Product Chief Engineer - Automotive Interiors
Project Chief – Seating and Interior components Key Commodity Single Point development leader for engineering between vehicle program, vehicle brand, suppliers, engineers, designers, purchasing, supplier quality, and the vehicle product development office. My main responsibilities include: Leading all the Component Cost, Weight, and Investment (CWI) activities for vehicle model interior systems by managing ED&D funding, quoting, purchase of parts and services, driving interior surface styling to meet tooling feasibility, establishing daily engineer priorities, leading tooling signoff process, coordinating test & timing for (DV/PV/Plywood bucks, mules, etc.), mentoring all technical issues to resolution (GIMS system), presenting findings for cost loops & program step reviews (Score Card/Gate Reviews), determining impacts for vehicle model features series cards and oversight of change management process.Finally, I ensured engineering design support for all vehicle manufacturing and vehicle assembly events at the plant for all concerns related to interior commodities.The biggest success was the development and launch of the Wagoneer / Grand Wagoneer product line during the COVID shutdown that lasted two years. While others were on lock-down, my team and I were working many long hours in home offices to perform all of the product development responsibilities needed to create this new product / vehicle and launch it for one of the most important vehicle launches for Stellantis in recent company history. We were able to accomplish this development and launch both on - time and on - budget with strong leadership and a “won’t take no for an answer” mentality.