As a Lead Engineer – Engineering Design, you will be a key contributor to our Global Engineering Design/CAD team in Chennai, reporting to the CAD Manager LL6. This role is integral to our product development cycle, focusing on systems-level design ownership across diverse automotive domains such as Interior, Exterior (Sheet-metal & Plastics), Chassis, Powertrain, Electrical, and Vehicle Architecture. You will lead a small team of designers, guiding them in creating designs that adhere to Ford Engineering requirements and Design Standards using Catia V5/3DX. A core part of your responsibility will be to ensure timely and quality CAD design deliverables in line with Ford GPDS timelines. This position requires strong technical acumen in digital pre-assembly, BOM management, clearance checks, and the ability to implement design actions based on CAE/CFD analysis and testing. You will also be expected to manage the CAD design lifecycle within the PLM tool (Teamcenter) and continuously seek opportunities for efficiency and innovation.
Responsibilities- Lead a small team of Designers and execute projects, undertaking systems-level design ownership.
- Perform design of Interior / Exterior (Sheet-metal & Plastics) / Chassis / Powertrain or EESE commodities in Catia V5, in line with Engineering requirements and Ford Design Standards.
- Meet Ford GPDS timelines and quality standards for CAD design deliverables.
- Demonstrate good knowledge in Digital Pre-assembly process and BOM.
- Perform Dynamic and static clearance checks.
- Ensure CAD / BOM alignment.
- Implement Design actions based on analysis using CAE / CFD / outdoor & indoor tests.
- Develop designs according to Sheet metal / Plastics / Powertrain design specifications & manufacturing processes.
- Manage CAD design Lifecycle in PLM tool (Teamcenter).
- Run Design reviews.
- Actively participate in efficiency and innovation initiatives.
- Perform Engineering Design with minimal supervision.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical/Automobile) or related disciplines.
Experience:
- 6 to 8 years of experience in the Automotive Industry.
- Minimum 2 years of design experience (CATIA V5) in any of the automotive systems.
- Candidates should ideally have 6+ years in Automotive Product Development.
Functional/Technical Skills:
- In-depth CAD tool skills (Catia V5 /3DX).
- Expertise in vehicle systems and sub-systems (Interior, Exterior, Chassis, Powertrain, Electrical, and Vehicle Architecture).
- Awareness of PLM tools (Teamcenter).
- Knowledge of engineering quality tools: FMEAs, Six Sigma, etc.
- Knowledge of applied systems engineering, Six Sigma methodologies.
- Knowledge in New Product Introduction process, its milestones, and its delivery success criteria for engineering.
- Knowledge of material cost, business equations, and basic finance.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
- Awareness of new technology and future trends in automotive vehicles.
Preferred Skill Sets:
- Strong inter-personal skills, communication, and leadership attributes to work in a team environment.
- Highly disciplined and motivated individual who drives for results, practices tenacity, and does what it takes to get the job done.
- Ability to maintain a high level of focus and attention on key priorities, issue resolutions, and deliverables.
- Flexibility to work across time zones and diverse cultures, as the role involves extensive interaction with international customers.
