Gbl Director of Engineering-FRGDE0

Position Summary : The Director leads the worldwide Application Engineering team, defining the vision, operating model, and capability roadmap; orchestrating resources across time zones; and building trusted customer relationships that position our company to win strategic pursuits. They own process excellence, engineering governance, and cross‑functional alignment from concept through launch, leveraging CAE/Test and product development disciplines to drive first‑time‑right execution.

Essential Job Functions include, but not limited to, the following:

• Geography : Global (US / EUR/ Asia divisions ) with direct leadership of regional application teams and business units global engineering leaders
• Define the global Application Engineering strategy, standards, and work plans that align with corporate objectives ( Hoshins) and customer roadmaps; maintain a coherent operating model across regions and technologies
• Anticipate, estimate, and secure the global resources needed to execute strategic plans, balancing regional demand and skill development.Drive cross business unit engineering activities and improvement of applied engineering process and product disciplines.
• Provide engineering oversight in support of the Shape design and Program Management teams.
• Build trusted relationships with key customer accounts; deeply understand trends and unmet needs; position our solutions to win pursuits.
• Provide application guidance from concept feasibility through launch: requirements capture, design trade‑offs, cost/weight/performance optimization, manufacturability.
• Partner with Program Management to ensure on‑time gate delivery and risk across regions.
• Oversee and/or coordinate with CAE/Test functions to ensure robust simulation and validation plans (DVP&R) that de‑risk designs early.
• Drive continuous improvement of applied engineering processes and toolchains; standardize methods globally including VAVE target achievement.
• Review and consult on applicable engineering documents (DFMEA,PFMEA,DVP&R, design 8D's,engineering changes, product development documents, etc.).
• Build and develop a high‑performing global team: workforce planning, hiring, onboarding, performance management, succession, and coaching across cultures/time zones. Partner with Talent Development to implement capability roadmaps and annual learning plans within the corporate LMS
• Align Application Engineering with Operations team, program team, costing team and Commercial on cost targets, manufacturability, and launch readiness.
• Assist in compliance to TS16949 and IATF via adherence to established processes..
• Directly manage and provide strategic oversight for CAD Designers and CAD Drafters, with a clear vision to leverage world‑class digitalization tools and advanced design technologies to drive efficiency, quality, and innovation.

Leadership capabilities:

• Vision: Envisions a desired future and generates excitement by conveying a compelling, shared vision
• Development: Fosters a development culture by encouraging all team members to embrace a growth mindset and taking actions daily to develop themselves and those around them
• Communication: Communicates well and frequently provides explanations to stakeholders
  • Expert proficiency in communications and stakeholder management across functions, career levels and geographies.
• Trust: Influences others by building credibility and positive relationships rather than relying on authority to generate momentum around Shape priorities
• Problem Solving: Continuous improvement and the use of proven, problem-solving methodology.

Foundational capabilities

• Relationship building and inclusion (Interpersonal savvy) : Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, cultures, geographies, ages, genders, class, backgrounds, disabilities, ethnicities. Builds rapport in an open, friendly, and accepting way, even when facing difficult or tense situations. Identifies interpersonal and group dynamics and reacts effectively. Actively work toward reducing bias in decision making and support equitable treatment and opportunity for all.

• Influencing: Gain buy-in and garner support for ideas, decisions, proposals, and solutions by building credibility, with or without formal authority. Manages up, down, and across effectively by anticipating and responding proactively to stakeholder reactions. Mobilizes others to take action to advance work objectives and positive impact.
• Change navigation: Adjust, combine, and transform methods and approaches in real time as situations change, new information becomes available, and strategic priorities shift. Comfortably handle ambiguity and uncertainty with a willingness to explore how something may evolve before there is a clear outcome, demonstrating resiliency.

Technical competencies

• Strategic Selling: Focus on the needs of and drive maximum value for the customer. Use appropriate strategies, tools and interpersonal communication methods to build trust and gain acceptance of a product, service, or idea from customers, demonstrating a passion to win and a hunting mindset (never give-up mindset). Use knowledge of customer strategy and organization structure (including decision makers), competitor analysis, industry and market trends to evaluate the gap versus our current capabilities, develop long-term strategies, translate them into business plans, and modify the plan based on changing conditions in order to achieve sustained competitive advantage.
• Business and Financial acumen: Demonstrate an understanding of the company's business strategy, organizational structure, financial concepts (such as budgeting and forecasting), core processes, products, and technologies. Able to get things done both through formal channels and informal networks. Recognize personal role in the performance of the organization and incorporate business impact into decision making. Maximize results by aligning work activities with the organization's goals, needs and values. Manage and improve profit through financial analysis tools, quote management, customer facing documentation, value stream optimization
• Shape Core manufacturing: Demonstrate an understanding of core manufacturing processes in the area of job function (roll forming, large tonnage injection molding, stamping, welding, aluminum processing and pultrusion) and apply knowledge to effectively execute work activities.
• Launch processes: Demonstrate understanding of the Global Shape Launch Process from award through SOP. (Advanced Product Quality Planning) Utilize the outputs from the PFMEA to develop a control plan and robust controls for special product and process characteristics
• Vehicle Design packaging: Demonstrate the understanding of packaging a design within the customer's specified area, including but not limited to attachment and clearance to surrounding parts.
• Product performance: Design, analyze and optimize single components and systems in a way that controls loads and minimizes damage or injury.
• DFMEA: Utilize the Design Failure Modes and Analysis (DFMEA) approach to effectively identify and evaluate potential risks associated with a new or modified product or service.
• GD&T: Utilize the pre-defined system/language to interpret customer drawings, as well as define and communicate engineering tolerances, allowable variations of individual features, and the consequences of adjusting features.
• Design for Manufacturability: Concurrent development of product and process for lowest cost manufacturing. Utilize guidelines and principles of DFM to establish stack-up paths and identify the influence of datum structures on final fit-ups of the part.