Senior CATIA V5 Mechanical Designer / Checker - Body-in-White (BIW) Tooling & Transfer Systems
Location: Southfield, MI
Travel: 5-20% (Domestic & International as Required)
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior CATIA V5 Mechanical Designer / Checker with a strong background in Body-in-White (BIW) tooling, transfer systems, and fixture design. This position is focused on automotive body shop automation and requires hands-on experience designing and checking tooling for production environments.
Responsibilities
- Design and check Body-in-White (BIW) tooling using CATIA V5
- Develop detailed 3D models and 2D manufacturing drawings
- Design transfer systems and tooling fixtures for automotive body shops
- Modify existing tooling and develop new mechanical designs for simple to complex systems
- Create kit sheets illustrating design revisions and modifications
- Review customer specifications, sketches, and engineering data to ensure design accuracy
- Apply North American automotive standards and customer specifications throughout the design process
- Coordinate with Project Engineers, Technical Leaders, Mechanical Engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing teams
- Support supplier integration, purchased components, and imported CAD models
- Participate in installation, startup, debugging, and final equipment acceptance as needed
Required Qualifications
- Approximately 8+ years of mechanical design experience
- Expert proficiency with CATIA V5
- Extensive experience with Body-in-White (BIW) tooling
- Strong background in Transfer System Design & Coordination
Experience designing:
- GEO Systems
- Framing Lines
- Bodyside Systems
- Sub-Assembly Fixtures
- Tooling Fixtures
- Transfer Systems
Knowledge of:
- North American automotive standards
- Body assembly geometry
- Fixture tooling
- Tool stack-up methodology
- Auto assembly strategies
- Part flow through body shops
- Pallet systems
- Robot systems
Experience importing and coordinating purchased components including:
- Weld Guns
- End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT)
- Switches
- Supplier Models
Familiarity with:
- NAAMS Standards
- Customer CAD Standards
- CAD attributes
- CAD checking procedures
- Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate Degree in Mechanical Technology or equivalent experience
- Additional experience with Powertrain automation projects
- Understanding of mechanical design sequences and controls documentation
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
- Ability to interpret customer specifications and technical documentation
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes and mechanical systems
- Ability to work independently and within cross-functional engineering teams
Travel
Domestic and international travel may be required (approximately 5-20%) to support equipment installation, startup, commissioning, and customer acceptance.
Ideal Backgrounds
- Body-in-White (BIW)
- Automotive Tooling
- Automation Systems
- Transfer Systems
- Tooling Fixtures
- Machine Building
- Automotive Assembly Equipment
- CATIA V5 Mechanical Design