Core Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) Engineer – Interiors

The Core STA Engineer serves as the technical manufacturing and supplier quality lead for interior commodity sourcing and launch activities. This position drives manufacturing feasibility reviews, supplier readiness assessments, risk mitigation strategies, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure high-quality product launches and long-term supplier performance.

The ideal candidate brings experience in manufacturing, supplier quality, industrialization, and interior commodity processes, along with strong cross-functional collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

Supplier Industrialization & Launch Management

• Lead supplier industrialization planning and commodity business plan development for high-complexity interior commodities.
• Support suppliers throughout program launch preparation and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Ensure suppliers achieve manufacturing readiness aligned to program timing and quality objectives.
• Lead manufacturing feasibility assessments for new parts, new technologies, and high-risk commodities.

Manufacturing Feasibility & Risk Assessment

• Partner with Technical Experts and regional teams to evaluate manufacturing feasibility and readiness.
• Identify manufacturing risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Conduct supplier sourcing risk assessments and recommend corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Product Development teams to resolve feasibility concerns related to product design and engineering specifications.

Supplier Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor supplier quality performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and implement robust manufacturing quality control strategies.
• Support supplier corrective actions related to quality, capacity, and manufacturing issues.
• Drive global lessons learned activities and recurrence prevention efforts.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Purchasing, Supply Chain, Product Development, and STA teams to ensure sourcing for quality.
• Provide manufacturing process expertise for outsourced components and assemblies.
• Coordinate manufacturing assessments, quality metrics, pass-through characteristics, and supplier capability evaluations across cross-functional teams.
• Support development and maintenance of manufacturing standards for interior commodities.

Technical Manufacturing Support

• Provide technical guidance related to interior manufacturing processes, including:
• Injection Molding
• Foam in Place
• Vacuum Forming
• In-Mold Graining (IMG)
• In-Mold Grain Lamination (IMGL)
• Painting
• Press Bonding
• Welding
• Stamping
• Assembly Operations

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in:
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Supplier Quality
• Supplier Development
• Industrialization
• Production Launch Support
• Experience conducting manufacturing feasibility assessments and supplier risk evaluations.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, preferably within interior commodity production.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across global and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master's Degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Electrical Engineering.
• Advanced expertise in interior commodity manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting global suppliers and international manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of automotive quality systems, launch readiness, and supplier development methodologies.
• Experience driving continuous improvement initiatives and manufacturing excellence programs.