Design Release Engineer- Soft Trim

- Contribute to the development of high-quality soft interior trim components delivering on luxury, tactile feel, craftsmanship, safety, ergonomics, and long-term durability

- Lead or support the engineering, packaging, release, and launch of soft trim components including wrapped panels, seat surrounds, soft-touch IP skins, armrests, and textile-based liners

- Translate interior design and CMF intent into production-feasible, manufacturable soft trim constructions that maintain design fidelity through tooling and process variation

- Define and manage material and construction specifications including substrate, foam, skin, and adhesive systems; oversee layered construction feasibility

- Manage component-level DFMEA, DVPR, boundary diagrams, and robustness checklists through design and release milestones

- Work cross-functionally with CMF, design, vehicle engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and program teams to maintain craftsmanship intent and timing

- Collaborate closely with soft trim suppliers to ensure process capability, grain and texture consistency, cost targets, and on-time delivery

- Support durability and environmental testing validation including UV resistance, thermal cycling, abrasion, and seam strength

- Perform and support DFM assessments for slush molding, vacuum forming, sewing and bonding operations, and related soft trim processes

- Support prototype builds, buck reviews, and resolution of surface, seam, and texture quality findings

- Apply and continuously improve engineering tools, methods, and best practices to support accelerated product development

- 4+ years' experience in automotive soft interior trim engineering (wrapped panels, soft IP, door armrests, textile liners, etc.)

- Strong understanding of soft trim material systems, manufacturing processes (slush molding, vacuum forming, sewing, lamination), and DFM principles

- Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6 or equivalent CAD tools for surface definition and packaging

- Experience supporting vehicle or product launches, including supplier readiness and pre-production build support

- Familiarity with DFMEA, DVPR, and soft trim quality documentation processes

- Ownership of at least one full program lifecycle from concept through SOP

- Deep knowledge of soft trim construction methods including grain tooling, hide matching, sewing patterns, and foam tuning for tactile performance

- Understanding of material aging, light fastness, and chemical resistance requirements per OEM specifications

- Experience with CMF alignment process including grain sampling, color approval, and texture sign-off

- Knowledge of airbag deployment zones and seamless airbag door integration within soft trim assemblies

- Hands-on, practical engineering mindset with strong attention to surface quality and material behavior

- Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across design studios, CMF teams, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers

- Passion for craftsmanship and premium interior material execution