Senior Automotive Engineer

ZipRecruiter; New Orleans (LA); Remote; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Automotive Engineer to lead innovative design solutions in the heavy vehicle sector. This role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and direct engagement with Original Equipment Manufacturers to ensure project success. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in automotive design, strong leadership qualities, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. With responsibilities ranging from design oversight to stakeholder engagement, this position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to significant projects while working remotely in the US with quarterly travel to Australia. Join a dynamic team where your expertise will drive impactful results!

Qualifications

• 5+ years in senior automotive engineering, expert in heavy vehicles.
• Degree in a relevant engineering field required.

Responsibilities

• Analyze customer requirements for automotive and land mobility.
• Lead design and integration activities ensuring compliance.

Skills

Heavy Vehicle Automotive Design

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Leadership

Communication

Education

Degree in Engineering

Tools

Design Software

Simulation Tools

Project Management Methodologies

Job description

Job Description

Role Title:

Senior Automotive Engineer

Operating Division:

Maritime

Location:

US Remote - Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia

Direct Manager:

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Primary Position Purpose:

This Senior Automotive Engineer role is primarily an Engineering and Integration design position reporting to the Senior Mechanical Engineer within the Birdon Project Delivery Team in Australia. This position leads automotive design activities and engagement with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), providing guidance and ensuring the integrity, compliance, and effectiveness of technical and design solutions related to Automotive and Land Mobility scopes within our defence design and production project. Responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of Automotive Systems and Land Mobility scope delivery, leading and coaching the team, and collaborating with other team members to ensure scope delivery aligns with project outcomes.

The role involves close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to deliver solutions that meet operational requirements, adhere to industry standards, and align with project objectives.

Birdon employees understand their key domains and objectives upon joining, but are encouraged to contribute beyond their titles or functions, leveraging their skills to support team goals and add value across the organization.

The qualified candidate will work in the US, reporting to the Senior Mechanical Engineer in Port Macquarie, Australia. The role requires quarterly travel to Australia and applicants must be US citizens with a valid passport.

Key Accountabilities:

The key responsibilities include:

• Analyzing customer requirements and leading development, design, and integration activities for automotive and land mobility, ensuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, and technical standards.
• Providing expert guidance on heavy vehicle automotive design and engineering, interfacing with marine engineering, systems integration, and related disciplines to support design decisions and resolve complex technical challenges.
• Identifying, assessing, and mitigating design risks to protect project timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Acting as the primary technical contact with subcontractors, regulators, and vendors, addressing design inquiries and fostering collaboration.
• Evaluating proposed design changes, assessing impacts, and managing their implementation according to change control procedures.
• Maintaining comprehensive documentation of design decisions, rationale, and specifications for traceability and knowledge transfer.
• Providing feedback and escalation pathways for team members.
• Leading and coordinating heavy vehicle automotive design and technical issue resolution.
• Managing defence client interfaces and relationships where applicable.
• Collaborating with the Technical Services Enterprise Team to establish and maintain design assurance processes, drive innovation, and support team development through mentoring and leadership, including managing and coaching the Mechanical Systems team to meet project deadlines and strategic goals.

Qualifications / Skills / Experience

Essential:

• At least 5 years of proven experience in a senior automotive engineering role, considered an expert in heavy vehicle automotive industry.
• Degree qualification in a relevant engineering field.
• 10 years of heavy vehicle design experience.

Desirable:

• Experience with amphibious vehicle design.
• In-depth knowledge of regulations, standards, and best practices for heavy vehicle design and construction.
• Experience in defence contracting, understanding military and government project standards.
• Professional certifications or memberships (e.g., Chartered Engineer, Royal Institution of Naval Architects).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Formal training in leadership, organizational change management, and behavior.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership abilities, with a proven track record of stakeholder engagement and team leadership.
• Ability to develop system documents, process standards, and high-level reports.
• Familiarity with design software, simulation tools, and project management methodologies.
• Proactive approach with strong commercial aptitude and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop technical documents, manuals, and drawings.

Relationships:

This role requires strong relationships across Engineering, Project Delivery, and Business Development teams to ensure project success. It also involves leadership within the Technical Services team, supporting scope delivery and team management. Effective collaboration with customers, stakeholders, project managers, engineering peers, and suppliers is essential to meet company objectives.