Summary:

The Application Engineering Manager is responsible for the management and execution of Seatbelts programs. Will coordinate and monitor technical matters, program costs, manpower, timing and the like to ensure successful development and launch of assigned products. The Engineering Manager will provide technical direction to the various engineering levels together with cross-functional departments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description serve as a guideline and are not exhaustive of all essential functions of the position. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary.

• Lead a team of engineers in executing all engineering deliverables related to seatbelt system development within customer and internal engineering programs.
• Oversee the design, development, testing, and validation of seatbelt components, ensuring compliance with industry regulations, safety standards, and customer requirements.
• Provide technical leadership in occupant safety restraints, ensuring best practices, lessons learned, and gold standards are integrated into designs.
• Develop and maintain engineering processes for seatbelt system innovation, including material selection, structural integrity analysis, and dynamic performance testing.
• Monitor and enhance team members' skill sets for optimal job performance and career development, fostering expertise in seatbelt technologies.
• Establish and implement key team metrics to track efficiency, quality, and innovation in seatbelt design.
• Collaborate with program management teams to align customer and project milestones with engineering deliverables.
• Work closely with Core Engineering to define transition and development requirements for seatbelt systems.
• Identify critical skills for seatbelt engineers and recruit top talent to maintain engineering excellence.
• Develop a structured training program to continuously advance engineering knowledge in seatbelt systems.
• Deliver engineering presentations for technical quote reviews and support advanced technology initiatives related to seatbelt mechanisms, retractors, pretensioners, and load limiters.
• Establish a knowledge retention system to ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple customer programs.
• Support the Sales Team and divisional personnel by reviewing technical specifications and contributing engineering insights during the quotation process.
• Align with Program Managers to determine engineering resource needs and ensure projects are staffed appropriately.
• Provide ongoing technical guidance, troubleshooting, and mentoring to engineering staff.
• Conduct periodic design reviews to ensure compliance with best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Manage engineering resources, performance evaluations, and departmental budget planning.

Skills:

• Proven leadership experience in engineering process improvements and technical advancements, specifically in seatbelt systems or occupant safety.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Deep understanding of engineering principles, product development cycles, and automotive safety standards (FMVSS, ECE R16, etc.).
• Experience with product launch requirements, program management methodologies, and manufacturability considerations.
• Proficiency in Design of Experiments (DOE), Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), root cause analysis methods, and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Familiarity with financial systems and budget management.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline is required.
• Master’s Degree in Engineering or an MBA is preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in product design and engineering, with a strong focus on seatbelt systems.
• Prior experience in occupant safety restraints, automotive interiors, or crash safety testing is highly preferred.