Materials Engineer - Interiors

Job Description: Who we are looking for 
We are looking for a technically sharp, self-directed Materials Engineer to accelerate our accessories program.The work spans a broad range of material domains including mold-in-color surfaces, soft trim, and other decorative materials.Reporting to the Head of Accessories, you will own execution across an active materials engineering program covering development, test planning, material approvals, and supplier engagement, partnering cross-functionally with CMF, Vehicle Engineering, and our supplier base.This is a hands-on execution role with real ownership.We are seeking a Material Engineer with a strong background in Textile Engineering, Textile Materials, or Soft Trim Materials.Candidates should have experience with the development, testing, validation, and manufacturing of textiles, fibers, fabrics, nonwovens, composites, coatings, and other soft materials.Knowledge of material performance, durability, quality standards, and manufacturing processes is required. Automotive interior, seating, trim, or advanced materials experience is highly preferred.We are also interested in candidates from the automotive, aerospace, technical textiles, performance textiles, composites, and advanced materials industries who have hands-on experience with material development, validation, testing, and manufacturing processes.
 What you get to do 
Lead and approve Material Approvals (MA) execution across multiple active material categories, closing backlogs while building repeatable approval frameworks from the ground up.Execute a structured materials compatibility DOE program.Responsibilities include sample preparation, coordination with prototyping partners, external lab contracting, iterative data interpretation, and development of an internal test protocol. Full technical reporting required at each stage.Collaborate cross-functionally to develop and execute a materials development and validation program for new appearance applications. Work includes test plan development, supplier and 3rd party lab engagement, and identification of applicable regulatory and compliance requirements.Draft material performance specifications across active programs under senior product engineer direction, working from test data, surrogate references, and first-principles reasoning.Facilitate workstreams with directed material suppliers. Aligning applications suppliers and teams to support the product launches.
  What you bring to the Team 
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, chemistry or equivalent. MS a plus.3+ years in materials engineering or a closely adjacent field.Experience with Automotive Interior Plastics and TextilesComfortable operating independently. You can own a workstream, coordinate suppliers and labs, and deliver without heavy oversight.Comfortable in start-up environments. You can roll up your sleeves to do the work and build or recommend the tools needed to be successful as the company grows.A collaborative “one company” teammate with a continuous improvement approach that is equally comfortable with engineering details and test environments.Capability to work cross-functionally with partners, suppliers, and vendors, building strong relationships that produce positive results.
 Why work through Contechs? Contechs is a strategic partner to the automotive industry, providing innovative design and engineering services to global OEMs, from concept to production. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. Employment is at will and may be terminated by either party at any time. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact us if you need assistance in the application process How to Apply If you're interested in applying for this position, submit your application and one of our recruiters will be in touch.