Body Structure Engineer - Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Freedom Motors USA; Battle Creek (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Freedom Motors USA, Inc. in Battle Creek, MI is seeking a skilled Body Structure Engineer to design, validate, and optimize floor structures, frames and chassis components for wheelchair-accessible conversions.

You will move designs from CAD to prototype to production, ensuring crash performance and FMVSS compliance. The role requires a bachelor’s in mechanical/automotive engineering and 3–5+ years BIW/vehicle structural experience, plus proficiency in CATIA, SolidWorks or AutoCAD.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of experience in automotive body-in-white (BIW), body structures, or vehicle structural engineering.
• Proficiency in CAD software such as CATIA, SolidWorks, or AutoCAD.
• Working knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, welding processes, structural adhesives & bonding methods and automotive materials.
• Experience with engineering and quality tools such as FEA, DFA/DFM, DOE, DFMEA/PFMEA, DVP&R, 8D or similar problem solving, GD&T, and tolerance stack-up.
• Understanding of FMVSS standards relating to crash dynamics and vehicle safety testing.
• Sharp problem solving abilities and close attention to detail with clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and able to meet deadlines while under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Design conversion structures. Design and validate body and floor structure designs in CAD, starting with early concepts and physical mock-ups and carrying them through to release.
• Engineer mechanisms and components. Design steel and aluminum parts and moving components like closures, door operators, and ramp mechanisms.
• Ensure compliance. Keep every modification compliant with FMVSS, ADA requirements and safety standards.
• Build and validate. Lead prototype builds, DV/PV, and plan design, purchasing, assembly, and testing needs.
• Bring designs to production. Collaborate with purchasing, parts and production teams to meet cost, quality and timing targets.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Engineering problem solving

Communication skills

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

About Freedom Motors USA

At Freedom Motors USA, we build wheelchair accessible vehicles that give people the independence to go where they want, when they want. Every lowered floor, ramp, and reinforced frame we engineer has a direct effect on someone’s daily life, so we hold our work to the highest standards of safety and quality.

Redefining Mobility Since 1987 —Innovating solutions that open doors to greater freedom and more independence.

Industry-Leading Accessibility — Building the widest range of wheelchair accessible vehicles and changing lives.

Family-Owned, Nationwide Reach — Proudly delivering to driveways across the country from our headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan.

We're hiring a Body Structure Engineer to design, modify, and validate the floor structures, frames and chassis components at the heart of our wheelchair-accessible conversions. You'll take OEM SUVs and minivans and re-engineer them to accommodate wheelchair users while preserving the crash performance, structural integrity and regulatory compliance of the original vehicle. This is a hands-on role where your designs move quickly from CAD to prototype to the production floor.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design conversion structures. Design and validate body and floor structure designs in CAD, starting with early concepts and physical mock‑ups and carrying them through to release. Specify structural adhesive and bonding applications alongside welded joints that hold up in production.
• Engineer mechanisms and components. Select and design steel and aluminum parts that balance vehicle weight, load capacity and structural strength. Engineer complex moving parts such as closures, door operators, suspension modifications and ramp mechanisms that integrate cleanly with modified structures.
• Ensure compliance Keep every modification compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), ADA requirements and mobility industry safety standards.
• Build and validate. Lead prototype builds including design verification (DV) and process verification (PV) builds and coordinate crash testing. Plan design, purchasing, assembly, and testing needs that align with overall project timing and deliverables using Stage Gate/APQP processes.
• Bring designs to production. Partner with our purchasing, parts and production teams to launch designs that meet cost, quality, and timing targets without compromising safety.
• Always improving. Look to standardize parts and designs across vehicle platforms wherever it makes sense. Support root cause investigations, engineering changes and design improvements on vehicles already in production.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of experience in automotive body-in-white (BIW), body structures, or vehicle structural engineering.
• Proficiency in CAD software such as CATIA, SolidWorks, or AutoCAD.
• Working knowledge of sheet metal fabrication, welding processes, structural adhesives & bonding methods and automotive materials.
• Experience with engineering and quality tools such as FEA, DFA/DFM, DOE, DFMEA/PFMEA, DVP&R, 8D or similar problem solving, GD&T, and tolerance stack-up.
• Understanding of FMVSS standards relating to crash dynamics and vehicle safety testing.
• Sharp problem solving abilities and close attention to detail with clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and able to meet deadlines while under pressure.

EXTRAS:

• Prior experience or familiarity with vehicle upfitting, specialty vehicles, or mobility conversions.
• Familiarity with industry relevant FMVSS standards, SAE J2249 securement requirements or the NMEDA Quality Assurance Program (QAP).
• Familiar with ANSYS, LS-DYNA or HyperWorks.

This job description is meant to provide an overview of the duties and responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to be an all inclusive listing.