Mechanical Design Engineer II – Off-Road Suspension

AccuTune Off-Road, Inc; El Cajon (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

Dental premium coverage

401(k) with company contributions

Paid holidays

Job summary

AccuTune Off-Road, Inc. is seeking an experienced mechanical engineer to own suspension-product projects from requirements through production release.

You will define design requirements, develop concepts for shocks and arms, and validate designs with testing and manufacturing feedback. You will coordinate with engineering and suppliers, perform FEA and hand calculations, and drive robust designs with GD&T and solid data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• At least two years of relevant product-design experience, or equivalent demonstrated capability owning mechanical products.
• Strong SolidWorks skills, including complex parts, assemblies, drawings, configurations, and revision control.
• Practical knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, statics, strength of materials, fatigue, FEA, and physical validation.
• Experience with machining, welding, forging, sheet-metal fabrication, rubber or plastic molding, and production assembly.
• Hands-on experience building prototypes, installing suspension components, operating test equipment, or fabricating parts.
• Ability to structure ambiguous problems, identify risks, document assumptions, and make sound engineering decisions.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication and effective project and time management.
• Knowledge of off-road suspension systems and common platforms is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own suspension-product projects from requirements and concept selection through validation, documentation, and production release.
• Define design requirements through OEM benchmarking, calculations, application needs, test data, field information, and company standards.
• Develop concepts and detailed designs for shock absorbers, control arms, link arms, springs, bump stops, brackets, and related products.
• Create production-ready 3D models, assemblies, drawings, specifications, tolerance stacks, and bills of materials in SolidWorks using GD&T.
• Evaluate strength, fatigue, motion, tolerance, and failure risks using hand calculations, FEA, and established engineering methods.
• Plan and execute prototype, laboratory, pull, durability, and component-validation testing using established procedures.
• Lead design iterations based on analysis, test results, vehicle fitment, manufacturing feedback, and field performance.
• Coordinate with Applications Engineering on geometry, packaging, vehicle-level requirements, fitment, and performance validation.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering and suppliers on DFM, tooling, process capability, inspection, and production launch.
• Maintain project scope, priorities, schedules, risks, decisions, revisions, and technical documentation.

Skills

Two years design experience

Hands-on prototyping

Mechanical engineering background

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

GD&T

FEA

Job description

Founded in 2015, AccuTune Off-Road was built on a simple idea: provide the highest-quality suspension products backed by unmatched technical knowledge and customer service. We specialize in premium off-road suspension systems for Toyota, Jeep, Ford, Chevy, and Ram trucks and SUVs, combining leading products with custom shock tuning to deliver exceptional ride quality and performance. Building on that foundation, we launched Ride Shocks, our own line of premium shock absorbers and suspension components designed from the ground up to raise the standard for the off-road industry. As we grow, we are expanding our product lines and manufacturing capabilities.

How You Can Help Us Grow

About AccuTune Off Road and Ride Shocks

Founded in 2015, AccuTune Off-Road was built on a simple idea: provide the highest-quality suspension products backed by unmatched technical knowledge and customer service. We specialize in premium off-road suspension systems for Toyota, Jeep, Ford, Chevy, and Ram trucks and SUVs, combining leading products with custom shock tuning to deliver exceptional ride quality and performance. Building on that foundation, we launched Ride Shocks, our own line of premium shock absorbers and suspension components designed from the ground up to raise the standard for the off-road industry. As we grow, we are expanding our product lines and manufacturing capabilities.

Ride Shocks is in an exciting stage of growth. We have launched our own premium suspension products and are expanding into new shock absorbers, control arms, link arms, springs, bump stops, and related components. We are looking for an experienced engineer who can independently turn product goals into durable, manufacturable products.

You will own normal product-development projects from requirements through production release. A typical project may include benchmarking an OEM control arm, defining load and geometry requirements with Applications Engineering, designing the new arm, validating it through FEA and pull testing, resolving fitment issues, and supporting production launch. There is little bureaucracy, and you will have meaningful influence over both the product and the process used to develop it.

