Engineer, Exterior Trim

Satyam Venture Engineering Services; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Satyam Venture Engineering Services in Charlotte, NC, is seeking an experienced Exterior Systems Engineer to design and develop bumper and fascia components for next-generation EV platforms.

You will lead cross-functional teams, collaborate with suppliers, and drive design validation, DFMEA, and DVP&R while meeting cost, weight, and timing targets.

Our ideal candidate has 5+ years in automotive exterior trim, CATIA expertise, and a strong track record delivering high-volume production programs.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in vehicle exterior trim components.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or relevant engineering field.
• Proficient in CATIA V5/V6 and GD&T techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of exterior bumper components to meet weight, cost, and timing targets.
• Develop bumper/fascia standards and requirements for robust production integration.
• Prepare RFQ packages, conduct technical reviews, and support supplier selection.
• Guide cross-functional teams and suppliers to define design direction and packaging.
• Ensure compliance with safety regs and manufacturing processes (injection molding, painting, assembly).
• Create 3D CAD models and packaging layouts; validate with FEA/CFD and NVH considerations.
• Maintain traceability with ICDs and performance tests; support DVP&R and DFMEA.
• Manage program milestones, cost targets, and quality metrics.

Skills

CATIA V5/V6 CAD

PLM (Teamcenter)

3D CAD modeling

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

GD&T knowledge

DFMEA & Control Plans

Cross-functional leadership

Automotive exterior design

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or relevant engineering field

Tools

CATIA

Teamcenter

FEA/CFD tools

Job description

The Exterior Systems and Lighting Team is a very exciting and dynamic group to be a part of. Our team works on components you see on the exterior of the car. In this role, you will specifically be working on exterior Bumper components.

What you'll do

Become part of an iconic brand that is set to revolutionize the all-electric pick-up truck & rugged SUV marketplace by achieving the following:

• Responsible for engineering design, and developing vehicle exterior systems including bumpers, fascia, grilles, brackets, exterior trim, bumper beams, hitches and structural reinforcements.
• Develop Bumper/Fascia Standards and Requirements to ensure a robust product. Ensure seamless integration into production processes while meeting all required program milestones and deliverables.
• Participate in and/or lead development of Request for Quotation (RFQ) packages, technical reviews, and supplier selection.
• Lead Product Development Team(s) to collaborate cross functionally across internal functions, and suppliers to set design direction, and lead development, packaging, and execution of unique components to develop creative and feasible designs that meet both aesthetic and functional requirements.
• Ensure all program targets, including Piece Cost, Investment, ED&D Budget, Timing, Weight, and Quality, are met.
• Contribute to the development of product specification books, test plans, DVP&R, DFMEA, Control Plans, and Quality Assurance requirements.
• Direct design and analysis groups to create 3D math models/Computer Aided Design(CAD), complete 3D packaging, and validate with analytical models (FEA, CFD, Crash, etc.) to fulfill functional and design requirements, and ensure compatibility, using Design Rules, Regulatory items, and attributes, such as NVH, water management, craftsmanship, etc.
• Ensure all exterior components meet global safety regulations and work within defined manufacturing processes such as injection molding, painting and assembly.
• Be a key member and decision maker within the technical leadership team and liaison with all functional teams.
• Develop and maintain all component and subsystem requirements and specifications, including device transmittals and interface control documents (ICD).
• Track open issues and collaborate with other functional groups as needed to drive issues to resolution efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure on-time validation and adequate testing coverage for all requirements (component, system, and vehicle) is achieved and traceability is maintained for assigned systems and components.
• Conduct product evaluation and design reviews during prototype and pre-production development phases.
• Develop prototypes for virtual and physical verification testing, including field testing.
• Proactively stay attuned to new advancements, market trends, consumer experience and propose system improvements accordingly.
• Follow automotive industry design best practices, such as: Robust Engineering, Design for Manufacturability, and Design for Serviceability.

What you'll bring

• 5+ years of experience in vehicle exterior trim Class A components and/or trim mechanical areas and relevant automotive assignments. Including all three phases of product development (Design, Test and Launch)
• Exterior systems technical skills/expertise with a 1st principles approach to problem solving.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or relevant engineering field.
• Demonstrated experience in solving complex technical challenges in product design and development.
• Computer aided design (CAD) tools, including CATIA V5/V6 experience is highly recommended.
• Product lifecycle management (PLM) tools, including Teamcenter experience is highly recommended.
• Computer aided engineering (CAE) awareness and/or direct experience.
• An ability to build strong working relationships with people across all organizational levels.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, including GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing), material selection, and design for manufacturing (DFM).
• Hands-on experience in automotive product launch, including prototype builds and production ramp-up.
• Familiarity with design and engineering considerations for high-volume automotive production.
• Ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams, including suppliers, design studios, and vehicle engineering teams.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively present technical concepts, findings, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.