Design Release Engineer- Soft Trim

ALTEN Technology USA; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking an experienced automotive interior trim engineer to drive development of soft interior components from concept through production. You will collaborate with design, CMF, vehicle engineering, and suppliers to ensure premium tactile feel, durability, and manufacturability throughout the program.

The role requires 4+ years in soft interior trim, hands-on tooling and process understanding, and launch support experience.

Qualifications

• 4+ years' experience in automotive soft interior trim engineering (wrapped panels, soft IP, door armrests, textile liners, etc.)
• Strong understanding of soft trim material systems, manufacturing processes (slush molding, vacuum forming, sewing, lamination), and DFM principles
• Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6 or equivalent CAD tools for surface definition and packaging
• Experience supporting vehicle or product launches, including supplier readiness and pre-production build support
• Familiarity with DFMEA, DVPR, and soft trim quality documentation processes

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of high-quality soft interior trim components delivering on luxury, tactile feel, craftsmanship, safety, ergonomics, and long-term durability
• Lead or support engineering, packaging, release, and launch of soft trim components including wrapped panels, seat surrounds, soft-touch IP skins, armrests, and textile-based liners
• Translate interior design and CMF intent into production-feasible, manufacturable soft trim constructions that maintain design fidelity through tooling and process variation
• Define and manage material and construction specifications including substrate, foam, skin, and adhesive systems; oversee layered construction feasibility
• Manage component-level DFMEA, DVPR, boundary diagrams, and robustness checklists through design and release milestones
• Work cross-functionally with CMF, design, vehicle engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and program teams to maintain craftsmanship intent and timing
• Collaborate closely with soft trim suppliers to ensure process capability, grain and texture consistency, cost targets, and on-time delivery
• Support durability and environmental testing validation including UV resistance, thermal cycling, abrasion, and seam strength
• Perform and support DFM assessments for slush molding, vacuum forming, sewing and bonding operations, and related soft trim processes
• Support prototype builds, buck reviews, and resolution of surface, seam, and texture quality findings
• Apply and continuously improve engineering tools, methods, and best practices to support accelerated product development

Skills

Automotive trim engineering

DFMEA/DVPR knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality documentation

Tools

CATIA V5/V6

Job description

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life - from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group-57,000+ engineers in 30 countries- we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you'll collaborate on some of the world's toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Role Overview

You will be a key contributor within a world-class automotive interior trim engineering team, responsible for the development and delivery of soft interior trim components. This role focuses on material engineering, surface application, detail design, and launch execution, working closely with design, color and materials, vehicle engineering, and supplier partners to deliver premium interior solutions from concept through production.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of high-quality soft interior trim components delivering on luxury, tactile feel, craftsmanship, safety, ergonomics, and long-term durability
• Lead or support the engineering, packaging, release, and launch of soft trim components including wrapped panels, seat surrounds, soft-touch IP skins, armrests, and textile-based liners
• Translate interior design and CMF intent into production-feasible, manufacturable soft trim constructions that maintain design fidelity through tooling and process variation
• Define and manage material and construction specifications including substrate, foam, skin, and adhesive systems; oversee layered construction feasibility
• Manage component-level DFMEA, DVPR, boundary diagrams, and robustness checklists through design and release milestones
• Work cross-functionally with CMF, design, vehicle engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and program teams to maintain craftsmanship intent and timing
• Collaborate closely with soft trim suppliers to ensure process capability, grain and texture consistency, cost targets, and on-time delivery
• Support durability and environmental testing validation including UV resistance, thermal cycling, abrasion, and seam strength
• Perform and support DFM assessments for slush molding, vacuum forming, sewing and bonding operations, and related soft trim processes
• Support prototype builds, buck reviews, and resolution of surface, seam, and texture quality findings
• Apply and continuously improve engineering tools, methods, and best practices to support accelerated product development

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years' experience in automotive soft interior trim engineering (wrapped panels, soft IP, door armrests, textile liners, etc.)
• Strong understanding of soft trim material systems, manufacturing processes (slush molding, vacuum forming, sewing, lamination), and DFM principles
• Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6 or equivalent CAD tools for surface definition and packaging
• Experience supporting vehicle or product launches, including supplier readiness and pre-production build support
• Familiarity with DFMEA, DVPR, and soft trim quality documentation processes

Nice to Have / Advantageous

• Ownership of at least one full program lifecycle from concept through SOP
• Experience in a fast-paced OEM or startup EV environment
• Deep knowledge of soft trim construction methods including grain tooling, hide matching, sewing patterns, and foam tuning for tactile performance
• Understanding of material aging, light fastness, and chemical resistance requirements per OEM specifications
• Experience with CMF alignment process including grain sampling, color approval, and texture sign-off
• Knowledge of airbag deployment zones and seamless airbag door integration within soft trim assemblies
• Hands-on, practical engineering mindset with strong attention to surface quality and material behavior
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across design studios, CMF teams, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers
• Passion for craftsmanship and premium interior material execution

Salary Range: $120,000-$140,000/K

The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate's combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, training, and experience

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Compliance Notice:

Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement:

As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.