About You

You are a mechanically minded engineer who enjoys combining analysis with hands-on development. You are comfortable moving between CAD, calculations, the test fixture, a supplier discussion, and a vehicle in the shop.

You can be given a product objective and determine how to solve it using established company standards and work instructions. You identify requirements and risks before jumping into details, make defensible technical decisions, and communicate tradeoffs clearly.

You have a genuine interest in off-road vehicles and understand the durability, packaging, serviceability, and performance challenges suspension products face in demanding environments.

What Success Looks Like

Success means independently delivering normal engineering projects from a defined business or product objective through production release. Your designs meet performance, strength, fitment, cost, and manufacturing requirements; analysis and testing support your decisions; schedules remain visible and controlled; and problems are raised early. You seek review for high-risk decisions without requiring frequent technical direction for routine work.

Benefits and Career Advancement

This position provides a path to Design Engineer III. Advancement requires more than completing additional projects. A Level III engineer defines approaches for ambiguous or unusually complex programs, establishes new technical standards and methods, leads difficult design reviews and root-cause investigations, and improves the capability of other engineers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Own suspension-product projects from requirements and concept selection through validation, documentation, and production release.
• Define design requirements through OEM benchmarking, calculations, application needs, test data, field information, and company standards.
• Develop concepts and detailed designs for shock absorbers, control arms, link arms, springs, bump stops, brackets, and related products.
• Create production-ready 3D models, assemblies, drawings, specifications, tolerance stacks, and bills of materials in SolidWorks using GD&T.
• Evaluate strength, fatigue, motion, tolerance, and failure risks using hand calculations, FEA, and established engineering methods.
• Plan and execute prototype, laboratory, pull, durability, and component-validation testing using established procedures.
• Lead design iterations based on analysis, test results, vehicle fitment, manufacturing feedback, and field performance.
• Coordinate with Applications Engineering on geometry, packaging, vehicle-level requirements, fitment, and performance validation.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering and suppliers on DFM, tooling, process capability, inspection, and production launch.
• Maintain project scope, priorities, schedules, risks, decisions, revisions, and technical documentation.

Skills and Knowledge Required

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• At least two years of relevant product-design experience, or equivalent demonstrated capability owning mechanical products.
• Demonstrated ability to independently move a mechanical product from requirements through design, validation, and production release.
• Strong SolidWorks skills, including complex parts, assemblies, drawings, configurations, and revision control.
• Practical knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, statics, strength of materials, fatigue, FEA, and physical validation.
• Experience with machining, welding, forging, sheet-metal fabrication, rubber or plastic molding, and production assembly.
• Hands-on experience building prototypes, installing suspension components, operating test equipment, or fabricating parts.
• Ability to structure ambiguous problems, identify risks, document assumptions, and make sound engineering decisions.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication and effective project and time management.
• Knowledge of off-road suspension systems and common Toyota, Jeep, Ford, Chevy, and Ram platforms is strongly preferred.

What AccuTune Offers

Base salary: $95,000-$125,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience

Health care: Kaiser Bronze 60 HMO 5800/60, with 80% of the employee premium paid by AccuTune

Additional medical options: Kaiser Silver 70 HMO 2500/55 and Gold 80 HMO 1000/40; employee pays the difference in premium

Dental: AccuTune pays 50% of the monthly premium for Delta Dental PPO Advantage 400

401(k): 3% company contribution, 100% vested, with no employee contribution required; Traditional and Roth contributions available

Paid holidays: 7 days per year

Vacation: 15 days per year, increasing by 1 day per year up to 20 days

Sick leave: 40 hours per year after the introductory period

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: 9448 Bond Avenue, El Cajon, California

Reports to: President

Employment Requirements

• Examples of relevant engineering work or a project portfolio
• Successful background check, reference check, and pre-employment drug test
• Valid California driver's license with a clean driving record
• Ability to safely operate company and customer vehicles
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and work safely around vehicles, lifts, tools, and test equipment
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods and move regularly between the office, shop, and vehicles