CAE Durability Engineer

L&T Technology Services; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Leave

Health Insurance

401(K)

Job summary

L&T Technology Services in Charlotte, NC seeks a Durability CAE Tech Specialist to lead the structural durability sign-off for body structures, frames, and EV battery trays before physical prototype builds.

You will oversee full-vehicle dynamic simulations, drive model correlation with proving grounds tests, mentor engineers, and collaborate with design and Road Load teams to set design load targets and apply lessons learned to future architectures.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in structural components and CAE correlation.
• Ability to translate complex simulation data into actionable leadership decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the structural durability and fatigue sign-off for body structures, frames, and EV battery trays before physical prototype builds.
• Oversee complex full-vehicle explicit and implicit dynamic simulations to assess structural resilience.
• Drive alignment between virtual models and physical test results to ensure predictive accuracy.
• Diagnose and resolve durability failures using physics-based approaches from development to production.
• Coach junior engineers and develop new CAE methodologies.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing and Road Load teams to set design load targets and incorporate lessons learned into future vehicle architectures.

Skills

Abaqus/Nastran CAE

Fatigue life prediction

Python scripting

MATLAB scripting

10+ years experience in structural CAE

Tools

ANSA

HyperMesh

HyperView

Meta/Post

Altair PhysicsAI

ANSYS SimAI

Job description

Job Duties for Durability CAE Tech Specialist

Core Responsibilities

• Virtual Sign-off & Validation: Lead the structural durability and fatigue sign-off for critical systems like body structures, frames, and electric vehicle (EV) battery trays before physical prototype builds.
• Advanced Simulation Leadership: Oversee complex, full-vehicle explicit and implicit dynamic simulations (e.g., ground strikes, curb strikes, and cyclic loading) to assess structural resilience.
• Model Correlation: Drive the alignment between virtual simulation models and physical test results from proving grounds or lab rigs to ensure predictive accuracy.
• Root Cause Analysis: Use physics-based principles and simulation data to diagnose and resolve durability failures from early development through production.
• Technical Mentorship: Act as a "subject matter expert" (SME), coaching junior engineers and developing new CAE methodologies.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Engage with design, manufacturing, and "Road Load" teams to develop design load targets and ensure lessons learned are integrated into future vehicle architectures.

Key Technical Skills & Qualifications

• Simulation Software Expertise: Mastery of CAE tools such as Abaqus, Nastran and fatigue solvers like nCode DesignLife or FEMFAT.
• Material Science Knowledge: Deep understanding of fatigue life prediction, plasticity, ductile failure, and metal joining methods (e.g., welding in HSLA steels or cast materials).
• Data Processing: Proficiency in pre-processors ANSA or HyperMesh and Post-processors HyperView or Meta/Post. Familiarity in scripting languages like Python or MATLAB for automation would be a plus.
• Communication & Presentation: Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with a proven ability to translate complex data into clear technical and executive presentations for leadership decision-making
• Experience: Requires 10+ years of experience in structural components and CAE correlation for specialist roles.

Special Considerations:

• Proficiency in applying Reduced Order Modeling (ROM) and Neural Networks to accelerate traditional CAE simulations.
• Experience using AI-driven design tools (e.g., Altair PhysicsAI or Ansys SimAI) to predict stress and strain fields without full solver runs.
• Knowledge of Generative Design algorithms to optimize topology for durability and mass reduction.

The expected salary range for this position is between $100,000 to $105,000 annually. The actual salary may vary based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant Skills/Experience, time in role, base salary of internal peers, prior performance, business line, and geographic/ office location.

Paid Leave, Health Insurance, Group life insurance, Disability, 401(K)