Mechanical Design Engineer - Automotive Structures

Placements24; Kimberley; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development

Vehicle purchase program

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer specializing in automotive structures for an on-site role in Kimberley, BC. You will design chassis and body-in-white components, perform FEA simulations, and collaborate with CAE, manufacturing, and R&D teams to ensure safety, weight optimization, and manufacturability.

The ideal candidate holds a Mechanical Engineering degree with 4+ years in automotive structural design and a strong background in CATIA, NX, and FEA tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering.
• Minimum 4 years of automotive structural design/analysis experience.
• Familiarity with CATIA V5 or NX and FEA tools (ANSYS/Abaqus/LS-DYNA).
• Strong knowledge of vehicle dynamics and material behavior under load.
• On-site role in Kimberley, with cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop structural components for vehicle chassis and body-in-white.
• Perform static, dynamic, fatigue, and crash simulations (FEA).
• Optimize designs for weight, stiffness, durability, and manufacturability.
• Interpret simulation results with CAE engineers and refine designs.
• Develop drawings, specifications, and BOMs.
• Participate in prototypes, testing, and validation activities.
• Ensure compliance with automotive safety standards and regulations.
• Stay updated on advanced materials and design techniques.
• Support cross-functional teams in resolving structural issues during development and production.

Skills

Automotive structural design

Finite element analysis

Vehicle dynamics knowledge

Analytical problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Automotive Engineering background

Tools

CATIA V5

NX

ANSYS

Abaqus

LS-DYNA

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent automotive manufacturer with a strong presence in Kimberley, is seeking a talented Mechanical Design Engineer specializing in automotive structures. This role is crucial for the design, development, and validation of vehicle chassis and body-in-white components, ensuring structural integrity, safety, and performance. You will work closely with a dedicated team of engineers, focusing on advanced materials and innovative manufacturing techniques. This is an on-site position, requiring close collaboration with R&D, testing, and production departments at our Kimberley facility. If you have a passion for automotive engineering and a proven track record in structural design, this is an exciting opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop structural components for vehicle chassis and body-in-white applications using advanced CAD software.
• Perform comprehensive structural analysis, including static, dynamic, fatigue, and crash simulations (FEA).
• Optimize designs for weight reduction, stiffness, durability, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Collaborate with CAE engineers to interpret simulation results and refine designs.
• Work with manufacturing engineers to ensure designs are manufacturable and cost-effective.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and Bill of Materials (BOMs).
• Participate in prototype builds, testing, and validation activities.
• Ensure designs comply with automotive safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in automotive materials (e.g., high-strength steel, aluminum, composites) and structural design techniques.
• Support cross-functional teams in resolving structural-related issues during vehicle development and production.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Automotive Engineering.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in automotive structural design and analysis.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., CATIA V5, NX).
• Extensive experience with FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, LS-DYNA) for structural analysis.
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, crashworthiness, and material behavior under load.
• Knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes for structural components.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced collaborative team environment.
• Experience with durability and NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) analysis is a plus.
• Commitment to working on-site in Kimberley.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package and performance incentives.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and advanced training.
• Exposure to cutting-edge automotive technology and design processes.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment in Kimberley.
• Employee vehicle purchase programs and discounts.