Seats CAE Engineer

Ford Model e U.S.; Naucalpan de Juárez; On-site; MXN 500,000 - 850,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Model e U.S. seeks a Seats CAE Engineer to join our CAE team, performing structural CAE load case analyses on automotive seats across North America vehicle programs.

You will use advanced FE tools to evaluate seat structures—frames, tracks, recliners, risers—under static, dynamic, durability, and regulatory loads to meet strength and modal requirements for every seat variant. You will build, run, and correlate FE models, identify weaknesses, and collaborate with Seat Design and Release,

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, preference Mechanical Engineering.
• 5+ years hands-on CAE Engineer experience, ideally automotive structures.
• Experience in Seats or Body Structures is strongly preferred.
• Experience performing advanced nonlinear structural analyses using FEM.
• Proficiency with core CAE solver software LS-DYNA, ABAQUS, and NASTRAN.
• Hands-on experience with preprocessing tools such as ANSA and Hypermesh.
• Knowledge of postprocessing tools, particularly Hyperview.
• Familiarity with optimization tools modeFRONTIER, HEEDS, LS-OPT, and OptiStruct.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural CAE load case analyses on automotive seats using FEA tools.
• Build, run, and correlate FE models across seat variants and trims.
• Identify weaknesses and propose design improvements to meet weight and cost targets.
• Collaborate with Seat Design, Release, Integration, Program, and Test Engineering teams.

Skills

Analytical skills

Structural mechanics

Engineering fundamentals

Project management

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Mechanical preferred

Tools

LS-DYNA

ABAQUS

NASTRAN

ANSA

Hypermesh

Hyperview

modeFRONTIER

HEEDS

LS-OPT

OptiStruct

Job description

Ford is seeking a Seats CAE Engineer to join our CAE team, responsible for performing all structural CAE load case analyses on automotive seats across North America vehicle programs. In this role, you will use advanced finite element analysis (FEA) tools to evaluate seat structures — including frames, tracks, recliners, and risers — under static, dynamic, durability, and regulatory load conditions to ensure they meet strength, stiffness, and modal requirements for every seat variant and trim level.

You will build, run, and correlate detailed FE models, identify potential structural weaknesses or failure modes early in the design cycle, and work closely with Seat Design and Release, Integration, Program, and Test Engineering teams to recommend design improvements, optimize material usage, and support weight and cost targets without compromising structural performance. This role requires strong analytical skills, proficiency with industry-standard CAE tools (e.g., LS-DYNA, Abaqus, Nastran, Hypermesh/ANSA), and a solid understanding of structural mechanics and automotive seat design principles.

As a key contributor to seat structural validation, you will help ensure that every seat across Ford's North America lineup delivers the durability, safety, and quality our customers expect.

Required:

• - Bachelor of Science in Engineering, with a preference for Mechanical Engineering.
• - A minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience as a CAE Engineer, ideally applied to automotive structures.
• - Prior experience in Seats, Seat Structures/Mechanisms, or Body Structures is strongly preferred.
• - Demonstrated expertise performing advanced nonlinear structural analyses using the Finite Element Method (FEM).
• - Proficiency with core CAE solver software, including LS-DYNA, ABAQUS, and NASTRAN.
• - Hands-on experience with preprocessing tools such as ANSA and Hypermesh.
• - Working knowledge of postprocessing tools, particularly Hyperview.
• - Familiarity with structural optimization tools, including modeFRONTIER, HEEDS, LS-OPT, and OptiStruct.

Additional Skills & Attributes:

• - Working knowledge of stamping processes and their impact on structural design and manufacturability.
• - Experience with automation techniques and tools to streamline CAE workflows and improve analysis efficiency.
• - Solid project management skills, with the ability to manage timelines, priorities, and deliverables across multiple concurrent programs.
• - A strong innovative mindset, with the ability to identify creative, forward-thinking solutions to complex structural engineering challenges.
• - Knowledge of systems engineering principles is a plus, supporting a holistic understanding of how seat and body structures integrate within the broader vehicle system.