CAD & PLM tools: Catia V5, WERS, Teamcenter , Enovia
Kaan Taner
Exterior Trim Lead Engineer
Kocaeli
Summary
Exterior Trim Division Lead Engineer with 14+ years of career experience in the global automotive industry providing cost and weight-effective design & engineering solutions from scratch to serial release.
I am eager to advance my career in automotive industry by taking on leadership roles such as Lead Engineer or Chapter Leader. With strong analytical skills, organizational abilities, and creativity in problem-solving, I am confident in my abilities to contribute effectively. I have a proven track record of building and maintaining excellent relationships with clients, stakeholders, and colleagues.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and goals align with your organization’s needs. Kind Regards.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
8
8
Certifications
Work History
Exterior Trim Lead Engineer & Product Owner
TOGG - Türkiye'nin Otomobili Girişim Grubu
12.2020 - 11.2025
- Design, development, testing, and integration of exterior trim systems and components such as bumpers, exterior lighting systems, wiper and washer system, underbody shields, exterior mirrors, and side and upper trim parts.
- Ensure successful delivery of systems and assemblies from concept phase through to production launch.
- Achieve program targets for exterior trim systems and components and defined milestones.
- Design and develop components to meet performance, quality, weight, and cost targets.
- Monitor PALS targets (Durability, Safety, NVH, Weight, etc.) in collaboration with relevant teams to develop solutions.
- Benchmark competitor designs, solutions, internal design approaches, and customer expectations.
- Ensure completion of Master Sections and Conflict Sections as lined with program objective and requirements.
- Conduct component and vehicle level testing, evaluate results, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
- Support commissioning and launch activities at plant locations when required.
- Provide support for durability and quality department in resolving recognized issues.
- Ensure production feasibility, ensure compliance with technical and packaging targets, and deliver detailed designs on time in collaboration with suppliers.
- Ensure regulatory compliance and work closely with the Homologation Department.
- Prepare technical specifications, Design Verification Plans(DVP), DFMEA, and other quality documentation related to the product/system.
- Manage cross-departmental and functional group topics, balancing cost, weight, performance, and customer requirements while ensuring program timing targets are met.
- Collaborate with R&D and program teams to define targets for next-generation models.
- Mentored junior engineers, contributing to their professional growth and overall team productivity.
- Achieved cost savings by streamlining workflows, automating repetitive tasks, and reducing material waste across various projects. ('25 Realized CR idea Generation Target are met above target (Target:2 CR idea/year Realized:6 idea/year Total realized amount 5€/vehicle for 2025)
- Achieved patent application targets for '25. Target was 1 patent/this year, Realized:4 patent/this year
R&D Design Team Leader
Dourdin Decorative Solutions
07.2019 - 12.2020
- Supervision of design team's CAD activities for OEM projects from FCA and PSA group.
- Feedback and support feasibility requests from OEM and Tier 1 partners in Renault Clio V Project.
- Supervision of in-house R&D projects and new decorative process implementations(e.g. in-mold decoration, hot stamping foil, laser etching, vacuum forming, etc.)
- Performing & supervising lighting simulations on Ansys SPEOS.
Exterior Trim Senior Design & Release Engineer
Ford Otosan A.S.
06.2014 - 07.2019
- Single point contact "SPOC" launch responsibility for Exterior Trim division of commercial heavy truck Ford F-Max Truck project.
- Design & release responsibility of front bumper & grille of heavy truck.
- Change management responsibility to countermeasure issues raised by stakeholders (e.g. durability/NVH issues from mileage tests.)
- Conduct component and vehicle level testing, evaluate results, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
- Manage cross-departmental and functional group topics, balancing cost, weight, performance, and customer requirements while ensuring program timing targets are met.
Exterior Integration Engineer
Ford Otosan A.S.
09.2010 - 05.2014
- Lead and coordinate Body Exterior Systems during the development phase; integrated X-functional issues with stakeholders such as design studio, craftsmanship, vehicle engineering, vehicle attributes, manufacturing, concept integration and design teams on Ford Transit Connect project.
