About the role
We are currently looking for an experienced SE Team Leader to support automotive development projects in Germany. The role can be focused on either Exterior components or Body-in-White / Rohbau, depending on the candidate’s background.
The SE Team Leader will be responsible for the technical coordination of cross-functional engineering activities, change and release management, supplier coordination, project milestones, and series production readiness. This is a key interface role between engineering, design, quality, purchasing, logistics, suppliers, and project management.
Key responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate the SE team within the assigned scope: Exterior components and/or Body-in-White, doors, tailgates, closures and structural body parts.
- Coordinate engineers, design teams, quality, testing, prototyping, manufacturing, purchasing, logistics and supplier teams.
- Manage technical changes and release processes for assigned components.
- Drive change management, release management and documentation processes.
- Coordinate technical discussions with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Manage supplier interfaces and ensure series production readiness.
- Follow up on supplier quality topics, corrective and preventive actions.
- Support tooling transfers, launch management, ramp-up, pre-series and SOP activities.
- Prepare, maintain and track project timelines, milestones, resources and key deliverables.
- Monitor project risks, deviations, open points and escalation topics.
- Prepare and lead LOPs — Lists of Open Points — and ensure timely closure of actions.
- Support the Project Manager in preparing and updating project documentation, e.g. DFMEA, PS, PWI, QCI, QCD, control plans, etc.
- Lead technical meetings, SE rounds and expert committees.
- Prepare technical decisions, recommendations and status updates for project management.
- Ensure effective process and interface management across R&D, engineering, quality, SCM, sales, purchasing and suppliers.
Requirements
- Several years of experience in automotive product development, preferably within Exterior, Body-in-White, doors, closures, structural components or related areas.
- Experience working for an OEM or Tier 1 supplier.
- Proven experience in technical coordination, simultaneous engineering, team leading or lead engineering roles.
- Strong understanding of the vehicle development process — from concept phase, design, prototyping and validation to launch, SOP and series production.
- Experience with technical change management, release processes and quality documentation.
- Knowledge of automotive tools and documentation such as DFMEA, FMEA, QCD, QCI, PS, PWI, control plans or similar.
- Experience in supplier management, including technical alignment, requirement tracking, issue resolution and quality/timing follow-up.
- Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and represent the technical scope in front of customers and internal management.
- Strong project coordination skills, including milestone tracking, timing, cost, quality and risk management.
- Very good English skills.
- German language skills are a strong advantage.
- Experience with ASPICE, ISO 9001, IATF 16949 or comparable automotive quality standards is a plus.
Ideal profile
The ideal candidate is not only technically strong, but also able to coordinate complex interfaces and drive topics forward across departments and suppliers. We are looking for someone who understands automotive development, can manage technical discussions, lead SE meetings and ensure that open points, changes and release topics are closed on time.
Interested?
If you have experience in automotive development, simultaneous engineering, technical project coordination and supplier interface management, I would be happy to discuss this opportunity with you.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: From 50.000,00€ per year
Work Location: Remote
