In a nutshell:
This role leads the planning, design, and industrialization of paint shop processes for new vehicle projects at Toyota Motor Europe. You translate vehicle design and customer expectations into efficient, safe, high-quality, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions. The job combines early-stage vehicle development, production concept design, equipment layout, process feasibility, investment planning, and continuous improvement. You work cross-functionally with production, design, and equipment teams to develop future-ready, carbon-neutral paint technologies and manufacturing systems, helping shape Toyota’s next-generation factories.
Company Information:
Toyota is one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers and a leading global company, founded in 1937. Today, Toyota sells vehicles in 170 countries and employs over 350,000 people worldwide.
At Toyota Motor Europe (TME), with our headquarters based in Brussels, Belgium, around 2,700 colleagues from more than 60 nationalities work together across Europe. We are responsible for the wholesale marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories, and we support Toyota’s European R&D, manufacturing, and engineering operations.
We are on an exciting journey as we continue to evolve into a mobility company. Our goal is to create even more value and happiness for our customers through a wide range of mobility solutions.
Your team and your responsibilities:
Team/division description
Production Engineering Paint team contributes to development of new vehicles together with planning, design and development of their anticorrosion, painting and finishing processes.
Your responsibilities
We are looking for an Engineer to carry out Paint PE activities in the Planning & Simultaneous Engineering (SE) Group positioned inside of the Production Engineering (PE) Division, based in the France Offices of Toyota Motor Europe at TMMF Valenciennes.
Main responsibilities will include :
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Understand at earliest stage the vehicle Style & Design expectations from customers, and develop the Manufacturing concepts that will turn these expectations into reality in future mass production in our Toyota European Manufacturing Companies.
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Lead new vehicle project planning for Paint shop, define required investments, lead time, feasibility and equipment layout. Evaluate productions costs and create project production preparation schedule.
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Assess Vehicle drawing / design data against Toyota manufacturing standards and evaluate impact to Production processes (manual or Equipment/Automation-based).
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Evaluate paint processes feasibility and workability (together with Production teams and Equipment engineers), and propose manufacturing improvements achieving Safety, Quality, Cost – Investment & Productivity targets.
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Lead improvement proposal and implementation through development phase, maintaining project milestones.
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Identify best manufacturing-process concept based on comparative study of production cost, productivity, logistics efficiency, investment etc. Align study results with Management for efficient decision making.
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Define critical Quality requirements for process / equipment specification creation (together with Production teams & Equipment engineers). Support Development of equipment specifications together with Equipment Engineers.
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Identify cost reduction opportunities via parts shape change, structure simplification or equipment usage optimisation.
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Lead the Design of production equipment via 3D models, 2D manufacturing drawings and innovative tools.
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Benchmarking of Global Toyota equipment (EU / JPN) and other OEM’s in order to achieve Best Practice.
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Identify and introduce new manufacturing technologies and improvements to the development-process, such as virtual reality, to develop our factory of the future.
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Emphasize on carbon neutrality for future paint processes development and ensure that new models/structures will be compatible with such latest technologies.
Your Profile:
Your profile
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You can speak and write perfectly in English. You have at least a good basis in French. Knowledge of Japanese is considered a plus.
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You hold a Master’s degree in Engineering and have 3 to 5 years of experience in design‑driven paint engineering roles.
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You are strongly design‑oriented and able to translate styling intent into feasible, high‑quality engineering solutions.
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You have experience with paint processes and you understand vehicle manufacturing processes well enough to assess design feasibility and ensure industrialization, without being production‑focused.
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Preferably, you work confidently with CATIA (V5) and AutoCAD to create accurate 3D models, surfaces and technical drawings.
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You demonstrate strong creative and analytical thinking when solving complex design challenges.
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You communicate clearly at both operational and management level, especially when presenting design choices and trade‑offs.
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You work autonomously and thrive in a multicultural, collaborative engineering environment.
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You are willing to relocate to Valenciennes, open to flexible hours (weekend shifts are possible) and you are willing to travel (up to 30%).
A truly diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace:
At Toyota Motor Europe, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for everyone. Our recruitment decisions are based on everyone’s skills, experience, and the requirements of the role.
We welcome people of all backgrounds, including different nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, ages, religions, ethnicities, abilities, and other personal characteristics. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment. We believe that our individual experiences and diverse perspectives are a key strength, helping us learn from one another and grow together.
Together, we can make a positive impact and go beyond the ordinary.
If you need any adjustments or specific support during the recruitment or interview process, for any reason, we encourage you to let your recruiter know. We are happy to help create a process that works for you.
