Henpen Corporation
Sr Material & Textile Engineer - Automotive
Henpen Corporation, Troy, Michigan, United States, 48083
Senior Materials & Textiles Engineer – Automotive Interiors
Location:
Troy, Michigan (Corporate HQ) Travel:
Up to 20% Industry:
Global Tier 1 Automotive Supplier – Polyurethane Foam & Trim Materials
Why This Role Matters This is a unique opportunity to join a
global Tier 1 leader
shaping the next generation of automotive interiors. The Senior Materials & Textiles Engineer will become the company’s
go‑to expert for trim materials , owning a high‑impact function that influences everything from premium leather and vinyl selection to advanced laminated construction and cost‑effective material innovations.
You will be entrusted to build and mature the organization’s
entire materials intelligence database , work directly with OEMs on design approvals, influence new product introductions, and identify breakthrough materials that define comfort, durability, and long‑term customer satisfaction.
This is a role for someone who loves being hands‑on, technically deep, customer‑facing, and strategically influential —
a technical leader who wants their work to be visible at the highest levels.
Role Purpose The Senior Materials & Textiles Engineer will lead material selection, benchmarking, validation, and innovation for all trim materials — including leather, fabrics, urethane skins, vinyl, carpet, and laminated constructions. This position works cross‑functionally with
Product Engineering, Purchasing, OEMs, Quality, and Manufacturing
to ensure materials meet stringent performance, durability, and cost requirements.
Key Responsibilities Material Benchmarking & Database Development
Build and continuously improve a comprehensive
materials database
covering all interior trim materials (leather, fabrics, vinyls, urethane, carpet, laminates, etc.).
Conduct competitive benchmarking and evaluate material performance through lab testing and real‑world applications.
Define interactions between materials during
lamination processes
and downstream applications.
Material Selection & Customer Engagement
Identify and recommend materials based on
OEM specifications and customer requirements .
Serve as the technical expert for
OEM construction drawing approvals
and material validation.
Establish and maintain
material specifications, best practices, and standardization guidelines .
Testing, Analysis & Failure Prevention
Participate in or observe material testing, validation builds, and pilot production runs.
Lead or support
root cause analysis
for in‑field or warranty‑related material failures.
Partner with Quality and Supplier QA to collect and analyze test data for internal reporting and customer presentations.
Cost, Innovation & Supplier Collaboration
Support cost‑reduction initiatives through alternative material proposals, improved processes, and supplier innovation.
Evaluate new supplier materials for performance, manufacturability, and compliance.
Offer technical support during quoting and RFQ evaluations for lamination programs.
Cross‑Functional Leadership
Facilitate cross‑functional technical reviews (Engineering, Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing, Supplier teams).
Serve as a subject‑matter expert responsible for
driving materials strategy across the organization .
Qualifications Education
Bachelor’s degree in
Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Textile Engineering, Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering , or a closely related STEM discipline.
Experience
Minimum
5 years’ experience
in materials engineering, textile engineering, polymer development, or process engineering — preferably in
automotive interiors, trim, laminated materials, or soft‑touch surface engineering .
Strong understanding of
vinyl, synthetic materials, non‑woven materials, textiles, laminates , and construction fundamentals.
Technical & Professional Competencies
Exceptional analytical, testing, and problem‑solving skills.
Strong communication — able to clearly explain technical issues to OEMs, suppliers, and internal teams.
Proven ability to collaborate, influence, and build trust with
OEM customers
and cross‑functional peers.
Highly organized, detail‑driven, and able to manage multiple programs simultaneously.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with lab testing software, documentation systems, or database tools.
Why Join This Team?
Work directly with
global OEMs
on next‑generation comfort, durability, and appearance standards.
Own a strategic materials function with high visibility across engineering, purchasing, and leadership.
Influence innovation in one of the most competitive and evolving segments of the automotive industry.
Hybrid space combining
hands‑on technical work + strategic customer‑facing oversight .
