Junior Vehicle Dynamics Engineer (Ride, Handling & Suspension Tuning)

ALTEN Technology USA; Chelsea (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k) Matching

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Mentorship

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking a Vehicle Dynamics Engineer with 3+ years of experience to join our automotive engineering team. You will develop, tune, and validate suspension, steering, and chassis systems to deliver optimized ride comfort and handling across diverse road conditions.

You will work with simulation and testing teams, perform real-world track testing, analyze data, and collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional groups to bring development vehicles from concept to production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in vehicle dynamics, ride and handling, or chassis development.
• Hands-on experience with suspension tuning, damper optimization, and steering system development.
• Proficiency in vehicle dynamics simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, Adams, CarSim, Simulink).
• Familiarity with vehicle testing methodologies, data acquisition, and analysis tools (e.g., Dewesoft, VBOX, K&C testing).

Responsibilities

• Develop, tune, and validate vehicle suspension, steering, and chassis systems to achieve optimal ride comfort, handling, and stability.
• Conduct subjective and objective evaluations to refine vehicle performance across various road conditions.
• Define and optimize kinematics and compliance targets for vehicle platforms.
• Work closely with simulation and testing teams to refine suspension geometry, damper tuning, and bushing stiffness.
• Conduct real-world vehicle testing, including track and road evaluations, to assess ride and handling characteristics.
• Utilize simulation tools to predict vehicle behavior and guide design improvements.
• Plan and execute track tests, instrumented measurements, and driver evaluations to assess vehicle dynamics performance.
• Analyze data from testing tools and collaborate with test engineers to validate improvements.
• Interface with suppliers, test facilities, and other teams to drive development from concept to production.
• Support prototype builds and development vehicles with tuning and validation activities.

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.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled Vehicle Dynamics Engineer specializing in ride, handling, and suspension tuning to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing, optimizing, and validating vehicle ride and handling characteristics to deliver superior driving dynamics and customer experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, tune, and validate vehicle suspension, steering, and chassis systems to achieve optimal ride comfort, handling, and stability.
• Conduct subjective and objective evaluations to refine vehicle performance across various road conditions.
• Define and optimize kinematics and compliance targets for vehicle platforms.

Suspension Tuning & Calibration

• Work closely with simulation and testing teams to refine suspension geometry, damper tuning, and bushing stiffness.
• Conduct real-world vehicle testing, including track and road evaluations, to assess ride and handling characteristics.
• Utilize simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, Adams, CarSim) to predict vehicle behavior and guide design improvements.

Testing & Validation

• Plan and execute track tests, instrumented measurements, and driver evaluations to assess vehicle dynamics performance.
• Analyze data from various testing tools, such as K&C rigs, 7-post rigs, and accelerometers.
• Collaborate with test engineers to validate performance improvements and troubleshoot dynamic issues.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Development

• Work closely with chassis, steering, brakes, and aerodynamics teams to ensure holistic vehicle dynamics performance.
• Interface with suppliers, test facilities, and other engineering teams to drive development from concept to production.
• Support prototype builds and development vehicles with tuning and validation activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in vehicle dynamics, ride and handling, or chassis development.
• Hands-on experience with suspension tuning, damper optimization, and steering system development.
• Proficiency in vehicle dynamics simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, Adams, CarSim, Simulink).
• Familiarity with vehicle testing methodologies, data acquisition, and analysis tools (e.g., Dewesoft, VBOX, K&C testing).
• Strong understanding of chassis kinematics, compliance, and tire behavior.
• Experience in track testing, subjective evaluation, and performance validation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced development environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers in a vehicle dynamics role.
• Background in motorsports, high-performance vehicle development, or electric vehicles.
• Familiarity with driving simulators, driver-in-the-loop testing, and advanced control systems.
• Strong communication skills with experience in presenting technical findings to cross-functional teams.

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.