The posting
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.
Production Equipment & Industrial Means
- 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.
Technical Skills
- Good knowledge of mechanical design and 3D CAD software for equipment design and industrial layout development.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and process optimization methodologies.
- Good understanding of industrial ergonomics.
- Knowledge of automotive quality tools, including:FMEA / PFMEA MSA SPC Process capability studies
- Ability to read and understand technical documentation, equipment specifications and manufacturing requirements.
- Strong understanding of industrial production processes and equipment implementation.
Languages
- Fluent Portuguese – mandatory.
- Fluent English – mandatory.
- French and/or Spanish – highly valued.
Soft Skills
- Strong cross-functional coordination and leadership skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders without direct hierarchical authority.
- Highly organized, rigorous and structured approach.
- Strong planning and deadline management skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Comfortable working with international teams, suppliers and stakeholders from different cultural backgrounds.
- High level of autonomy and ownership.
- Strong problem-solving skills and a pragmatic, hands-on approach.
- Ability to remain effective and resilient in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
- Willingness to travel extensively and work across different industrial environments.
International Mobility
The role involves frequent travel between Portugal, Spain and France.
The successful candidate will be required to travel regularly to:
- Manufacturing plants;
- Headquarters and project locations;
- Equipment and tooling suppliers;
- Supplier facilities for technical reviews and FAT;
- Manufacturing sites for equipment installation, SAT and production ramp-up.
Assignments may involve short- and medium-term stays, depending on project requirements.
Full availability for international travel and a valid driving licence are mandatory.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work on a major international automotive industrialization program.
- Direct involvement in the complete industrialization lifecycle, from feasibility through to full-rate production.
- Exposure to an international Tier 1 automotive environment and global OEM requirements.
- Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across Portugal, Spain and France.
- High level of technical responsibility and autonomy.
- International and multicultural working environment.
- Opportunity to work closely with equipment suppliers and manufacturing operations throughout the industrial launch.
Additional Information
This position involves access to confidential and commercially sensitive information relating to the customer and the automotive program.
Selected candidates will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before receiving detailed project information.
Further project details, including the final work base, start date, assignment duration, specific process technologies and travel arrangements, will be confirmed during the recruitment process.
This position is subject to a high level of international mobility and requires flexibility regarding work location and travel between Portugal, Spain and France
