Exterior Trims

Job Title: Exterior Trims CAD Design Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on the design and development of exterior plastic trim components, with a primary emphasis on CAD modeling and detailing of bumper fascia and related parts. You will create and maintain high-quality 3D CAD models and fully detailed 2D drawings, ensuring that aesthetic styling concepts are translated into robust, manufacturable designs. The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure that exterior trim components integrate seamlessly with surrounding vehicle systems while meeting engineering, manufacturing, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop exterior plastic components such as bumper fascia, fascia supports, energy absorbers, brackets, grille inserts and appliques, air deflectors, license plate provisions, and tow hook covers.
• Create and maintain best-in-class 3D CAD surface and solid models, including mating and assembly structures, using CATIA V5.
• Generate fully detailed 2D drawings with appropriate dimensions, tolerances, and notes for supplier and manufacturing use.
• Translate styling surface concepts, character lines, and grille pattern designs into clean, manufacturable CAD geometry while preserving design intent.
• Apply Class-A surfacing techniques to achieve high-quality exterior surfaces and visually consistent gap and flush conditions.
• Incorporate GD&T and tolerance stack-up principles into CAD models and drawings to ensure proper fit, function, and manufacturability.
• Design with consideration for injection molding constraints, including draft angles, wall thickness, parting lines, gate locations, ribbing, snap-fits, and weld lines.
• Embed material-specific behavior (such as TPO, PP, ABS, PC/ABS, and PC/PBT) into design decisions to ensure durability, performance, and manufacturability.
• Use a strong understanding of vehicle architecture and packaging space, including aggregate groups, sub-groups, systems, and sub-systems, to ensure clash-free integration with adjacent body, lighting, sensor, and cooling components.
• Build CAD data from styling surfaces and update models in response to engineering redlines and engineering change requests (ECRs).
• Perform basic clash detection and fitment/packaging checks to verify that components integrate properly within the vehicle environment.
• Generate section views and other necessary views to support design reviews, supplier communication, and manufacturing processes.
• Maintain CAD data structure and version control within PLM/Teamcenter to ensure data integrity and traceability.
• Support design reviews by providing quick CAD model iterations and updates in response to feedback.
• Coordinate closely with Design Release Engineers, Styling teams, and Supplier CAD teams to align CAD deliverables with program timing and downstream engineering and manufacturing needs.
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders to clarify requirements, resolve issues, and keep projects on track.
• Work independently to manage tasks, prioritize work, and meet project deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and detail.
• Essential Skills
• Strong expertise in exterior plastic design, with a focus on bumper fascia and associated exterior trim components.
• Expert-level proficiency in CATIA V5 for 3D surface and solid modeling, as well as 2D drawing creation.
• Proven ability in Class-A surfacing to achieve high-quality exterior surfaces.
• Strong command of GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis for precise fit and function.
• Hands-on experience with plastic product design principles and injection molding constraints, including draft angles, wall thickness, parting lines, gate locations, ribbing, snap-fits, and weld lines.
• Solid understanding of material behavior for TPO, PP, ABS, PC/ABS, and PC/PBT in exterior trim applications.
• Working knowledge of vehicle architecture and packaging, including aggregate groups, sub-groups, systems, and sub-systems.
• Proficiency with Teamcenter PLM for CAD data management and version control.
• Experience performing basic clash detection and packaging checks within a vehicle environment.
• Strong attention to surface quality, geometric accuracy, and detail in CAD models and drawings.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with design, engineering, and supplier teams.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Experience in automotive exterior trim design and New Part Development (NPD).
• In-depth understanding of automotive standards, safety requirements, and regulations.
• Proficiency in plastic product manufacturing processes relevant to exterior trims.
• Additional Skills & Qualifications
• Familiarity with the 3DEXPERIENCE (3DX) platform for advanced CAD and PLM workflows.
• Experience using Vismockup or similar tools for vehicle integration and packaging reviews.
• working with cross-functional automotive development teams, including Design Release Engineers, Styling, and Supplier CAD teams.
• Ability to quickly iterate CAD models to support design reviews and late-stage engineering changes.
• Strong spatial and packaging judgment to anticipate and resolve integration issues early in the design process.
• Work Environment
• You will work in a professional automotive product development environment focused on exterior trim and bumper systems. The role relies heavily on digital design tools, including CATIA V5 for 3D modeling and 2D drafting, Teamcenter PLM for data and version control, and Vismockup or similar tools for vehicle integration reviews. Collaboration with design, engineering, and supplier teams is central to the daily workflow, requiring regular participation in design reviews, packaging discussions, and engineering change activities. The environment emphasizes precision, data integrity, and adherence to automotive standards and safety regulations, with a strong focus on manufacturability and seamless integration of components within the overall vehicle architecture.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, Diversity And Inclusion Are a Bridge Towards The Equity And Success Of Our People. DE&I Is Embedded Into Our Culture Through

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
• Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
• About Actalent
• Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, weve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APACwith four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
• Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.