Senior Surface Material Engineer, CAB Living, Gothenburg

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport solutions for the future? If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match. 

Position description

Are you passionate about materials, colours and surface quality? How to make hard requirements possible while giving the customer a strong first impression through nice-looking high-quality surfaces? The Volvo GTT, CAB Living team, is looking for a new employee in our Surface Material team. Here you will work with all the visible surfaces of our Trucks. You will also have the chance to support our colleagues at Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Penta and Volvo Buses. If you have an interest in the technical aspect of surfaces and surface materials this might be the perfect position for you

Your future team 

The Volvo GTT Surface Material team is a small group of five people which belongs to the Living team at Volvo GTT Cab Interior section. 
The Surface Material team’s responsibility stretches from surface materials, including textiles, foils, nonwovens and other materials, to surfaces such as plastic colours and grains as well as deco surfaces in paint and other technologies. We are responsible for the surfaces for both the interior and the exterior of the trucks. Our work is closely connected to the Product Design team, and we develop their ideas into good and robust solutions suitable for our trucks. The work includes close cooperation with many other teams within Volvo for interior, exterior, electronics and chassis parts etc. Beside this the Surface Material team is also responsible for the complete curtain system as well as for the complete seat upholsteries.
The Surface Material team in Gothenburg is not only working with the Volvo Trucks but we are also supporting the other Volvo branded products in our group. This gives us the opportunity to work with products such as excavators, wheel loaders, buses and boat engines.
The surface material team is a part of the group CAB Living. Beside the Surface Material team the Living team is developing systems and parts for the life on board. Our team holds global responsibility for the Living environment of Volvo heavy-duty trucks. With a team of 20 individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from seasoned engineers to juniors, both females and males, we have a fantastic team. The team spirit is strong and supportive. Everyone helps each other to meet our common goal and, while having fun together, we overcome the obstacles in front of us. Additionally, we work in a very international environment, and we are deeply integrated with teams in India, France and USA, forming a robust global network dedicated to advancing automotive technology within our area. 
Together, we have the responsibility and mission to ensure that the surface materials and surfaces we use continue to be the very best in our Volvo products. By doing our part with passion, we ensure that our products stay on top, focusing on our users' well-being, customers' profitability, sustainability, and creating higher value for the Volvo Group.

What you will do

As a Surface Material Engineer, you will lead the development of surface materials such as textiles, foils, nonwovens or leathers, ensuring Quality, Delivery, Cost, Features, and Sustainability (QDCFs) standards are met. The job will also involve developing new colours and grains in plastics and other materials as well as deco materials such as paints and deco foils. You will develop the materials in collaboration with highly skilled suppliers and a supportive GTT team, in a deeply integrated collaboration with Product Design.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Setting requirements and evaluating supplier work.
• Managing the project timeline, changes, and cost evolution.
• Acting as the primary technical contact for suppliers and leading their technical development efforts.
• Communicating progress to various internal stakeholders, including lead engineers on several teams, product design, and purchasing.
• Evaluating samples, including color and grain measurements.
 

This role is challenging and exciting, requiring strong communication skills to effectively coordinate across different teams.

Who you are
You are on your way to build a strong background in developing surface materials, and you have worked with different materials and technologies over the years. You have experience in setting requirements for surface materials and have led designs with multiple interfaces and stakeholders. You are confident in your knowledge, pragmatic in finding solutions, and understand how to balancing various demands. You have a documented proof of color vision and confidence in judging color, gloss, and surface finishes. You know how to transferring what you see into words, explaining what needs to change and how, to meet the requirements.

Effective communication with internal and external stakeholders is second nature to you. You can maintain focus on objectives even under pressure, and you excel at explaining recommendations clearly. As a team player, you understand the importance of a committed timeline and your role in ensuring success.

Experience we seek:
• M.Sc. or B.Sc. degree in textile engineering, technical design or equivalent knowledge gathered in other positions/degrees.
• Around 5 years of experience in product development within the automotive industry.
• Experience in leading Supplier Involvement Product Development (SIPD) of surface material development.
• Experience working in a global environment with multiple sites is preferred.
• Good knowledge in the development and requirement setting of textiles, foils, decor, and/or polymer materials regarding color, gloss, and graining.
• Proficiency in communication and presentation techniques and proficiency of requirement documentation (TR writing) 
• Understanding of legal requirements and how it would affect us.
• Familiarity with KOLA and MS Project is preferred.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken), with Swedish as a plus.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and global team management.

What we offer
You get an opportunity to work with highly skilled colleagues in an exciting, global environment that provides opportunities to develop both professionally and personally. Our daily work is performed in an international environment, giving you the opportunity to interact with highly committed colleagues from different cultures. We trust the individual, act as a team, stay close to the product, and provide opportunities for professional and personal growth.

We value your data privacy and therefore do not accept applications via mail. 

Who we are and what we believe in 
Our focus on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity allows each of us the opportunity to bring our full authentic self to work and thrive by providing a safe and supportive environment, free of harassment and discrimination. We are committed to removing the barriers to entry, which is why we ask that even if you feel you may not meet every qualification on the job description, please apply and let us decide.

Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, across the globe, our trucks, buses, engines, construction equipment, financial services, and solutions make modern life possible. We are almost 100,000 people empowered to shape the future landscape of efficient, safe and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents with sharp minds and passion across the group’s leading brands and entities. 

Group Trucks Technology are seeking talents to help design sustainable transportation solutions for the future. As part of our team, you’ll help us by engineering exciting next-gen technologies and contribute to projects that determine new, sustainable solutions. Bring your love of developing systems, working collaboratively, and your advanced skills to a place where you can make an impact. Join our design shift that leaves society in good shape for the next generation.