Senior Assembly Tooling and Equipment Engineer, Automotive Interiors

Position Summary
The Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Secondary Tooling is responsible for the technical leadership, development, sourcing, launch, and optimization of secondary tooling, assembly equipment, automation systems, and fixtures supporting new product launches and existing production operations. This position partners closely with Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, Suppliers, and Plant Operations to ensure manufacturing feasibility, cost competitiveness, quality performance, safety compliance, and successful program execution.
The role serves as the technical expert for secondary manufacturing processes and equipment, providing leadership in equipment specification, supplier management, commissioning, process validation, and continuous improvement activities across North American manufacturing facilities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Program Launch Support
Lead secondary tooling and equipment activities for new program launches from quotation through production.
Develop equipment concepts, specifications, timing plans, and capital estimates.
Support RFQ reviews, quoting activities, supplier selection, and sourcing decisions.
Review product designs to ensure manufacturing feasibility and robust process implementation.
Manage equipment build timing, budget, quality deliverables, and launch readiness.
Support GDLS deliverables and tooling approval requirements.
Tooling and Equipment Management
Manage design, fabrication, validation, and installation of secondary tooling and equipment.
Coordinate machine runoffs, equipment buyoffs, and acceptance testing activities.
Oversee supplier performance to ensure program objectives related to timing, cost, safety, and quality are achieved.
Review tooling concepts and engineering changes for technical soundness and cost impact.
Support commissioning activities and equipment qualification trials.
Manufacturing Process Development
Develop and optimize manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, throughput, quality, and ergonomics.
Establish process standards and equipment requirements in alignment with corporate manufacturing standards.
Support process validation activities and PPAP readiness.
Analyze process capability and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Drive OEE improvements and cycle time optimization initiatives.
Plant and Production Support
Provide technical support to manufacturing facilities during launch and production.
Troubleshoot equipment, tooling, automation, and process-related issues.
Assist plants in resolving quality, productivity, safety, and reliability concerns.
Support emergency tooling and equipment recovery activities as needed.
Travel to manufacturing facilities to support launch activities and significant production issues.
Supplier Development and Technical Leadership
Interface directly with tooling suppliers, automation integrators, OEM customers, and internal stakeholders.
Conduct design reviews and technical assessments of equipment concepts.
Review supplier deliverables including tooling designs, timing plans, validation documentation, and cost submissions.
Provide technical mentoring and guidance to engineering and manufacturing teams.
Drive adoption of best practices and standardization across manufacturing facilities.
Technical Expertise
Experience should include several of the following manufacturing technologies:
Heat staking
Ultrasonic welding
Hot plate welding
Infrared welding
Punching and trimming systems
Edge wrapping
Vacuum forming
Assembly fixtures
Robotic work cells
Vision inspection systems
Torque and fastening systems
PLC-controlled manufacturing equipment
Automated material handling systems
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Automation Engineering, or related technical discipline required.
Experience
7-10+ years of manufacturing engineering, tooling engineering, automation, or process engineering experience.
Experience supporting Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated experience managing tooling and equipment launches from concept through production.
Experience working with interior automotive products preferred, including instrument panels, center consoles, door panels, and hard trim components.
Experience managing external tooling and automation suppliers.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens controls platforms.
Knowledge of manufacturing automation and industrial controls.
Understanding of PPAP, APQP, GD&T, PFMEA, and manufacturing launch processes.
Project management experience within a multi-plant environment.
Manufacturing Process Expertise
Tooling & Equipment Development
Program Launch Management
Technical Problem Solving
Supplier Management
Continuous Improvement
Cost Management
Project Leadership
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Communication and Influence
Customer Focus
Safety Leadership
Travel
Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including facilities and suppliers throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Estimated travel requirement: 20-30%.