Mechanical Design Principal Engineer - Chassis

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.; Raymond (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

401K with company match

Relocation assistance

Paid time off

Disability benefits

Job summary

American Honda Motor Company, Inc. seeks a seasoned engineering leader to provide technical leadership and management for a Powersports design function, guiding output, supervising teams, and delivering high-quality specifications, designs, and development results.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in powersports or automotive, 2+ years of supervisory experience, strong CAD/CAE, leadership, and communication skills, and thrives in a global, cross-functional environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical or related field).
• Equivalent experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Direct and approve engineering output by reviewing design specifications, calculations, drawings, and documentation to ensure accuracy, quality, and alignment with targets.
• Lead technical problem solving for development and mass production issues, driving root cause analysis, countermeasures, and risk mitigation.
• Lead, supervise, and contribute within a design team to realize development deliverables across multiple concurrent projects.
• Assign and balance workload, priorities, and resources to achieve development schedules and business targets.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to develop team capability and ensure consistent output quality.
• Drive effective communication within the function and across other functions/ departments to resolve issues, align expectations, and ensure smooth execution.
• Represent the function in discussions with management, suppliers, and global affiliates to advocate technical direction and resource needs.
• Grow technical capability through knowledge sharing, mentorship, and development of best practices.
• Improve design processes, tools, and methods to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability (e.g., PDCA, recurrence prevention).
• Promote cross-functional learning and adoption of standardized engineering practices.
• Lead hiring and performance evaluation processes to maintain a capable and balanced organization. Support workforce planning process.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Mentoring

Interpersonal communication

Presentation skills

Problem solving

CAD software

CAE principles

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD software

CAE software

Microsoft Office

Job description

What Makes a Honda, Is Who Makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

Provide technical leadership and management for a Powersports design function by guiding engineering output, supervising team execution, and ensuring delivery of high-quality specifications, designs, and development results. This role integrates technical expertise with organizational leadership to achieve business objectives, advance product development, maintain global quality standards, and strengthen overall engineering capability.

Key Accountabilities

• Direct and approve engineering output by reviewing design specifications, calculations, drawings, and documentation to ensure accuracy, quality, and alignment with targets.
• Lead technical problem solving for development and mass production issues, driving root cause analysis, countermeasures, and risk mitigation.
• Lead, supervise, and contribute within a design team to realize development deliverables across multiple concurrent projects.
• Assign and balance workload, priorities, and resources to achieve development schedules and business targets.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to develop team capability and ensure consistent output quality.
• Drive effective communication within the function and across other functions/ departments to resolve issues, align expectations, and ensure smooth execution.
• Represent the function in discussions with management, suppliers, and global affiliates to advocate technical direction and resource needs.
• Grow technical capability through knowledge sharing, mentorship, and development of best practices.
• Improve design processes, tools, and methods to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability (e.g., PDCA, recurrence prevention).
• Promote cross-functional learning and adoption of standardized engineering practices.
• Lead hiring and performance evaluation processes to maintain a capable and balanced organization. Support workforce planning process.
• Assist in establishing team and individual goals aligned with business objectives.
• Contribute to management activities such as planning, policy adherence, and operational continuity when needed.

Qualifications, Experience, And Skills

Minimum Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering for relevant field. (eg: Mechanical).
• Equivalent experience may be considered.

Minimum Experience

• 8+ Years related work experience preferably in Powersports or Automotive field
• 2+ Years supervisory/project leadership in a similar organization.

Other Job-Specific Skills

• Capable at providing direction to direct reports according to established policies and management guidelines.
• Strong leadership, coaching and mentoring skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to interact/communicate effectively with staff/management in a global organization.
• Able to resolve conflict and lead crucial conversations.
• Must be able to operate with high level of confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Powerpoint, Word, Outlook).
• Competent in FTA, FMEA, dimensional tolerance stack-ups and application.
• Competent analytical, problem solving, judgement, decision-making and prioritization.
• Competent drawing and layout skills/techniques using CAD software, including understanding of CAE principles.
• Competent in creating a plan and schedule.
• Competent in understand product development schedules.

Working Conditions

• Travel: Average of 3-5 times annually. Amount varies based on project demands/responsibilities, conferences, etc; includes possible overseas travel.
• Physical: Primarily works at a desk or scope; frequent keyboarding. Limited kneeling, standing, squatting, reaching or bending.
• Hazards: Risks found in a typical office & shop setting. May be exposed to explosives/flammables, pressurized equipment, toxic chemicals and moving parts.
• Overtime: Overtime expected based on project demands/responsibilities.
• Maintains professional conduct and follows all departmental, safety DEPARTMENT, and COMPANY policies, Procedures, AND rules.

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued learning
• Training and Development Programs

Additional Offerings

• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.