Automotive Design Engineer — CAD, Mfg & Prototyping

QA1; Mooresville (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay

Comprehensive Benefits

401(k) with Company Contribution

Paid Time Off

Wellness Programs & Perks

Development Opportunities

Community Engagement

Exclusive Product Discounts

Job summary

QA1 is seeking a Design Engineer to join our Mooresville, NC team. You will design and prototype components for automotive systems, create CAD models, and ensure manufacturability from concept through production launch.

You’ll perform detailed calculations and collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and quality to deliver robust designs. The ideal candidate has 2–4 years in automotive design, SolidWorks expertise, and a strong grasp of design for manufacturing, metrology, and materials

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience required.
• Automotive industry experience and knowledge of suspension products preferred.
• Advanced solid modeling—SolidWorks preferred.
• DFM principles covering machining, sheet metal, casting, welding, stamping, forging, and fabrication.
• Knowledge of FEA, kinematic design, 3D printing, and metrology tools.
• Ability to specify materials and tolerances with calculations.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and prototype projects using engineering principles.
• Create part models and assemblies in CAD.
• Analyze components and perform reverse engineering as needed.
• Focus on manufacturing-friendly designs for efficient production.
• Ensure smooth product launches to production.
• Specify materials, hardness, finishes, and tolerances.
• Perform design-related calculations (strength, fatigue, weight, etc.).
• Participate in cross-functional design reviews.

Skills

3D modeling

SolidWorks

Design for manufacturing

Engineering principles

CAD

Cross-functional collaboration

Calculations & analysis

Metrology tools

FEA

Material specs & tolerances

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Product Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering

Tools

VXelements/Creaform.OS

ERP inventory management systems

Job description

QA1 is seeking a Design Engineer to join our Mooresville, NC team. You will design and prototype components for automotive systems, create CAD models, and ensure manufacturability from concept through production launch.

You’ll perform detailed calculations and collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and quality to deliver robust designs. The ideal candidate has 2–4 years in automotive design, SolidWorks expertise, and a strong grasp of design for manufacturing, metrology, and materials