System Architect Level 2 / PDL Level 2

Faurecia; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Forvia is seeking a Program Development Leader to drive complete product and process engineering within Quality, Cost, and Delivery targets. You will lead cross-functional teams through DFMEA/PFMEA, tool design, and IPM approvals, ensuring robust processes and on-time PPAP readiness.

You will report on risk and opportunities, develop schedules, and guide the engineering team from concept to production, contributing to sustainable mobility leadership at Forvia.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of design and development experience in an industrial environment, automotive interior parts preferred.
• English required; customer language strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Begin with concept design to Start-Of-Production and 3/6 months after, aligning with PMS phases.
• Lead phase 5 serial life development and align schedules with customer master plan.
• Develop engineering schedule respecting PMS work-packages and standards.
• Provide monthly PALM risk/opportunity reports with action plans.
• Drive DFMEA/PFMEA, changes via ECM, and ensure proper tool design release.
• Define process feasibility, tool specs, and ensure IPM approvals.
• Develop robust tools for operations with optimized cycle time and quality.
• Define and implement DVP, PV tests, and CPk process capability.

Skills

Team leader

Technical skills

Written and verbal communication

Multicultural collaboration

Managerial skills

7 Quality Basics

Engineering profile knowledge

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in engineering

Job description

Forvia, a sustainable mobility technology leader

We pioneer technology for mobility experience that matters to people.

Your Mission, Roles And Responsibilities

Position Summary

The Program Development Leader is a member of the core team. The PDL is responsible for complete engineering of the product and process in compliance with Quality, Cost, and Delivery. The PDL is also responsible for the performance and people objectives within PMS requirements.

Responsibilities

Scope of work & time frame

• Begin with concept design received from Concept Engineering to Start-Of-Production + 3/6 months (once quality standards have met customer specifications), from PMS phase 2 to phase 4 when in development
• Start of phase 5 is when he/she is in charge of serial life development
• Build the internal engineering schedule to match with the customer master schedule and industrialization / purchasing constraints
• All tasks are done with the appropriate tools and in compliance with the PMS work-packages, FES standards and 7-Quality-Basics, in support of functional milestone "time to pass" objective
• Reporting: Monthly report summary on PALM, including risk and opportunities and corresponding action plans
• Capitalize experience on the development through lessons learnt process

Product definition

• Make the functional analysis when required, develop the DFMEA and complete the action plan, support the PFMEA, and define the key characteristics
• Enter all technical issues into a "single list of issues"
• Manage engineering change through ECM process
• Support risk management through robust design with compliance to product/process design standards (per KM plan), and managing (EFMs)

Process definition

• Ensure the feasibility of the process customers in line with best practices and GTS standards & guidelines, including ergonomics standards
• Check process feasibility for BOP (validate feasibility studies of sub suppliers)
• Define tool specifications with the support of PE and approve tool design release through the tool launch process, involving IPM and GTS
• Define and receive approval from IPM to ensure that product will comply with the process flow chart
• Develop and deliver robust tools to operations with optimized cycle time at expected quality level (capability), with support of the Pilot Plant

Validation

• Define the Design Validation Plan (DVP)
• Guarantee successful DVP: virtual validation (CAE) or prototype approved
• Complete successful PV test
• Support development of process capability (CPK)

Cost Control

• Work in compliance with D&D budget and negotiate internal ECR with the Program Manager
• Identify all product changes with cost impact to reach "design to cost" and VAVE objectives

People management & development

• Ensure good communication within the extended technical team, production plant, offshore development sites, and support teams as well as sub suppliers of engineering services, tooling and BOPs
• Supports the competencies development of the PE’s and their career development
• Commitment to the highest ethical standards and willingness to adhere to Faurecia’s Code of Ethics and Code of Management
• Lead product definition (completion of CAD completed by Design Leader) and development to ensure compliance to requirements (acceptance of customer product specification including geometry convergence)
• Manage BOP definition release
• Validate the product and process to reach Production Part and Process Approval (PPAP) on time and in compliance with OEM and legal requirements (S/R, Environment...)
• Manage the engineering team-members functionally (including senior product design engineers (SPDE), program engineers (PE)

Your profile and competencies to succeed

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering
  • And or significant professional experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in design and development within an industrial environment, preferably in automotive interior parts

Knowledge / Skills

• Team leader
• Strong technical skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Strong managerial skills
• Knowledge of 7 Quality Basics
• Meets the requirements of the Engineering Profile for the function (mandatory trainings)
• English required; customer’s language strongly preferred

What We Can Do For You

• At Forvia, you will find an engaging and dynamic environment where you can contribute to the development of sustainable mobility leading technologies.
• We are the seventh-largest global automotive supplier, employing more than 157,000 people in more than 40 countries which makes a lot of opportunity for career development.
• We welcome energetic and agile people who can thrive in a fast-changing environment. People who share our strong values. Team players with a collaborative mindset and a passion to deliver high standards for our clients. Lifelong learners. High performers. Globally minded people who aspire to work in a transforming industry, where excellence, speed, and quality count.
• We cultivate a learning environment, dedicating tools and resources to ensure we remain at the front line of mobility. Our people enjoy an average of more than 22 hours of online and in-person training within FORVIA University (five campuses around the world)
• We offer a multicultural environment that values diversity and international collaboration. We believe that diversity is a strength. To create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity create real value for the company, we have adopted gender diversity targets and inclusion action plans.
• Achieving CO2 Net Zero as a pioneer of the automotive industry is a priority: In June 2022, Forvia became the first global automotive group to be certified with the new SBTI Net-Zero Standard (the most ambitious standard of SBTi), aligned with the ambition of the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Three principles guide our action: use less, use better and use longer, with a focus on recyclability and circular economy.

Why join us

FORVIA is an automotive technology group at the heart of smarter and more sustainable mobility. We bring together expertise in electronics, clean mobility, lighting, interiors, seating, and lifecycle solutions to drive change in the automotive industry.

With a history stretching back more than a century, we are the 7th largest global automotive supplier, employing more than 157,000 people in 43 countries. You’ll find our technology in around 1 out of 2 vehicles produced anywhere in the world.

In June 2022, we became the 1st global automotive group to be certified with the SBTI Net-Zero Standard. We have committed to reach CO2 Net Zero by no later than 2045.

As technological innovation and the need for sustainability transform the automotive industry, we are ideally positioned to deliver solutions that will enhance the lives of road-users everywhere.