Senior Vehicle Applications Engineer

Blue Bird Corporation; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

14 paid holidays, vacation time

401k matching

Job summary

Blue Bird Corporation seeks an Application Engineer to drive the technical product definition for a new commercial chassis platform from concept to production launch. Working under the Product Integration and Applications Engineering Lead, you will develop product requirements, support body builder integration, manage vehicle configurations, and ensure engineering changes are reflected across the lifecycle.

This role interfaces with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in product engineering, applications engineering, systems engineering, vehicle integration, commercial vehicle engineering, or product development.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident; authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and maintain vehicle, customer, application, regulatory, and body builder requirements with traceability throughout product development.
• Define chassis interfaces, installation requirements, mounting provisions, electrical interfaces, and guidelines for body builders to enable successful vehicle integration.
• Develop and maintain vehicle configurations, option compatibility, feature dependencies, engineering constraints, and configuration logic for customer applications and manufacturing.
• Create and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), application specifications, body builder guides, installation manuals, and other technical documentation.
• Evaluate engineering changes for impacts on product configurations, customer applications, body integrations, manufacturing, and service while maintaining configuration integrity.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering, Vehicle Integration, Manufacturing, Strategic Sourcing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sales to ensure consistent product definition through development and launch.
• Provide engineering support to body manufacturers, dealers, customers, and internal teams by evaluating vehicle applications, special requests, option compatibility, and integration feasibility.
• Verify engineering documentation, configuration rules, option logic, and technical data to ensure accurate implementation across engineering and manufacturing systems.
• Support prototype builds, manufacturing launch, and early production by resolving product definition, configuration, and application issues affecting readiness.
• Identify opportunities to improve product definition, simplify configuration, and strengthen application processes throughout the lifecycle.
• Operate in ambiguity by creating structure and driving execution as requirements and priorities evolve.

Skills

Product requirements

Interface control

Vehicle configuration

Engineering change mgmt

Cross-functional collaboration

CAD interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive/Systems/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CAD software

PLM systems

Job description

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visitwww.blue-bird.com .

JOB SUMMARY

The Application Engineer supports the development and execution of the technical product definition for a new commercial chassis platform from concept through production launch.

Working under the direction of the Product Integration and Applications Engineering Lead, this role develops product requirements, supports body builder integration, manages vehicle configurations, evaluates application compatibility, and ensures engineering changes are accurately reflected throughout the product lifecycle. The position serves as a primary technical interface between engineering, manufacturing, body manufacturers, suppliers, and customers to support scalable, manufacturable, and customer-ready vehicle configurations.

This role requires an engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is comfortable making sound engineering decisions within defined product strategy, and enjoys working across multiple engineering disciplines to solve complex vehicle integration challenges.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Product Requirements Development: Develop, document, and maintain vehicle, customer, application, regulatory, and body builder requirements while supporting requirements traceability throughout product development.
• Body Builder Integration: Support body manufacturers by defining chassis interfaces, installation requirements, mounting provisions, electrical interfaces, dimensional envelopes, and application guidelines to ensure successful vehicle integration.
• Product Configuration Management: Develop and maintain vehicle configurations, option compatibility, feature dependencies, engineering constraints, and configuration logic supporting customer applications and manufacturing.
• Interface Control Documentation: Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), application specifications, body builder guides, installation manuals, and technical documentation supporting vehicle integration.
• Engineering Change Coordination: Evaluate engineering changes for impacts to product configurations, customer applications, body integrations, manufacturing, and service while maintaining configuration integrity.
• Cross-Functional Product Integration: Partner with Systems Engineering, Vehicle Integration, Manufacturing, Strategic Sourcing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sales to ensure consistent product definition throughout development and launch.
• Customer & Technical Application Support: Provide engineering support to body manufacturers, dealers, customers, and internal teams by evaluating vehicle applications, special requests, option compatibility, and integration feasibility.
• Product Data & Configuration Validation: Verify engineering documentation, configuration rules, option logic, and technical data to ensure accurate implementation throughout engineering and manufacturing systems.
• Prototype, Launch & Production Support: Support prototype builds, manufacturing launch, and early production by resolving product definition, configuration, and application issues affecting vehicle readiness.
• Continuous Product Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve product definition, simplify configuration complexity, enhance engineering documentation, and strengthen application processes throughout the product lifecycle.
• Operate in Ambiguity: Create structure and drive execution where customer requirements, engineering priorities, and product configurations continue to evolve.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR SUCCESS

• Strong understanding of commercial vehicle product development, configurable product architectures, and body-on-chassis integration
• Experience developing product requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), engineering specifications, and application documentation
• Understanding of vehicle configuration management, option logic, engineering change management, and product lifecycle processes
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, vehicle layouts, and technical specifications
• Experience working with body manufacturers, OEM partners, suppliers, dealers, or vehicle integration organizations
• Strong understanding of engineering change processes, product releases, and configuration management
• Ability to communicate effectively across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, customers, and commercial organizations
• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical problem-solving skills

BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of experience in product engineering, applications engineering, systems engineering, vehicle integration, commercial vehicle engineering, or product development
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience supporting configurable vehicle products from concept through production launch
• Experience developing product requirements, engineering documentation, configuration management, or vehicle integration activities
• Experience working directly with cross-functional engineering teams, suppliers, customers, or body manufacturers
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
• Experience with commercial chassis, incomplete vehicles, body-on-chassis platforms, or vocational vehicle applications
• Experience supporting body builder integration or OEM upfitter programs
• Experience with requirements management, PLM, systems engineering, or configuration management tools
• Experience developing body builder manuals, application guides, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), or engineering specifications
• Experience supporting prototype builds, manufacturing launch, or production engineering activities
• Master's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline
• Experience supporting clean-sheet vehicle development or accelerated product launches

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO

• Takes ownership of complex application engineering challenges and drives them to resolution
• Thrives in fast-paced environments where requirements, customer needs, and engineering priorities evolve rapidly
• Makes sound engineering decisions while balancing customer requirements, engineering constraints, manufacturability, and product strategy
• Thinks at the complete vehicle level and understands how engineering decisions affect body integration, manufacturing, serviceability, and customer satisfaction
• Builds strong technical relationships across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, customers, and body manufacturers
• Communicates clearly, works collaboratively, and enjoys solving cross-functional integration challenges
• Wants meaningful responsibility and the opportunity to help define how a new commercial chassis platform is configured, integrated, and successfully deployed

INCLUDES

• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching

WORK CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
• Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
• You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day

*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Blue Bird® is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.

All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

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Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Experience

Required

5 years:

Experience in product engineering, applications engineering, systems engineering, vehicle integration, commercial vehicle engineering, or product development

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.