Job Description

Materials Development Principal Engineer at American Honda Motor Co. summary:

The Materials Development Principal Engineer leads and coordinates advanced materials research and development projects focused on Honda vehicle components, ensuring material innovation aligns with environmental and performance goals. They manage project schedules, budgets, and collaborate with cross-functional teams and suppliers to achieve technical specifications and quality standards. Utilizing expertise in materials science and engineering, they conduct failure analysis, testing, and supplier qualification, contributing to Honda's vision of mobility with zero environmental footprint.

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda
Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

 

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

 

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

 

Job Purpose:

The associate works with and/or may lead a diverse materials research team in coordinating/performing a full range of materials research, R-Theme project and work request activities relevant to departmental and organizational needs including Technical Pre-Investigation (TPI) in area of specialty, R-Theme project management, complex failure analysis testing and test development/execution support. As a technical expert, the associate conducts review and initial sign off on all test results in area of technical specialty. May coordinate/oversee the work of technical contractors. Work assignments are performed within defined latitude for independent judgment, problem solving and decision making as well as defined parameters for accuracy, quality, efficiency and compliance with time schedules and applicable policies, procedures, and regulations. Specific technical focus areas for the Materials Organics Group may include exterior trim and/or semi-structural resin parts; interior trim and coverings, and elastomeric-based chassis materials.

 

 

Key Accountabilities:

• Applies engineering principles/experiences and extensive knowledge and understanding of Honda vehicle designs/functionality to ensure new material technology sensing in area of specialty is comprehensively conducted using various methods of investigation including on-line investigation, networking with local and overseas colleagues, and collaborating with material and part suppliers to gather/analyze technological data, determine feasibility, and present findings to technical management.
• May act as Large Project Leader (LPL), Assistant Large Project Leader (ALPL) or Project Leader (PL) for assigned research projects, creating/managing project resources, overseeing/maintaining overall project schedule/budget/direction/progress including coordinating project targets with management, managing project work output of PLs and PICs, creating/updating material specifications and providing assistance or mentoring to PLs and PICs to ensure project quality/cost/specification targets are met.
• Creates thorough development and research plans, communicates direction to technical management as well as to other related function areas (design, test, purchasing, etc.), conducts checks/reviews for technical specifications, and prepares material strategies in consideration of global and regional priorities
• May act as department PL for assigned development models, either of significant derivative scope such as comprehensive regulation changes or significant styling/marketability updates or Full Model Change, participating in project team meetings, coordinating project resources to meet deadlines, initiating/proposing technical collaboration and negotiating strategically to gain acceptance of countermeasures to proposed design modifications.
• As PIC for assigned research and development projects, leads and/or conduct project testing & evaluation of design parts/manufacturing processes through activities including planning/executing tests, conducting failure analysis, analyzing test results, creating/revising material specifications, interfacing with design engineers to propose design changes/recommend countermeasures to ensure parts meet design specifications, and creating/presenting final reports to technical management.
• Leads new supplier qualification activities, directing activities including interfacing with laboratories selected to support project research, development, and/or testing to ensure new materials/parts quality standards are met and required documents such as confidentiality agreements/PRs are created/processed.
• Expands technical capability, provides ideas to improve efficiency at all levels of group/department and participates in strategic planning.

 

 

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline (e.g. Materials Science/Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering)
• 8+ years of experience with BS or MS
• Mastery of skills and techniques in area of expertise. Working knowledge of functions related to areas of expertise
• Strong knowledge of HRA design processes and standards; strong skills in interpreting design drawings/layouts
• Strong interpersonal, communication, technical mentoring, and relationship building skills
• Excellent project management and process improvement skills
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skill

 

 

Working Conditions:

• Travel: 1-2 times/month or more depending on project needs; includes possible international travel
• Physical: primarily works in test lab; frequent keyboarding; frequent kneeling, standing, reaching, squatting, bending, pushing, and lifting; Ability to push and/or lift 20-50lbs.
• Hazards: may work with explosives/flammables, toxic chemicals, pressurized equipment; moving parts; high voltage; may be exposed to extreme cold, heat & humidity during testing & other hazards related to metal testing
• Overtime: overtime expected based on project demands/responsibilities

 

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards: 

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability 
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

 

 

Career Growth:

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued learning
• Training and Development Programs 

 

 

Additional Offerings:

• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs
• Free Drinks Onsite

 

 

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.

Keywords:

materials engineering, failure analysis, project management, supplier qualification, automotive materials, polymer engineering, test development, technical collaboration, product innovation, environmental footprint

Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, For contractors, Work experience placement, Local area, Overseas, Relocation package,

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