Tire Development and Release

Summary:

• We are seeking a highly skilled Tire Development Engineer to manage tire development projects for OE customers.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for leading technical liaison between OE customers and Continental.

Salary: ¥10,000,000 - ¥15,000,000 per year (dependent on experience)

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage tire development projects for OE customers.
• Act as a technical liaison between OE customers and Continental.
• Support design strategy development for running and future OE tire development projects.
• Develop and execute submission strategies jointly with Tire Development Engineer, Subjective Handling Driver, Technical Account Manager, and KAM.
• Plan, organize, support, and attend joint tests with customers at different stages of OE tire development projects.
• Manage prototype/sample tire orders of OE customers.
• Manage OE customer specific requirements, ensure all relevant requirements are incorporated in project scope, project deliverables, and Continental internal documents/procedures.
• Create and update customer specific requirement documents which are released/available in Continental systems for the assigned projects/accounts.
• Support GE in developing OE customer specific test methods when needed.
• Support/lead PPAP approval process for the assigned projects. Plan/coordinate/execute all internal/external release/approval tests, and administrative activities to get PPAP approval and release an OE tire for assigned customers for mass production.
• Prepare and collect all required documents/drawings to get OE engineering sign-off and PSW sign-off. Submit all documents to Technical Account Manager and/or KAM for review and approval.
• Plan/coordinate/execute the activities with all internal and external stakeholders to ensure flawless launch of OE tires.
• Maintain Continental and customer tools/databases to ensure all Continental and customer requirements are met.

Business Support

Key Responsibilities:

• Support/lead account activities in preparation for technical reviews for running and future OE tire development projects.
• Build/utilize trust based effective, mutual value creation focused relationships with key decision makers at OE customers.
• Support RFQ and 5 Year Plan activities as required by KAM/Technical Account Manager.
• Collect marketing intelligence (competitor/customer/market) to support account management to align account activities with OE customers' needs to sustain and grow the business in line with OE PLT business unit strategy for the region/customers.
• Support KAM/Technical Account Manager in management of R&D budget by minimizing/avoiding non-value adding tasks, and by continuous implementation of cost efficient best practices and lessons learned across all running functions/activities.
• Take additional responsibilities as required by KAM or Technical Account Manager based on changing account activities, changing business/customer requirements and changing market conditions.

Quality

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead/support customer complaint handling activities. Analyze, follow-up, and respond to customer complaints with support from account/regional quality manager(s), plant quality, and central quality teams to ensure timely resolution of quality problems through structured problem solving.
• Maintain internal and external quality management and create CAT entries in complaint handling tools/databases/portals.
• Share lessons learned with cross-functional team members to prevent repeat quality issues.
• Support account/regional quality manager(s) and Technical Account Manager to develop and execute preventive actions to continuously improve Continental's perceived quality performance by OE customers.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and quality status through customer released data, report status to account management on a regular basis, lead/support action plans to close identified gaps. Support of risk and opportunity evaluation based on customer expectation.
• Support conformity of production testing activities for accounts responsible for, evaluate and report results to account management.
• Monitor end of line test data (i.e. tire uniformity, tire balance, tire visuals) work with plant and central quality teams for continuous improvement.
• Collect warranty performance data of the tires responsible for. Review the status with customers and account management regularly.
• Lead/support account activities to ensure successful customer audits/visits of Continental facilities. Organize, support, and accompany plant audits in cooperation with plant quality manager and account/region quality manager(s). Track and Follow up of Action Plans; Submission of Self Assessment surveys to Customer.
• Support/perform the site assessment of external warehouses and 3rd party tire and wheel assemblies as required.
• Support plant quality and central quality organizations to keep customer specific (e.g. BIQS, Q1, VQE...etc.) certifications current.
• Sharing joint responsibility for account activities in meeting IATF 16949 with PDT group leader, TAM, and KAM.
• Leading APQP process, Coordinate and Submit PPAP Documentation with Customer, Launch Management Coordinator.
• Support FMEA, 8D, Control Plan, GT POMS documents related activities as a team member.
• Providing of Customer Documentation to Continental Organization.
• Translate CSR into Internal Specifications (PoMS), translate PSR into Internal Specifications (PoMS).
• Key User of relevant customer portal /IT tools.
• Support account specific contract review process.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Bachelor Degree or Above, mechanical or automotive engineer, or similar technical education.
• Tire development experience is preferred, 1 to 3 years experience in tire development testing or manufacturing.
• Involved in 1-2 OEM projects.
• Applicable Conti System/Process/Tools experience is welcomed.
• Intercultural team/organization working experience.

Additional Information

* CV (Rirekisho) in Japanese and Work History in Japanese/English are required for application process.

Ready to drive with Continental? Take the first step and fill in the online application.