Industrialization Engineer

Industrialization Engineer – Automotive
Location: Portugal / Spain / France
Industry: Automotive – Tier 1
Type: Service Provision / Outsourcing
Travel: High availability for international travel
About the Opportunity
We are looking for an Industrialization Engineer to join an international automotive Tier 1 environment and support the industrial launch of a new automotive program awarded by a global OEM.
The successful candidate will integrate an existing project team and work closely with Project Management and Industrialization functions, supporting the implementation and ramp-up of the industrial process across manufacturing sites and suppliers in Portugal, Spain and France.
This is a hands-on role covering the full industrialization cycle, from feasibility and equipment specification through supplier management, equipment acceptance, installation, process capability and production ramp-up.
The Role
The Industrialization Engineer will be responsible for the development and implementation of production equipment, machinery and tooling, acting as a key point of contact throughout the industrial launch until full-rate production.
The role requires strong coordination skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with internal teams, equipment suppliers and international stakeholders.
Reporting to: Industrialization Manager
Key interfaces: Production, Project Management, Purchasing, Project Quality, Maintenance, Sales, Laboratory, external suppliers and customers.
Key Responsibilities
Industrial Launch & Program Management
Coordinate key industrialization activities throughout the program launch, including feasibility studies, risk analysis, program milestones, capacity readiness and production ramp-up.
Ensure effective coordination between Project Management, Purchasing, Quality, Operations and external suppliers.
Monitor industrialization milestones, identify risks and deviations, and provide regular progress updates to the relevant stakeholders.
Support the preparation and follow-up of industrial readiness activities leading to serial production.
Ensure that industrialization objectives are achieved in terms of quality, cost, timing and production capacity.
Conduct technical feasibility studies and time studies.
Prepare technical specifications and equipment requirements, ensuring alignment with safety, production, maintenance and quality requirements.
Participate in RFQ and supplier consultation processes and support the selection of machinery, tooling and equipment suppliers.
Lead technical reviews with equipment suppliers from RFQ and concept definition through manufacturing, delivery and implementation.
Follow up equipment manufacturing and ensure compliance with agreed technical specifications, quality requirements and project milestones.
Prepare the implementation of production equipment, including process flow studies, layout definition and production area preparation.
Coordinate and participate in FAT (Factory Acceptance Tests) at supplier facilities.
Coordinate and participate in SAT (Site Acceptance Tests) at manufacturing plants.
Ensure the availability of the required human and material resources for equipment installation, commissioning and start-up.
Ensure that equipment is capable of consistently producing conforming parts, both dimensionally and in terms of process capability.
Follow up the start-up and stabilization of new equipment until the required production objectives and full-rate capacity are achieved.
Ensure compliance with the applicable Quality Management System procedures and standards.
Requirements
Education
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Production Engineering, Systems Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Alternatively, higher technical education (CTeSP or equivalent) combined with relevant professional experience.
Professional Experience
Minimum 5 years of professional experience in industrialization, manufacturing engineering or new program launches, preferably within an automotive Tier 1 environment.
Proven experience in the complete lifecycle of production equipment, including:
Technical specifications and equipment requirements
RFQ and supplier selection
Equipment design and development
Technical reviews
FAT / SAT
Installation and commissioning
Process capability
Production ramp-up
Experience working with Ford as an OEM customer OR solid knowledge of Ford-specific industrialization and quality requirements is mandatory.
Good knowledge of Ford processes and methodologies, particularly:
APQP
Phased PPAP
Run@Rate
Capacity Verification
Experience in automotive interior and/or acoustic components, such as foams, thermoforming, injection moulding or technical textiles, will be considered a plus.