Engineer - Vehicle Architecture

Magna International; Troy, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Magna International in Troy, MI, is seeking an Engineer - Vehicle Architect to lead vehicle-level architecture, packaging, integration, and technical convergence from concept through production release. You will coordinate cross-functional teams across styling, engineering, CAD and PLM to ensure robust, production-ready architectures.

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and 5+ years in vehicle architecture or related automotive development, with strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, mechatronics or related field.
• 5+ years of vehicle architecture, integration, packaging or related automotive product development.
• Experience leading cross-functional development of vehicle systems from concept through production release.
• Proficiency with CATIA V5, CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE, NX or equivalent 3D CAD; ENOVIA PLM experience.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-up, DFM/DFA, BOM and change management, DFMEA, DVP&R and validation processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and maintenance of vehicle architecture, packaging, system interfaces, hard points, zones, clearances and integration requirements.
• Translate product, customer, styling, sensor, structural, thermal and regulatory requirements into balanced vehicle-level solutions.
• Own cross-system compatibility and identify architecture risks, interface gaps and requirement conflicts early.
• Guide packaging and integration of mechanical systems, structures, mounting hardware, enclosures, trim, sensors and thermal hardware.
• Use judgment and trade-off analysis to balance functional, manufacturability and serviceability needs.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams on quotations, design reviews and production readiness.

Skills

CATIA V5

CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE

NX

GD&T

DFMEA

DVP&R

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

ENOVIA PLM

Job description

Job descriptions may display in multiple languages based on your language selection. What we offer: At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are.

Group Summary:

As an engineering and manufacturing partner, Magna’s Complete Vehicle group helps traditional OEMs and new entrants to bring their automotive visions to life. At Magna, you will work in an innovative, international and dynamic team, always pursuing the goal of delivering high-quality products. We work in a diverse environment with global development opportunities. Together with our employees we constantly strive to create a better world of mobility.

Job Responsibilities:

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Engineer - Vehicle Architect leads vehicle-level architecture, packaging, integration, and technical convergence activities across complete vehicle development programs. The role translates customer, styling, regulatory, manufacturing, serviceability, geometrical and functional requirements into an integrated vehicle solution from concept through prototype, validation, production release, and launch. This position provides cross-functional technical leadership across vehicle systems and interfaces, coordinating styling, product engineering, CAD, PLM, manufacturing, suppliers, and program management. The Engineer - Vehicle Architect maintains vehicle-level design integrity, drives resolution of interface conflicts, and ensures released solutions meet program objectives and production readiness requirements.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Responsibility Vehicle Architecture & Integration

• Lead development and maintenance of vehicle architecture, package layouts, system interfaces, hard points, zones, clearances, and integration requirements.
• Translate product, customer, styling, sensor, structural, thermal, manufacturing, ergonomic, service, and regulatory requirements into balanced vehicle-level solutions.
• Own cross-system compatibility and identify architecture risks, interface gaps, and requirement conflicts early in the development process.
• Guide packaging and integration of mechanical systems, structures, mounting hardware, enclosures, trim, sensors, cleaning systems, and thermal hardware.
• Use vehicle-level judgment and trade-off analysis to balance functional, manufacturability and serviceability requirements.

Styling & Technical Convergence

• Coordinate styling and engineering convergence for exterior and interior content, including A-, B-, and C-class surface development and data maturity.
• Define visualization, digital review, and physical evaluation scopes, including data status, releases, control models, and cubing activities.
• Lead step, gap, flushness, clearance, and interface target setting with styling, engineering, and tolerance-management teams.
• Resolve conflicts between design intent and technical feasibility, and support acceptance of styling data for production-tool release.

Design Development, Release & Configuration

• Lead or coordinate vehicle integration concepts, CAD assemblies, interface documentation, and engineering data packages.
• Ensure released CAD and PLM data accurately represents approved design intent, package requirements, subsystem interfaces, and program configuration.
• Support Design engineering changes thru design maturity reviews, and configuration control through the product-development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with design and release engineers to ensure assigned systems are production-ready and fully integrated at vehicle level.

Program Planning, Validation & Technical Governance

• Support vehicle, system, subsystem, and component compliance, ensuring that geometric and functional requirements, along with regulatory, manufacturing, and timing targets, are clearly defined, achievable, and incorporated into engineering plans
• Support program resource planning, budget development, technical status reporting, milestone reviews, and coordination of external engineering work packages.
• Ensure vehicle-level risks, interfaces, and use cases are addressed through DFMEA, DVP&R, tolerance analysis, validation planning, and technical reviews.
• Support as required test & validation activities (i.e., correlation of vehicle/system physical build with virtual development, root cause analysis, verified clash conditions, etc.)
• Maintain architecture decisions, assumptions, open issues, lessons learned, and technical documentation throughout the program.

Supplier, Manufacturing & Vehicle Build Support

• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams on quotations, design reviews, DFMEA/DFM, material and process selection, tooling concepts, production feasibility, and readiness.
• Provide vehicle-level technical support during Alpha, Beta, Pilot, and Production builds, serving as an escalation point for integration and interface issues.
• Lead root-cause analysis, containment, deviation management, corrective action, and engineering-change implementation for build and validation concerns.
• Capture production and field learnings and incorporate proven improvements into current and future vehicle architectures.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead architecture, convergence, packaging, and technical decision forums with customers, program management, styling, engineering disciplines, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers.
• Communicate vehicle design status, risks, trade-offs, decisions, timing impacts, and required actions clearly to technical and business stakeholders.
• Escalate unresolved architecture risks and target deviations early, with fact-based recommendations and recovery actions.
• Promote common methods, engineering best practices, technical knowledge transfer, and continuous improvement across global teams.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Automotive Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; master's degree preferred.
• 5+ years of vehicle architecture, vehicle integration, packaging, styling convergence, complete vehicle development, or closely related automotive product-development experience.
• Experience leading cross-functional development of mechanical, structural, trim, thermal, or vehicle integration systems from concept through production release.
• Experience with complete vehicle programs, prototype and production builds, validation, suppliers, manufacturing organizations, and engineering release processes.
• Proficiency with CATIA V5, CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE, NX, or equivalent 3D CAD; experience with ENOVIA or an equivalent PLM system.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-up, DFM/DFA, BOM and change management, DFMEA, DVP&R, root-cause analysis, and automotive launch processes.
• Strong understanding of vehicle packaging, system interfaces, manufacturing processes, material applications, and production-feasibility considerations.

YOUR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in styling convergence or studio engineering support, including surface maturity and physical or digital vehicle evaluation.
• Experience with RAMSIS, CAVA, ICEM Surf, CAE tools, or similar vehicle architecture and visualization applications is a plus.
• Experience supporting the development and launch of emerging mobility technologies, including ADAS, EVs, and related systems.
• Experience guiding technical personnel and coordinating global engineering teams.

Awareness, Unity, Empowerment: At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity.

Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.

AI-Assisted Screening Disclosure

As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies. Under conditions defined by applicable law, you may have the right to request an explanation of how AI is used to support decision-making. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact our Talent Attraction team.

Worker Type: Regular / Permanent Group: Magna Steyr

We see a future where everyone can live and move without limitations. That’s why we are developing technologies, systems and concepts that make vehicles safer and cleaner, while serving our communities, the planet and, above all, people. In the right environment, your ideas can turn into industry-changing automotive technologies and improve the lives of people around the world. Let's create the future of mobility, together.

Learn more about us: Sustainability Innovation Interview-Tips