Designer

Description

The role is based in Winchester, Virginia. No relocation support or sponsorship is offered for this position.

The company develops technologies for sustainable, connected mobility. Its industrial specialist sector supplies materials and solutions across many sectors, with core sites in Asia, Europe, and North and South America. Founded in 1871, the company had 2023 sales of €41.4 billion and employs around 200,000 people in 56 countries.

You will work on interior surface design within the Americas design team, mainly on programs for automotive customers.

Responsibilities

• Turn customer vision and design intent into interior surface concepts that can be produced.
• Develop and assess color harmony, material look, gloss, texture, grain, print, pattern, haptics and perceived quality.
• Weigh aesthetics against feasibility, cost, timing, durability, manufacturing capability and customer requirements.
• Identify design needs of customers and the market.
• Give internal and external design presentations.
• Create workable grains, colors, prints and combinations, then secure customer approval and PLC documentation.
• Support design development and releases for customer programs.
• Build lasting working relationships with American and North American customers, CMF, innovation groups and advanced engineering teams.
• Track competing design technologies and activity alongside Sales.
• Provide design and plant support for Winchester.
• Organize samples, color matching, appearance reviews, supplier trials, production evaluations and corrective actions.
• Work with Creative Design, Engineering, Program Management, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality and external suppliers.
• Start or follow trial batches through the internal process.
• Follow color and grain progress through the internal development process and track internal design projects.
• Present design recommendations clearly and record customer feedback, decisions, actions, owners and next steps.
• Attend color, print and texture evaluations at suppliers, production sites and customer locations.
• Help manage escalations within the Americas Design department.
• Advise SSL stakeholders and PLC departments on design-related product and production properties, including feasibility and business impact.
• Grow collaboration between SSL and customer departments to win new projects.
• Report within set cycles and systems, including 1:1 meetings, dashboards and action lists.
• Share status updates and projected timelines with customers, and pass customer-based recommendations to affected internal departments.
• Record customer approval status, including ISAR, roller transfer to serial status and master creation.
• Collect input from customers and present color submissions and grain developments to them.
• Support Program Management in acquiring new projects and prepare and deliver internal presentations.
• Act as a member of the Program Management team and own surface design development for assigned customers.
• Collaborate with all parties in the PLC process, including Creative Design, Automotive Design and DTS SSL.
• Monitor and analyze American market activity, especially competitor colors, textures, prints and materials, and identify American design and color trends.
• Analyze SSL and competitor color and trim portfolios, covering color, grain, print, structure, surface characteristics and haptics.
• Travel to suppliers, trade fairs, trade shows and customer locations, and prepare reports, presentations and updates from customers and events.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing industrial environment and wear personal protective equipment such as safety boots, safety glasses and hearing protection.
• Additional way to stand out: a degree in design.
• Additional way to stand out: 3 years of experience.
• Additional way to stand out: Adobe Suite experience.
• Additional way to stand out: previous experience in production and product management.

Conditions

Based in Winchester, Virginia, with no relocation or sponsorship available.

Safety is the top priority, and safety procedures and guidelines must always be followed.

Applicant information is kept confidential under EEO guidelines.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Benefits available from the start.
• Paid time off.
• Employee discounts, including tire discounts.
• Competitive bonus program.
• Employer 401(k) match.
• On-site gym.
• Further benefits that come with working for a global industry leader.