Senior Structural and Dynamics CAE Engineer

PACCAR Technical Center; Mount Vernon (WA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

401(k) match

Paid time off

Education reimbursement

Medical, dental, vision

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

PACCAR is seeking an experienced Senior Structural & Dynamics CAE Engineer to drive innovation in heavy-duty truck development. You will leverage advanced FEA and vehicle dynamics simulation to achieve best-in-class durability, ride quality, handling, and NVH performance.

You will partner with Kenworth and Peterbilt teams, translate complex findings into recommendations, and manage multi-project execution with a focus on electrification and new powertrains.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience required.
• Experience with structural CAE, durability, or vehicle dynamics.
• Experience with nonlinear FEA (ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, or similar).
• Experience with pre/post-processing tools (HyperMesh, HyperView, or equivalent).
• Understanding of fatigue/durability analysis methodologies.
• Experience correlating CAE with test data.

Responsibilities

• Execute comprehensive FEA analysis across components, assemblies, and full-vehicle platforms using ABAQUS, Optistruct, or LSDYNA.
• Develop and validate complex multi-body dynamics models (ADAMS, MotionView, Simpack).
• Perform fatigue and durability life predictions with specialized calculators (nCode, FE-Safe).
• Support model setup, meshing, and post-processing with HyperMesh/HyperView.
• Collaborate with validation teams to define data acquisition plans and review data.
• Own multi-project execution end-to-end, manage resources and timelines.
• Identify risks and adapt to shifting priorities.
• Summarize results into actionable narratives for stakeholders.

Skills

10+ years exp

Structural CAE

Durability

Vehicle dynamics

Nonlinear FEA

Pre/post-processing

Data correlation

Project leadership

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical Eng

Tools

ABAQUS

LS-DYNA

HyperMesh

HyperView

ADAMS

MotionView

Job description

Requisition Summary

The PACCAR Technical Center is seeking an experienced Senior Structural & Dynamics CAE Engineer to drive innovation in heavy-duty truck development. You will leverage advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and vehicle dynamics simulation to deliver best-in-class durability, ride quality, handling, and NVH performance.

In this role, you'll partner directly with Kenworth and Peterbilt engineering teams to predict design viability, validate concepts through simulation-to-test correlation, and translate complex technical findings into actionable recommendations. You'll balance technical excellence with project leadership—managing timelines, and cross-functional resources while staying at the forefront of emerging vehicle technologies (electrification, autonomous systems, alternative fuels).

The ideal candidate combines 7+ years of CAE expertise with strong analytical skills, proven project management ability, and a commitment to continuous process improvement in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Company Information

PACCAR is a Fortune 500 company established in 1905. PACCAR Inc is recognized as a global leader in the commercial vehicle, financial, and customer service fields with internationally recognized brands such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines and also provides customized financial services, information technology and truck parts related to its principal business.

Whether you want to design the transportation technology of tomorrow, support the staff functions of a dynamic, international leader, or build our excellent products and services — you can develop the career you desire with PACCAR.

Job Functions / Responsibilities

• Execute comprehensive FEA analysis across components, assemblies, and full-vehicle platforms using industry-standard tools (ABAQUS, Optistruct, LSDYNA).
• Develop and validate complex multi-body dynamics models (ADAMS, Motionview, Simpack) to support load case development and vehicle dynamics analysis.
• Perform advanced fatigue and durability life predictions using specialized calculators (nCode, FE-Safe) with rigorous correlation to physical testing data.
• Support model setup, meshing, and post-processing activities using HyperMesh/HyperView or similar tools.
• Collaborate with validation teams to define data acquisition plan, review measured data and provide simulation feedback.
• Own multi-project execution end-to-end, coordinating resources, managing dependencies, and ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Proactively identify and mitigate project risks; adapt to shifting priorities and emerging requirements.
• Synthesize simulation results into clear, compelling narratives for engineering stakeholders at all levels.
• Deliver evidence-based design recommendations with quantified trade-offs and risk assessments.
• Author comprehensive technical reports documenting methodology, validation approaches, results, and lessons learned.
• Champion best-in-class simulation practices, identify opportunities to refine correlation methods, tools, and processes.
• Stay current with industry advancements in CAE, AI/ML-assisted optimization, and digital engineering.
• Support development of next-generation vehicle technologies: battery electric vehicles (BEVs), autonomous driving systems, alternative fuel powertrains, and advanced suspension architectures.
  

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience
• Experience with structural CAE, durability, or vehicle dynamics
• Experience with nonlinear FEA (ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, or similar)
• Experience with pre/post-processing tools (HyperMesh, HyperView, or equivalent)
• Understanding of fatigue and durability analysis methodologies
• Experience correlating CAE with test data
  

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Paccar Benefits

• Competitive salary and 401k with up to a 5% company match
• Fully funded pension plan that provides monthly benefits after retirement
• Comprehensive paid time off – Minimum of 10 paid vacation days, 12 paid holidays, and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education
• Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings account (HSA)
• Paid short-and long-term disability program
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• EAP services including wellness plans, estate planning, financial counseling and more
• Global Fortune 500 company with a wide array of growth and development opportunities
• Work alongside experienced goal-oriented colleagues recognized as experts in their field

Additional Job Board Information

PACCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability. At PACCAR, we value talent and promote growth and development. We carefully consider numerous compensation factors, including your education, training, or experience. The salary range for Senior Structural and Dynamics CAE Engineer is $119,100- $186,300 annually. Additionally, this role is eligible for a full range of benefit options listed above. This is also eligible for a holiday gift.