage multiple priorities, and build trust with customers through proactive problem-solving and follow-through.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Customer Engagement & Technical Support

• Serve as the primary technical contact for assigned customers, responding to inquiries, analyzing requirements, and providing guidance on seat design and manufacturability.
• Lead customer discovery activities, including requirements clarification, engineering reviews, and project scoping discussions.
• Support the sales team in pre-award activities by reviewing specifications, preparing technical proposals, and estimating material/design feasibility.

Project & Product Engineering

• Translate customer requirements into clear internal engineering documentation, drawings, and specifications for seat assemblies.
• Collaborate with internal design, manufacturing engineering, and quality teams to ensure product solutions are cost-effective, manufacturable, and compliant with customer standards.
• Support product development cycles, including design validation, prototype builds, engineering change management, pre-production trials, and launch readiness.

Technical Problem Solving

• Identify risks related to design feasibility, material selection, space constraints, and seat performance; propose alternatives and mitigations.
• Troubleshoot issues related to seat design, assembly, installation, durability, and system integration throughout the product lifecycle.
• Facilitate resolution of customer issues, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure timely response and closure.

Documentation & Communication

• Prepare customer and internal presentations, design reviews, and technical summaries.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, including change requests, engineering records, customer communications, and issue tracking.
• Provide internal training or briefings to align commercial, program management, and manufacturing groups on customer design expectations.

Continuous Improvement

• Recommend design standardization opportunities, material substitutions, and process improvements to enhance quality and reduce cost.
• Stay current with automotive electrical system standards, industry trends, and emerging component technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline; equivalent technical experience considered.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in application or design engineering discipline.

Preferred Characteristics

• Prior experience in seat design, packaging, or application engineering for automotive, commercial vehicle, off-highway, or heavy‑equipment systems.
• Familiarity with DFMEA / PFMEA, PPAP processes, APQP, and customer launch activities.
• Hands‑on understanding of seat manufacturing processes, material cost drivers, and assembly best practices.
• Ability to read and interpret vehicle diagrams, 3D assemblies, and installation environments.
• Customer‑focused mindset with a collaborative, solution‑oriented approach to problem solving.
• Strong organizational discipline with attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
• Comfort with domestic travel to customer sites, plant locations, and supplier facilities as needed (may be 10‑20%).
• Working knowledge of suspensions, comfort solutions, ergonomics and associated seat options.
• Experience interpreting customer specifications, engineering drawings, CAD models, and industry standards (SAE, ISO, OEM‑specific).
• Strong cross‑functional communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize work, and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, or equivalent).

CVG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc (CVG) is an equal employment opportunity employer such that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Visa Sponsorship

At this time, we are not providing sponsorship for this role. Applicants must be authorized to work in the country of the job posting location on a full-time basis.

No Unauthorized Referrals from Recruiters & Vendors

Please note that Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc (CVG) and any of its affiliated companies does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or offers from third party recruiters or staffing agencies associated with any published or unpublished employment opportunities. Any unsolicited information sent to CVG will be considered as unencumbered and free from any fee or charge whatsoever. Only members of our Human Resources Team have the authority to engage or authorize recruiting services, which must be agreed upon before any resume or offer is received.