CAD Design Team Lead – BIW / Aluminum

ALTEN Technology USA; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off

Paid parental leave

Mentorship

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking a highly experienced CAD Design Team Lead with strong BIW and aluminum structure expertise. You will provide technical direction, lead vehicle design activities, and collaborate with design, CAE, manufacturing, and supplier teams to ensure robust, production-ready designs.

The role focuses on leading vehicle programs, driving design-for-manufacturing feasibility, and mentoring CAD engineers across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Automotive, or related Engineering discipline.
• 15+ years automotive design engineering experience, preferably BIW.
• Strong BIW design and development expertise.
• Extensive experience with aluminum vehicle structures.
• Understanding of manufacturing feasibility and Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
• Knowledge of aluminum sheet metal forming, joining, welding, riveting, adhesive bonding, and assembly processes.
• Strong automotive CAD experience, preferably CATIA V5 or Siemens NX.
• Experience working with cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, CAE, and supplier teams.
• Proven ability to provide technical leadership on complex vehicle programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead CAD design and development activities for BIW and aluminum vehicle structures.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to CAD/design engineers.
• Develop and review 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings.
• Ensure designs meet vehicle-level requirements for performance, packaging, weight, cost, and manufacturability.
• Evaluate manufacturing feasibility of BIW and aluminum components.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and process engineering teams to identify and resolve DFM issues.
• Provide expertise in aluminum sheet metal design, forming, joining, and assembly processes.
• Review design concepts and provide technical recommendations throughout the vehicle development process.
• Support design reviews with cross-functional engineering and customer teams.
• Identify potential design risks and drive technical solutions to closure.
• Coordinate with CAE teams to incorporate simulation results into the design.
• Support engineering changes, design optimization, and issue resolution.
• Ensure CAD deliverables, design standards, and engineering documentation are maintained accurately.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Design for Manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive Engineering

Tools

CATIA V5

Siemens NX

Job description

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company that provides solutions for engineering, technology, and product development projects. For decades, we’ve been helping our clients develop products that are changing the world, whether that’s by shaping the future of space exploration, saving lives with medical devices that set a new standard of care, or creating the fully autonomous electric taxi of tomorrow. Our team of more than 600 people works across industries including aerospace, medical devices and life sciences, unmanned systems and robotics, automotive OEM and tier 1 suppliers, commercial vehicle, electric vehicles, rail, and more. Our offices across the US have different industry focuses and engage with our clients in different ways, ranging from working on-site at client facilities to performing product development at our delivery centers.

ALTEN Group, our parent company, has been a leader in engineering and information technology for more than 30 years. ALTEN Group operates in 30 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East and employs more than 36,000 people, 88% of whom are engineers. The company covers the whole development cycle and offers a choice of service levels, from technology consulting to complete project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you join a group of people passionate about collaborating to solve some of the world’s most technical engineering challenges. Our success is tied to taking care of our employees by building relationships and providing opportunities for mentorship and career growth. We offer comprehensive benefits for all full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan with employer matching; paid time off (PTO); paid parental leave; and mentorship to help you take your career to the next level. You don’t have to take our word for it that we are a great place to work—we were named on the 2023 Top Workplaces list thanks to feedback from our proud employees.

We are seeking a highly experienced CAD Design Team Lead with strong expertise in BIW, aluminum structures, and automotive manufacturing feasibility. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience leading vehicle design activities and providing technical direction on complex automotive body structures.The role will support the development of an aluminum-intensive vehicle program and will work closely with design, CAE, manufacturing, and supplier teams to ensure robust, feasible, and production-ready designs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead CAD design and development activities for BIW and aluminum vehicle structures.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to CAD/design engineers.
• Develop and review 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings.
• Ensure designs meet vehicle-level requirements for performance, packaging, weight, cost, and manufacturability.
• Evaluate manufacturing feasibility of BIW and aluminum components.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and process engineering teams to identify and resolve design-for-manufacturing issues.
• Provide expertise in aluminum sheet metal design, forming, joining, and assembly processes.
• Review design concepts and provide technical recommendations throughout the vehicle development process.
• Support design reviews with cross‑f​unctional engineering and customer teams.
• Identify potential design risks and drive technical solutions to closure.
• Coordinate with CAE teams to incorporate simulation results into the design.
• Support engineering changes, design optimization, and issue resolution.
• Ensure CAD deliverables, design standards, and engineering documentation are maintained accurately.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Automotive, or related Engineering discipline.
• 15+ years of automotive design engineering experience, preferably with significant BIW experience.
• Strong expertise in BIW design and development.
• Extensive experience with aluminum vehicle structures.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing feasibility and Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
• Knowledge of aluminum sheet metal forming, joining, welding, riveting, adhesive bonding, and assembly processes.
• Strong automotive CAD experience, preferably with CATIA V5 or Siemens NX.
• Experience working with cross‑functional engineering, manufacturing, CAE, and supplier teams.
• Proven ability to provide technical leadership on complex vehicle programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with aluminum-intensive vehicle programs.
• Experience working with BIW suppliers and manufacturing teams.
• Knowledge of GD&T and tolerance stack-up.
• Experience with vehicle‑level packaging and integration.
• Strong communication, technical review, and leadership skills.

ALTEN Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our Policy is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status.