Opportunity for long‑term advancement into
Materials Engineering Leadership, Innovation, or R&D roles .
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Troy, Michigan (Corporate HQ) Travel:
Up to 20% Industry:
Global Tier 1 Automotive Supplier – Polyurethane Foam & Trim Materials
Why This Role Matters This is a unique opportunity to join a
global Tier 1 leader
shaping the next generation of automotive interiors. The Senior Materials & Textiles Engineer will become the company’s
go‑to expert for trim materials , owning a high‑impact function that influences everything from premium leather and vinyl selection to advanced laminated construction and cost‑effective material innovations.
You will be entrusted to build and mature the organization’s
entire materials intelligence database , work directly with OEMs on design approvals, influence new product introductions, and identify breakthrough materials that define comfort, durability, and long‑term customer satisfaction.
This is a role for someone who loves being hands‑on, technically deep, customer‑facing, and strategically influential —
a technical leader who wants their work to be visible at the highest levels.
Role Purpose The Senior Materials & Textiles Engineer will lead material selection, benchmarking, validation, and innovation for all trim materials — including leather, fabrics, urethane skins, vinyl, carpet, and laminated constructions. This position works cross‑functionally with
Product Engineering, Purchasing, OEMs, Quality, and Manufacturing
to ensure materials meet stringent performance, durability, and cost requirements.
Key Responsibilities Material Benchmarking & Database Development
Build and continuously improve a comprehensive
materials database
covering all interior trim materials (leather, fabrics, vinyls, urethane, carpet, laminates, etc.).
Conduct competitive benchmarking and evaluate material performance through lab testing and real‑world applications.
Define interactions between materials during
lamination processes
and downstream applications.
Material Selection & Customer Engagement
Identify and recommend materials based on
OEM specifications and customer requirements .
Serve as the technical expert for
OEM construction drawing approvals
and material validation.
Establish and maintain
material specifications, best practices, and standardization guidelines .
Testing, Analysis & Failure Prevention
Participate in or observe material testing, validation builds, and pilot production runs.
Lead or support
root cause analysis
for in‑field or warranty‑related material failures.
Partner with Quality and Supplier QA to collect and analyze test data for internal reporting and customer presentations.
Cost, Innovation & Supplier Collaboration
Support cost‑reduction initiatives through alternative material proposals, improved processes, and supplier innovation.
Evaluate new supplier materials for performance, manufacturability, and compliance.
Offer technical support during quoting and RFQ evaluations for lamination programs.
Cross‑Functional Leadership
Facilitate cross‑functional technical reviews (Engineering, Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing, Supplier teams).
Serve as a subject‑matter expert responsible for
driving materials strategy across the organization .
Qualifications Education
Bachelor’s degree in
Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Textile Engineering, Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering , or a closely related STEM discipline.
Experience
Minimum
5 years’ experience
in materials engineering, textile engineering, polymer development, or process engineering — preferably in
automotive interiors, trim, laminated materials, or soft‑touch surface engineering .
Strong understanding of
vinyl, synthetic materials, non‑woven materials, textiles, laminates , and construction fundamentals.
Technical & Professional Competencies
Exceptional analytical, testing, and problem‑solving skills.
Strong communication — able to clearly explain technical issues to OEMs, suppliers, and internal teams.
Proven ability to collaborate, influence, and build trust with
OEM customers
and cross‑functional peers.
Highly organized, detail‑driven, and able to manage multiple programs simultaneously.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with lab testing software, documentation systems, or database tools.
Why Join This Team?
Work directly with
global OEMs
on next‑generation comfort, durability, and appearance standards.
Own a strategic materials function with high visibility across engineering, purchasing, and leadership.
Influence innovation in one of the most competitive and evolving segments of the automotive industry.
Hybrid space combining
hands‑on technical work + strategic customer‑facing oversight .
Opportunity for long‑term advancement into
Materials Engineering Leadership, Innovation, or R&D roles .
#J-18808-Ljbffr