Senior Program Engineer

Job Description:

Company Description:

Cooper Standard is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the automotive industry, dedicated to delivering excellence in product development and customer satisfaction. Join our team and contribute to our mission of driving forward engineering excellence and innovation

We are seeking a skilled Product Development Engineer specializing in Fluid Systems to join our dynamic team. The role focuses on the development of new fluid systems, including cooling, fuel, brake, and breather pipe solutions, as well as cooling pump and valve technology, to support our Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) business. This position is based in Coventry, UK, and requires close collaboration with our manufacturing location in Zdar, Czech Republic, our technical center in Kunshan, China, and various sub-suppliers to ensure the delivery of robust, validated designs for smooth program launches.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with customers through on-site and Teams meetings to agree on feasible product designs that meet customer specifications, utilizing standard components wherever possible.
• Analyze customer design data and drawings with internal CAD, CAE Engineering, SMEs, Plant Process Engineering, and Sales teams.
• Confirm and define BOMs, conduct design reviews, feasibility studies, tolerance studies, FMEA analysis, generate SC/CC summary lists, and coordinate DV & PV testing.
• Lead Program Engineering APQP (CLauS) deliverables for program gate tasks, ensuring new product launches meet internal and external time and technical expectations.
• Prepare regular updates for senior management review.
• Ensure timely and appropriate Customer System Design Specifications, understanding market requirements and validating them as per IAFT 16949 requirements.
• Utilize the prototype facility to validate designs and support the coordination of prototype part manufacture to ensure customer vehicle builds are on time.
• Collaborate with the internal Materials Group to specify appropriate materials for products.
• Work with manufacturing divisions to design products for optimal manufacturing capability, providing technical support to plants.
• Partner with internal and external tooling designers to ensure efficient tooling designs.
• Coordinate with laboratory engineers to complete performance DV & PV testing of components, meeting customer timing.
• Collaborate with CAD Engineers to produce and approve internal manufacturing drawings, ensuring PLM releases are fully approved and completed on time.
• Identify and communicate technical market trends in the automotive business, initiating new product developments with the Advanced Engineering group.
• Propose cost reductions through VA/VE analysis.
• Support sales at customer presentations with technical expertise.
• Assist in the cost estimating process. Comply with DIN EN ISO 9000, TS 16949, and DIN EN ISO 14001 standards.
• Support CS Plant Quality Engineering with any customer quality concerns.

Required Education and/or Experience

• 5 years’ experience in the automotive industry in a product component launch role (preferably within Fluid Systems, but not essential).
• Minimum HND/C in engineering required. Bachelor's/Master's Degree in engineering preferred.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Problem-solving skills.
• High degree of proactive task completion and objective orientation.
• Must be fluent in English. German, Czech, and/or Chinese will be valued.
• Valid driving license

Required Decision-Making and Organizational Impact

• Strong capability for contacts and cooperation, demonstrating teamwork.
• Good organizational skills, authority, and initiative.

Others

• Travel required depending on the respective project phase.
• UK travel to/from customer and Cooper Standard locations.
• European/international travel expected (typically every 6 weeks).

Position Type:

Regular

Additional Locations: 

Additional Information:

Remote Status:

Hybrid