Principal Mechanical Development Engineer

Job Purpose

• To achieve Honda's business targets, it is critically important to determine whether a given part/system design is cost competitive and a reasonable value for the money.
• The Cost Planning Engineer deeply understands the Design Category's cost situation. This position can identify concerns with cost accuracy or efficiency and suggest options for cost reduction and optimization.
• The Cost Planning Engineer has sufficient technical background to understand the cost drivers to be able to judge reasonableness of cost/investment in a given part or system.

Key Accountabilities

• Expertise: Demonstrate ability to generate an accurate cost estimate from given part characteristics and manufacturing process. Regularly consult with Design, Purchasing and Supplier to understand latest application of technology and purchasing strategies and their impact to Cost. Utilize experience, logic, comparative analysis to generate proposals for design cost optimization. Utilize experience to identify areas where consolidation and bundling can improve sourcing cost structure and share insights with Purchasing team.
• Verification: Verify reasonableness of cost targets received by carefully examining the logic and assumptions that were used in creating them. Raise awareness if target cannot be logically validated but prepare alternative solution with appropriate justification in such cases. Once established, develop a reasonable path to achieve said part-by-part targets and verify that the design is maturing in that direction. Propose creative solutions as needed to balance the overall unit when certain parts cannot realize the target.
• Correlation activity: Lead all cost discussion events at the layout check, drawing check and the correlation events. Provide leadership and guidance at each event; Demonstrate insights to help resolve difficulties. Summarize the results and report it at the Group Maru-Q event.
• Department Verification: Attend and support any discussion for parts cost / investment.
• R-themes support: For Research Themes that are cost-related, provide the business viewpoint for the new technology or strategy being proposed. Consult with procurement and review quotes for accuracy to ensure business benefit.
• Perform: Other related duties as assigned or requested.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Education:
  • Must have at least a Bachelor's level academic degree in a STEM field.
• Minimum work experience:
  • At least 8 or more years of experience combining product development and design team leadership.
  • Technical expertise in part materials and manufacturing process.
  • Ability to determine if a design is optimized for cost / investment, especially in the areas of chassis and testing, e.g. – test validation, risk assessment, design change, validation requirements associated with changes etc.
  • Shoud have knowledge in basic use of CATIA, Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint for analysis, reporting and presentation.
  • Should be able to work well in a Team setting or independently in a fast-paced environment.
  • Automotive industry experience will be an asset.

Workstyle

• This is an onsite job. One remote workday a week may be possible with prior departmental approval.