Global Sr. Manager, Hard Trim & Door Trim

Ford; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI seeks a seasoned Interior Systems leader to drive global product strategy and execution from concept to production launch. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage suppliers, and champion innovative, high-quality interior solutions that meet cost and weight targets.

Applicants should have extensive design and release experience in automotive interiors, strong DFMEA/P-Diagram expertise, and a proven track record of leading complex programs across regions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of automotive interior design, development, validation, and quality assurance with leadership.
• 4+ years in a leadership role within automotive engineering.
• Deep technical knowledge of automotive interior components and systems.
• Expertise in Failure Mode avoidance processes (DFMEA, Boundary Diagram, P-Diagram).

Responsibilities

• Set the global product strategy for door trim and hard trim, including roadmaps.
• Lead product engineering for door panels, interior trim panels, consoles and related trim.
• Oversee program execution from concept through launch and post-launch improvements.
• Drive performance in fit, finish, durability, NVH, safety, ergonomics, and quality.
• Balance cost, weight, investment, quality, and timing while protecting design intent.
• Lead global cross-functional teams across regions and vehicle programs.
• Develop organizational capability by coaching engineering leaders and talent development.
• Manage supplier and partner relationships, alignment, and performance improvement.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to design maturity, tooling, capacity, and launch readiness.
• Promote innovation with advanced materials, sustainable solutions, and modular architectures.
• Establish governance through standards, reviews, metrics, and executive communication.
• Support production and field performance with corrective actions addressing root causes.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

DFMEA / P-Diagram

Lean Six Sigma

Strong communication

Problem solving under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other relevant Engineering discipline

Job description

In this position...

The role works across product development, design, manufacturing, purchasing, supplier partners, quality, and regional teams to deliver robust, competitive solutions from concept through production launch and the product lifecycle.

This role demands visionary leadership, extensive Design and Release experience in Interior Systems and Components, a deep understanding of advanced automotive manufacturing and launch processes, an unwavering commitment to pioneering quality, and the exceptional ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, external partners, and suppliers to bring cutting-edge interior innovations to life.

What you'll do...

• Set the global product strategy for door trim and hard trim, including technology roadmaps, standardization opportunities, and regional considerations.
• Lead product engineering and development for components and systems such as door panels, interior trim panels, consoles, instrument-panel trim, pillars, package trays, and related hard trim, as applicable to the organization’s portfolio.
• Oversee program execution from early concept and requirements definition through design release, validation, launch, and post-launch improvement.
• Drive functional performance across fit and finish, durability, noise and vibration, safety, ergonomics, perceived quality, and environmental requirements.
• Balance business and technical objectives, managing cost, weight, investment, quality, and timing targets while protecting customer-facing design intent.
• Lead global cross-functional teams, establishing clear priorities, accountability, decision-making, and alignment across regions and vehicle programs.
• Develop organizational capability by coaching engineering leaders, building technical expertise, and supporting succession and talent development.
• Manage supplier and partner relationships, including technical alignment, capability assessment, issue resolution, and performance improvement.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to design maturity, materials, tooling, capacity, quality, supply continuity, and launch readiness.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement, including advanced materials, sustainable solutions, modular architectures, process improvements, and lessons learned.
• Establish effective governance through clear technical standards, reviews, metrics, escalation processes, and timely executive communication.
• Support production and field performance, leading resolution of significant issues and ensuring corrective actions address root causes.

You’ll Have…

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other relevant Engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in automotive interior design, development, validation, and quality assurance, with a proven track record of contributing to or leading the industrialization of significant interior innovations or first-to-market features.
• 4+ years of experience in a leadership/management role within an automotive engineering environment, ideally with experience managing teams focused on advanced development or innovation.
• Deep technical knowledge of automotive interior components and systems, including emerging materials, advanced manufacturing processes (e.g., smart textiles, integrated electronics, additive manufacturing), and assembly techniques, beyond traditional methods.
• Expertise in Failure Mode avoidance processes (DFMEA, Boundary Diagram, P-Diagram), applied to complex, novel systems.
• Strong understanding of reliability principles, including their application in validation plans for new and innovative technologies.
• Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt) Certification or similar experience in structured problem-solving, particularly for complex, undefined problems inherent in innovation.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical and innovative concepts to very senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to manage and motivate a team of highly skilled engineers, fostering an environment of creativity and technical excellence.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to thrive under pressure, comfortable navigating ambiguity and defining clear paths forward for emerging technologies.
• Ability to think strategically and independently, possessing the foresight to discern next steps for innovation without extensive guidance and to champion new ideas effectively.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a leadership level 4.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL4Benefits

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.