- Daily report out of X-functional issues to upper management in a nightmare format.
- Responsibility for Exterior BOM weight report out, generating weight reduction ideas to meet program weight targets.
Education
Graduate - Mechanical Engineering
Yıldız Technical University
Istanbul, Türkiye06.2009
Skills
Automotive grade engineering plastics knowledge & material selection expertise
Certification
PMI Design Thinking Course Certification
References
- Ziya Yamaner , Body Trim Workstream Leader @ Togg , Mobile: +90 (532) 723 2905
- Hikmet Şık, Exterior Trim Substream Leader @Togg , Mobile: +90 (533) 8474793
- Aydın Çerçil, R&D Director @Dourdin Decorative Solutions Mobile : +90 (536) 5835304
Accomplishments
Patents
- Patent#1: TR201619936(A2) Front bumper assembly pnomatic fixture design
- Patent#2: TR201720353(A2) Foldable Grille Design for a Truck Bumper Step (Ford F-MAX)
- Patent#3: TR201713375(A2) Roof Trim Attachment Bracket Design
- Patent#4: TR201718233(A2) Front Grille Locking Mechanism
- Patent pending; A wiper blade assembly configured to provide extended service life during windshield cleaning operations.
- Patent pending; An aerodynamic body structure adapted to isolate the area for shock absorber tower.
- Patent pending; A charging port hub assembly for electric vehicles, comprising an integrated protective cover configured to shield the charging socket during use and movement of the charging hub system technology on flexible hinge mechanism, enabling selective opening and closing.
- Patent pending; A method and system for adjusting the height of the rear trunk threshold in passenger vehicles, thereby enhancing ergonomic accessibility.
- Patent pending; A windshield washer reservoir system configured for self-replenishing by collecting rainwater and ambient humidity.
- Patent pending; An alternative storage apparatus for housing and securing charging cables in electric vehicles.
- Patent pending; A windshield washer reservoir assembly customarily integrated as an unibody aerodynamic protection panel.
Projects
- 6 Sigma Green Belt Project: Heavy Commercial Truck Side Step Metal Bracket Replacement Project into PA6-GF plastic compound for TVM and Weight Reduction purposes. 5€ /veh. cost saving and 10 kg weight reduction/veh.
- Certificate of Appreciation - 2018 F-MAX International Truck of Year Prize 2017 Ford Otosan.
Software Skills
- CAD design and CAD tools ( WERS , Teamcenter , Enovia , Catia V5, SolidWorks , Ansys Speos )
- MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, OneNote, Access)
- Moldflow Assesment (Autodesk Moldflow Insight and Communicator )
- Database Management (MySQL, SQL )
- Data Analysis ( Minitab )
Software
Moldflow Assesment: Autodesk Moldflow Insight and Communicator )
Database Management: MySQL,SQL )
Data Analysis: Minitab
Timeline
PMI Design Thinking Course Certification
03-2025
PMI Critical Thinking Course Certification
02-2025
Agile Fundamentals & Methods Training Certification
05-2023
Ansys Speos Training Course Certification
03-2021
Exterior Trim Lead Engineer & Product Owner
TOGG - Türkiye'nin Otomobili Girişim Grubu
12.2020 - 11.2025
A3 Problem Solving Skills Course Certification
09-2019
R&D Design Team Leader
Dourdin Decorative Solutions
07.2019 - 12.2020
Project Management Professionals PMP Certification
05-2019
Engineering Plastics and Manufacturing Technics
07-2017
Six Sigma Green Belt Course Certification
11-2015
Exterior Trim Senior Design & Release Engineer
Ford Otosan A.S.
06.2014 - 07.2019
Exterior Integration Engineer
Ford Otosan A.S.
09.2010 - 05.2014
Graduate - Mechanical Engineering
Yıldız Technical University