THIS POSITION IS LOCATED IN WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA. There is no relocation or sponsorship available for this role.
Job Description
HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT
Translate customer vision and design intent into production-ready interior surface concepts.
Develop and evaluate interior color harmony, material appearance, gloss, texture, grain, print, pattern, haptics and perceived quality.
Balance aesthetics with feasibility, cost, timing, durability, manufacturing capability and customer requirements.
Identify customer and market design needs.
Deliver internal and external design presentations.
Develop feasible grains, colors, prints and combinations, securing customer approvals and PLC documentation.
Support design development and releases for customer programs.
Strategy Design Americas
Build and expand trusted working relationships with American / North American customers, CMF, innovation groups and advanced engineering organizations.
Monitor competitive design technologies and activities together with Sales.
Provide design and plant support for Winchester.
Design and Project Management
Coordinate sample creation, color matching, appearance reviews, supplier trials, production evaluations and corrective actions.
Partner cross-functionally with Creative Design, Engineering, Program Management, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality and external suppliers.
Initiate and/or monitor trial batches through the internal process.
Track color and grain developments through the internal development process.
Track internal design projects.
Customer Projects
Present design recommendations clearly and document customer feedback, decisions, actions, owners and next steps.
Attend color, print and texture evaluations at suppliers, production locations and customer sites.
Support escalation management within the Americas Design department.
Collaboration
Advise BA SSL stakeholders and departments involved in the Product Life Cycle that influence design-related product and production properties, including feasibility and business impact.
Build and expand collaboration between SSL and relevant customer departments, with a focus on acquiring new projects.
Reporting
Report within defined cycles and systems, including 1:1 meetings, dashboards and action lists.
Communicate status updates and projected timelines to customers.
Provide recommendations to affected internal departments based on customer feedback.
Report and document customer approval status, including ISAR, roller transfer to serial status and master creation.
Design Support
Collect necessary input from customers.
Present color submissions and grain developments to customers.
Build and expand collaboration between SSL Design and relevant customer departments.
Support the Program Management team in acquiring new projects.
Prepare and deliver internal presentations.
Teamwork
Act as a member of a Program Management team.
Own surface design development for assigned customers.
Collaborate with all parties and departments involved in the PLC process.
Collaborate with Creative Design, Automotive Design, and DTS SSL.
Trend and Market Research
Monitor, gather and analyze American market activity, especially competitor colors, textures, prints and materials.
Identify American market design and color trends.
Analyze SSL and competitor color and trim portfolios, including color, grain, print, structure, surface characteristics and haptics.
Other Responsibilities
Travel to suppliers, trade fairs / trade shows and customer locations.
Prepare reports, presentations and updates from customers, shows and events.
Prepare design presentations.
Present SSL product portfolio samples and design presentations.