Development Engineer

Development Engineer

We are seeking a skilled Development Engineer to join our team focused on New Model Development across a wide range of interior automotive products. The Development Engineer will report to the Prototype Design Manager. The Development Engineer will not have any direct report responsibilities. The Development Engineer will work closely with the Program Managers, Corporate Engineering, Plant Engineering Managers, Process Engineers, Sales Leads, Quality Managers and Trials Manager. This role plays a key part in creating product patterns and defining initial process parameters for wrapping and foaming operations.

*The position is based in Canal Winchester, OH or in any HFI Mexico plant (Romita, Obregon, SLP, Monclova).

Responsibilities:

Development of value-add relationships within the customer Engineering and New Model Development organizations.

Development of value-add relationships with HFI Manufacturing facilities and Engineering teams.

Create patterns for products based on 3D data, models, prototypes or drawings and develop the initial wrapping process for interior components.

Create initial FIP patterns for products based on 3D data, models, prototypes or drawings and develop the initial foaming process for a finished product.

Work closely with HFI Product Engineering, Quality, Process and manufacturing teams to establish a product that meets customer quality and HFI manufacturing needs.

Travel to manufacturing plants as required to hand off new model programs, support trouble shooting and refining process once product is in production plant, along with user training and ramp up of the new program.

Support the RFC quote process as requested through knowing who to go to within the customer Engineering for Engineering, Specification, Drawing and Data in support of an accurate quotation to HFI sales team.

Provide feedback to corporate engineering for material and wrapping feasibility along with any customer contacts for all development trials to ensure that all risks are identified and understood.

Lead the Trials resources on the proper process identification for initial trial builds to ensure that the proper target process is utilized, and relevant issues are captured.

Store and maintain revision levels of released patterns in Accumark & DXF files in HFI’s database.

Support the Program Launch process (PMP) and Engineering Change Process (ECR/ECN) as needed.

Support the program team in problem solving activities during launch or in mass production.

Generation and support implementation of Continuous Improvement Ideas on existing product lines on a consistent basis throughout the year.

Other assignments as required.

Qualifications:

Education: An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree is beneficial but not required. Alternatively, a minimum of four (4) years of equivalent experience in a high-paced automotive engineering environment will be considered.

Experience:

Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a product development role, preferably within the automotive industry.

Experience with AutoCAD and other CAD software is a plus.

Knowledge of sewing techniques and how seams interact with various materials is highly desirable.

Skills & Competencies:

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and database management.

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and consistently meet deadlines.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset.

Effective team player with the ability to motivate and support team members.

Excellent project management and organizational abilities.

This role is ideal for a motivated, detail-oriented professional with a strong background in product development and a passion for the automotive industry. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving, and contribute meaningfully to cross-functional teams. If you’re a collaborative self-starter with strong technical and communication skills, we encourage you to apply and be part of our innovative and dynamic team.