Cost Engineer – Exterior Lighting

Cost Engineer – Exterior Lighting

Location: Turin, Italy
Work Model: Hybrid – 3 days per week on-site at the plant and 2 days remote
Seniority: 1–6 years of experience
Area: Cost Engineering / Product Costing – Exterior Lighting

ROLE PURPOSE

We are looking for a Cost Engineer – Exterior Lighting to manage the cost analysis, definition and optimization of automotive exterior lighting systems, including headlamps, tail lamps and signal lamps, throughout the different phases of vehicle development programs, from concept to SOP (Start of Production).

The role has a strong technical and analytical focus, with responsibility for developing should-cost models, analysing supplier quotations, identifying cost reduction opportunities and supporting Purchasing in technical-commercial negotiations with Tier-1 suppliers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop should-cost models and detailed cost breakdowns for exterior lighting systems, including housings, lenses, reflectors, LED and optical modules, electronic drivers/ECUs, tooling and assembly.
• Define and justify cost targets for lighting components at different program stages, in alignment with Product Engineering, Program Management and Finance.
• Perform technical and commercial analyses of supplier quotations (RFQs), including open-book cost breakdowns, identifying gaps against established cost targets.
• Prepare technical and economic arguments to support supplier negotiations in collaboration with Purchasing.
• Participate in supplier negotiations and technical-commercial meetings as the cost expert for the commodity.
• Drive Design-to-Cost, VA/VE and cost reduction initiatives with internal teams and suppliers, quantifying and monitoring the savings achieved.
• Conduct teardown analyses and competitor benchmarking of lighting systems to identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Assess the cost impact of engineering changes, new lighting technologies and different localization and sourcing scenarios.
• Develop and improve cost models, databases and costing methodologies for the lighting commodity.
• Support and mentor junior team members, promoting technical knowledge sharing.
• Report cost status, risks and opportunities to management and program steering committees.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Automotive, Electronic or Industrial Management Engineering.
• 1–5 years of experience in Cost Engineering, Product Costing or Technical Purchasing within the automotive industry.
• At least 1 year of experience in automotive lighting systems or plastic/electromechanical commodities, at an OEM or Tier-1 supplier.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes related to lighting systems, including:
  • Plastic injection molding (PC, PMMA and PBT).
  • Tooling and molds.
  • Vacuum metallization and hard coating.
  • SMT/PCB assembly.
  • LED binning.
  • Final assembly and testing.
• Proven experience in developing should-cost models and analysing supplier open-book cost breakdowns.
• Hands-on experience with costing tools such as aPriori, Siemens Teamcenter PCM/TcPCM, Facton or equivalent solutions.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with SAP.
• Proven track record of measurable cost savings achieved through negotiations and VA/VE initiatives.
• Fluent in English and Italian.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience at a Tier-1 automotive lighting supplier, either in engineering or costing.
• Knowledge of automotive lighting technologies and relevant regulations, including ECE R148/R149 and FMVSS 108.
• Knowledge of Power BI or other data visualization tools.
• Experience with global programs and multi-region sourcing strategies across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
• Knowledge of French, Spanish or Portuguese.

SOFT SKILLS

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Analytical and structured thinking, with a solid business mindset.
• Ability to communicate complex cost topics clearly and effectively to management.
• Autonomy, accountability and the ability to mentor junior professionals.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet demanding program deadlines.
• Strong teamwork and cross-functional collaboration skills.

BENEFITS

Important:

• Our company does not sponsor work visas or residence permits for employment purposes. All candidates must have the legal right to work in the country where the position is based.
• Only candidates who meet the requirements and match our clients' desired profile will be contacted.

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