Trim Validation Engineer

Alten USA; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Alten USA in Foster City, CA is seeking a mechanical engineer to own validation of trim and closures for an autonomous vehicle program. You will design and execute validation plans, run durability and environmental tests, and ensure compliance with FMVSS before production.

You will collaborate with design, manufacturing, suppliers, and quality teams, applying CATIA skills and hands-on testing to deliver components ready for production, while maintaining strict regulatory and quality standards.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (or comparable).
• 3–8 years of experience in automotive trim, closures, or body validation.
• Hands-on validation experience — test planning, execution, and data‑driven failure analysis.
• Working knowledge of plastic injection molding and automotive painting and coating.
• Familiarity with windshields and glazing.
• Understanding of relevant FMVSS requirements.
• Strong grounding in manufacturing processes, materials, and environmental failure modes.
• Proficiency in CATIA.

Responsibilities

• Own the validation of trim and closures systems — plastic trim and injection‑molded components, painted and coated surfaces, and windshield and glazing assemblies.
• Develop and execute validation plans, defining test methods and acceptance criteria tied to program and regulatory requirements.
• Plan and run durability, environmental, and performance testing, and interpret the results.
• Lead root‑cause and failure analysis, and drive corrective actions through to resolution.
• Assess manufacturing processes, materials, and environmental failure modes to catch issues early.
• Partner with design, manufacturing, suppliers, and quality to bring components to production readiness.

Skills

Hands-on validation

Test planning

Data‑driven failure analysis

Injection molding knowledge

Automotive painting & coating

FMVSS familiarity

Windshields & glazing

Manufacturing processes knowledge

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA

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.

Workplace: On‑Site, 5 days per week

Location: Foster City, CA

Salary: $120-130k

We are building an autonomous vehicle from the ground up, and the trim and closures that define its interior and exterior must perform through every mile and environment. We’re looking for a mechanical engineer to own the validation of these systems — planning and running the tests, finding where parts fail, and verifying that each component meets durability, environmental, and FMVSS requirements before it reaches production.

Responsibilities

• Own the validation of trim and closures systems — plastic trim and injection‑molded components, painted and coated surfaces, and windshield and glazing assemblies.
• Develop and execute validation plans, defining test methods and acceptance criteria tied to program and regulatory requirements.
• Plan and run durability, environmental, and performance testing, and interpret the results.
• Lead root‑cause and failure analysis, and drive corrective actions through to resolution.
• Assess manufacturing processes, materials, and environmental failure modes to catch issues early.
• Partner with design, manufacturing, suppliers, and quality to bring components to production readiness.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (or comparable).
• 3–8 years of experience in automotive trim, closures, or body validation.
• Hands‑on validation experience — test planning, execution, and data‑driven failure analysis.
• Working knowledge of plastic injection molding and automotive painting and coating.
• Familiarity with windshields and glazing.
• Understanding of relevant FMVSS requirements.
• Strong grounding in manufacturing processes, materials, and environmental failure modes.
• Proficiency in CATIA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Component design experience in trim, closures, or glazing.
• Experience in a new‑program or new‑product‑introduction environment.

Salary Range

• $120,000 – 130,000
• 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, education, 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.