Automotive Engineer - Original Equipment - Passenger & Light Truck Tire

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

SG 10/11

Responsible for driving profitable and sustainable Original Equipment (OE) Passenger and Light Truck (PLT) business growth across the Americas by serving as primary technical interface between OE customers and Continental. This role develops and executes account-specific technical strategies, manages tire development and release activities, secures customer approvals, and collaborates closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful product launches, customer satisfaction, and long-term business success aligned with regional OE strategy.

Tire Development and release responsibilities:

a. Lead and manage OE tire development projects from initiation through production release.

b. Serve as the primary technical liaison between OE customers and Continental's Product Development Team (PDT).

c. Support development of design and submission strategies for current and future OE tire programs in collaboration with Tire Development Engineers, Subjective Handling Drivers, Technical Account Managers, and Key Account Managers (KAMs).

d. Plan, organize, support, and participate in customer testing activities throughout all phases of tire development.

e. Coordinate and manage prototype and sample tire requests for OE customers.

f. Manage customer-specific requirements, including performance, testing, quality, marking, shipping, and program-specific standards, ensuring all requirements are incorporated into project scope and deliverables.

g. Support Global Tire Testing (GTT) in the development of customer-specific test methods, as required.

h. Support or lead the PPAP approval process, including planning, coordination, execution of release and approval testing, and completion of all administrative requirements necessary for production release. Prepare and collect required documentation and drawings to obtain customer engineering approval and support PSW sign-off.

i. Coordinate activities with internal and external stakeholders to ensure flawless OE tire launches and production readiness.

Business Support:

a. Support customer account activities and technical reviews for current and future OE tire development programs.

b. Develop and maintain effective, trust-based relationships with key customer decision-makers focused on long-term value creation.

c. Support RFQ activities and Five-Year Planning initiatives as requested by the KAM or Technical Account Manager.

d. Gather and communicate customer, competitor, and market intelligence to support business growth strategies and alignment with OE customer needs.

e. Support management of R&D budgets by promoting cost-effective practices, minimizing non-value-added activities, and leveraging lessons learned across programs.

f. Assume additional responsibilities as needed to support changing customer requirements, business priorities, market conditions, and organizational objectives.

g. Support the development and execution of technical strategies that strengthen Continental's competitive position and future business opportunities.

h. Develop and coordinate customer-focused activities, including technical meetings, technology demonstrations, driving events, facility visits, and advanced development projects to enhance customer perception of Continental's technical capabilities, execution quality, and innovation leadership.

Quality:

a. Maintain internal and external quality management processes, including creation and management of customer complaint records within applicable systems and databases.

b. Share lessons learned across cross-functional teams to prevent recurrence of quality issues.

c. Support Account Quality Managers, Regional Quality Managers, and Technical Account Managers as required.

d. Monitor customer satisfaction and quality performance metrics, provide regular status updates to account management, and support corrective action plans to address identified gaps.

e. Support conformity-of-production testing activities and communicate results to account management.

f. Monitor end-of-line quality data, including tire uniformity, balance, and visual inspection results, and collaborate with plant and central quality teams to drive continuous improvement.

g. Collect and analyze warranty performance data for assigned products and review findings regularly with customers and account management.

h. Support customer audits and facility visits by coordinating activities, participating in plant audits, tracking action plans, completing customer self-assessments, and evaluating external warehouses and third-party tire and wheel assembly providers as required.

i. Support plant and central quality teams in maintaining customer-specific certifications and quality requirements, including BIQS, Q1, VQE, and similar standards.

j. Share responsibility with the PDT Group Leader, Technical Account Manager, and Key Account Manager for compliance with IATF 16949 requirements.

k. Support APQP activities, including coordination and submission of PPAP documentation to customers and launch management teams.

l. Participate in quality planning and problem-solving activities, including FMEA, 8D, Control Plans, and GT PoMS documentation and related IT systems.

m. Provide required customer documentation to internal Continental stakeholders.

n. Translate Customer Specific Requirements (CSR) and Product Specific Requirements (PSR) into internal specifications and PoMS documentation.

o. Serve as the key user and subject matter resource for customer portals and related IT systems.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE ROLE

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering
• 2+ years related professional experience
• 1+ year of experience in tire or chassis development, tire or chassis testing and/or automotive engineering 
• Project management skills and experience in leading projects (preferably with an international focus)
• International work experience and/or work experience in an intercultural environment for several years 
• English language skills (written and spoken)
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time (domestic and international)
• Continental is able to pay relocation expenses for domestic candidates only
• Legal Authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas now or in the future for this job opening.

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO STAND OUT

• 5+ years related professional experience
• 3+ years of experience in tire or chassis development, tire or chassis testing and/or automotive engineering 

THE PERKS 

• Immediate Benefits 
• Robust Total Rewards Package
• Paid Time Off
• Volunteer Time Off 
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Discounts, including tire discounts
• Competitive Bonus Program
• Employees 401k Match
• Diverse & Inclusive Work Environment with 20+ Employee Resource groups.
• Remote Work
• Employee Assistance Program
• Future Growth Opportunities, including personal and professional
• And many more benefits that come with working for a global industry leader!

EEO-Statement:

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to Careers@conti-na.com or contact US Recruiting at 800-821-2727. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back.

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THE COMPANY

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2021, Continental generated sales of €33.8 billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets. On October 8, 2021, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary.

With its premium portfolio in the car, truck, bus, two-wheel and specialty tire segment, the Tires group sector stands for innovative solutions in tire technology. Intelligent products and services related to tires and the promotion of sustainability complete the product portfolio. For specialist dealers and fleet management, Tires offers digital tire monitoring and tire management systems, in addition to other services, with the aim of keeping fleets mobile and increasing their efficiency. With its tires, Continental makes a significant contribution to safe, efficient and environmentally friendly mobility.