Design & Development Engineer - Interior Trims

Overview

This is a Design & Development Engineer role in automotive interior design, working on interior trim parts for global OEM programs. You will design and develop parts such as pillar trims, headliners, door trims, consoles, instrument panel parts, air ducts, vents, grab handles and covers, including modifying existing parts for new vehicle variants. The work covers 3D CAD and 2D drawings for plastic and trim parts, packaging, DMU and virtual build checks, applying supplier DFM feedback and styling changes, updating DFMEA and DVP documents, and releasing changes through PLM. You will also support suppliers through technical discussions, tooling reviews and sample approval, making sure parts meet safety requirements such as head impact and airbag clearance. The ideal candidate has strong CAD skills in CATIA, 3DEXPERIENCE or NX, a good grasp of injection moulding, DFM and GD&T, and experience with the design release process.

Responsibilities

Design and development

• Design and develop interior trim parts such as pillar trims, headliners, door trims, consoles, instrument panel parts, air ducts and vents, grab handles and covers.
• Create and modify 3D CAD models, assemblies and 2D drawings for plastic and trim parts, including attachments, clips and fasteners.
• Adapt existing or carry-over parts to new vehicle variants or markets, and update surrounding parts affected by the change.

Packaging and validation support

• Carry out packaging studies, DMU checks and virtual build analysis, including assembly sequence and tool accessibility.
• Check gaps, flushness, clearances and interfaces with adjacent trims, body structure and styling surfaces.
• Make sure interior parts meet safety and regulatory requirements, such as head impact and airbag deployment clearance.

Manufacturing and supplier coordination

• Apply DFM feedback from suppliers and design parts for injection moulding and assembly.
• Incorporate styling and quality changes within agreed review loops.
• Support supplier technical discussions, tooling reviews and sample approval, and follow open issues through to closure.

Documentation and release

• Prepare and update DFMEA, DVP and related design documents.
• Release engineering changes and data through the PLM system, following the OEM’s release process.
• Assess the impact of design changes on neighbouring parts and raise change requests where needed.

Qualifications

• B.E./B.Tech (or equivalent) in Mechanical, Automobile, Automotive or a related field. An M.Tech is a plus.
• 6 to 9 years in automotive interior or plastic part design and development.
• Strong CAD skills in CATIA V5, 3DEXPERIENCE, NX or equivalent, including assemblies, surfacing basics and 2D drawings.
• Understanding of injection moulding, design for manufacturing (DFM), tolerance analysis and GD&T.
• Working knowledge of DMU, packaging and virtual build reviews.
• Experience with DFMEA, DVP and the design release process.
• Familiarity with a PLM system such as Teamcenter or similar.
• Knowledge of interior safety and regulatory requirements, such as head impact and airbag clearance.
• Good communication skills for working with styling, CAE, suppliers and cross-functional engineers.

Essential skills

Technical

• CAD design: Strong 3D modelling, assemblies and 2D drawing skills in CATIA V5, 3DEXPERIENCE, NX or equivalent.
• Interior trim design: Understanding of how pillar trims, headliners, door trims, consoles, instrument panel parts, ducts and vents are designed, attached and assembled, including clips and fasteners.
• Plastics and manufacturing: Knowledge of injection moulding, design for manufacturing (DFM) and tooling basics for plastic parts.
• GD&T and tolerance analysis: Ability to define and review gaps, flushness and fits between adjacent parts.
• Packaging and DMU: Ability to run packaging studies, clearance checks and virtual build analysis, including assembly sequence and tool accessibility.
• Design documentation: Working knowledge of DFMEA, DVP and design release procedures.
• PLM: Experience releasing data and engineering changes through Teamcenter or a similar system.
• Safety awareness: Knowledge of interior safety requirements, such as head impact and airbag clearance.

Working with others

• Supplier coordination: Experience applying supplier DFM feedback, and supporting tooling reviews and sample approval.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Ability to work with styling, CAE and neighbouring design teams.
• Communication: Clear reporting and discussion with clients, suppliers and team members.
• Problem solving: Attention to detail and the ability to work to program deadlines.

Desired skills

• Experience with headliners, HVAC air ducts and vents, or other complex interior assemblies.
• Experience modifying existing or carry-over interior parts for new vehicle variants or markets.
• Understanding of how interior parts interface with airbag, restraint and body structure systems, such as pillar trims and curtain airbag deployment zones.
• Knowledge of interior safety regulations and requirements, such as head impact and occupant protection.
• Surfacing skills and experience working with styling surfaces (Class A data).
• Exposure to materials and finishes used in interiors, such as plastics, fabrics, foams and soft-touch coverings.
• Experience with sound, vibration and squeak-and-rattle considerations in interior design.
• Experience working with global OEMs, international suppliers and cross-cultural teams.
• Exposure to CAE results, enough to apply feedback as design changes.

Experience

• 6 to 9 years in automotive design and development, with a background in OEM or Tier-1 interior programs.
• Hands-on experience designing interior trim and plastic parts, such as pillar trims, headliners, door trims, consoles, instrument panel parts, air ducts and vents.
• Experience taking parts through the full design cycle: concept or carry-over, CAD, packaging and DMU, supplier DFM feedback, tooling and sample loops, and design release.
• Experience modifying existing parts for new vehicle variants or markets, and updating the surrounding parts affected by a change.
• Experience preparing and updating DFMEA and DVP documents, and releasing engineering changes through a PLM system.
• Experience working with suppliers on technical agreement, tooling reviews and sample approval.
• Experience working with styling, CAE and cross-functional teams, ideally with global OEMs, is preferred.

What do I need before I apply

Must-have

• CAD design: You can model parts and assemblies and produce 2D drawings in CATIA V5, 3DEXPERIENCE, NX or equivalent.
• Interior trim design: You understand how pillar trims, headliners, door trims, consoles, instrument panel parts, ducts and vents are designed, attached and assembled, including clips and fasteners.
• Plastics and manufacturing: You know injection moulding and design for manufacturing (DFM) for plastic parts.
• GD&T and tolerance analysis: You can define and review gaps, flushness and fits between adjacent parts.
• Packaging and DMU: You can run packaging studies, clearance checks and virtual build analysis.
• Design documentation: You have worked with DFMEA, DVP and design release procedures.
• PLM: You have released data and engineering changes through Teamcenter or a similar system.
• Safety awareness: You know interior safety requirements, such as head impact and airbag clearance.
• Supplier and team collaboration: You can apply supplier DFM feedback, support tooling reviews and sample approval, and work with styling and CAE teams.

Good to have

• Experience with headliners, HVAC ducts or vents, or other complex interior assemblies.
• Experience modifying existing parts for new vehicle variants or markets.
• Class A surfacing or experience with styling surfaces.
• Knowledge of interior materials and finishes, and squeak-and-rattle considerations.
• Exposure to CAE feedback and experience with global OEMs and suppliers.

Benefits

• Health and wellbeing: Medical insurance for you and your family.
• Leave and work-life balance: Paid annual leave, public holidays and other perks.
• Global exposure: Work on programs for international automotive OEMs alongside cross-border teams.
• Learning and development: Access to training, certifications and upskilling.
• Career growth: Clear progression paths in engineering and program management, with internal mobility across Expleo’s business and domains.
• Inclusive workplace: An equal opportunity employer that values diverse backgrounds and experience.