Senior Steering Wheel Engineer

Zobility; Southfield (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Zobility is seeking a Sr. Engineer, Restraint System – Steering Wheels to lead the design release and development of steering wheel safety components from concept through production.

You will collaborate with Design Studio, NVH, UX, Digital, and Interior teams, manage Tier 1 suppliers, support integration, crash testing, and homologation activities, and drive ownership across the full product lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of automotive product development experience, preferably with steering wheels or restraint systems.
• Experience supporting a product or vehicle program through full development lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of mechanics of materials, material properties and selection, kinematics, and failure analysis.
• Knowledge of metal forming, stamping, and plastic injection molding processes and related design rules.
• Experience using GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis (ASME/ISO).
• Basic understanding of electronics and automotive networking.
• CAD proficiency to review packaging, interfaces, and engineering modifications.
• Ability to manage suppliers and drive technical solutions with timely deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design release of steering wheels throughout the product lifecycle, including spec development, sourcing, packaging, drawing release, validation, and post-SOP maintenance.
• Collaborate with Design Studio, NVH, UX, Digital, and Interior Engineering to balance performance, mass, and cost.
• Manage Tier 1 suppliers for development and program timing; act as primary interface.
• Support restraint system integration and collaborate with CAE teams to optimize designs.
• Assist with crash testing and vehicle homologation; ensure components are ready for testing.
• Drive engineering ownership from concept through production launch and ongoing support.

Skills

Automotive product development

Steering wheel knowledge

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Engineering problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD

GD&T

Tolerance stack-up analysis

Job description

We are currently seeking a Sr. Engineer, Restraint System – Steering Wheels. This position requires an excellent understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals and prior experience in automotive engineering. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, ownership, technical curiosity, and a desire to work in a fast-paced product development environment

This is a unique opportunity to own steering wheel development from concept through production while partnering with design, engineering, safety, and supplier teams to deliver innovative solutions that enhance vehicle safety, quality, and user experience.

The Role

• Perform the design release of steering wheels throughout the entire product lifecycle, including system specification development, sourcing, packaging, drawing release, design validation, manufacturing support, and post-SOP maintenance.
• Work closely with Design Studio, Attributes (NVH, UX), Digital, and Interior Engineering teams to develop optimal solutions balancing performance, mass, and cost.
• Manage Tier 1 suppliers for engineering development and program timing while serving as the primary supplier interface.
• Support restraint system integration activities and collaborate with CAE teams to optimize component design.
• Support crash testing and vehicle homologation activities, ensuring components are available and validated for testing needs.
• Drive engineering ownership through all phases of development, from concept through production launch and ongoing support.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of automotive product development experience, preferably with steering wheels, restraint systems, interior systems, automotive mechatronics, or related components.
• Experience supporting at least one product or vehicle program through the complete development lifecycle from concept through production launch.
• Strong understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals, including:
• Mechanics of materials
• Material properties and material selection
• Kinematics
• Failure analysis and root cause investigation
• Application of engineering fundamentals to solve technical challenges
• Knowledge of metal forming, stamping, and plastic injection molding processes, including associated design rules.
• Experience using GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis (ASME or ISO standards).
• Basic understanding of electronics and automotive networking.
• CAD proficiency with the ability to review packaging, check interfaces, and make engineering modifications as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to manage suppliers, drive technical solutions, and ensure timely delivery of engineering deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.