Sr. Engineer - Core Engineering

ASTEMO AMERICAS, INC.; Farmington Hills (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EOE

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Astemo Americas Inc. seeks a Senior Engineer – Materials & Structural to lead materials and structural activities for shock absorber components on global programs.

You will guide material selection, durability validation, and manufacturability, while partnering with design, CAE, manufacturing, suppliers, and OEMs. The role requires 6+ years in automotive or mechanical product development, with strong background in suspension components and structural durability.

Qualifications

• Strong fundamentals in mechanical design, materials, durability, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with DFMEA, DVP&R, and automotive development processes.
• Knowledge of corrosion, coatings, and durability testing methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead materials and structural engineering for shock absorber components.
• Define material selection strategies balancing performance, cost, and manufacturability.
• Execute structural and fatigue analysis; correlate with testing results.
• Develop standards for materials, coatings, and structural design.
• Support DFMEA, DVP&R, and design reviews across programs.
• Collaborate with suppliers and OEM customers; mentor engineers.

Skills

Mechanical design

Materials science

Structural fatigue

FEA / FEM analysis

DFMEA / DVP&R

GD&T (CATIA/SolidWorks)

Corrosion & durability testing

Vehicle dynamics awareness

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Materials/Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

FEA software

Job description

Astemo Americas Inc. is seeking an experienced Senior Engineer – Materials & Structural to join the Suspension Core Engineering Team. This role is focused on shock absorber components and technologies and is ideal for a senior‑level engineer with a strong foundation in mechanical design, materials engineering, structural durability, and manufacturing processes. The Core Engineering team is the technical backbone and component authority for shock absorber components and technologies, translating vehicle‑level requirements into robust, manufacturable damper solutions by owning engineering fundamentals, design standards, and validation methodologies across global programs. In this role, the Senior Engineer will lead and influence material selection, structural integrity, durability performance, and manufacturability of shock absorber components supporting both passive and semi‑active systems. This position plays a critical role in development of new technology, global standard creation, industrialization support, and production issue resolution, working closely with design, simulation, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and OEM customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead materials and structural engineering activities for shock absorber components and sub‑systems, including tubes, rods, valves, weldments, brackets, and other load‑bearing parts.
• Apply mechanical design principles to ensure robust structural performance, durability, and functional integrity of damper components.
• Define and execute material selection strategies, balancing performance, durability, cost, weight, manufacturability, and regulatory requirements.
• Guide structural, strength, and fatigue analysis using FEA tools, and correlate analysis results with physical testing.
• Develop and maintain materials, coating, and structural design standards for shock absorber components.
• Support corrosion, durability, and material validation testing, including interpretation of results and definition of acceptance criteria.
• Review and approve 3D models and engineering drawings with detailed GD&T, ensuring alignment with functional and manufacturing requirements.
• Provide technical leadership in Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFM/DFA), collaborating with manufacturing and suppliers to ensure production‑ready designs.
• Lead and support DFMEA, DVP&R, and design reviews, ensuring material and structural risks are identified and mitigated.
• Investigate material, structural, or durability failures, perform root cause analysis, and define corrective actions for development or production issues.
• Collaborate with Tier‑2 suppliers, global engineering teams, and OEM customers on material, structural, and durability topics.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to early‑career engineers within Core Engineering.
• Stay current with emerging materials, manufacturing technologies, and structural durability methods relevant to suspension and damping systems.

Required Qualifications

• Technical Skills
• Strong fundamentals in: mechanical design, materials science and metallurgy, structural strength and fatigue, manufacturing processes (forming, welding, heat treatment, surface treatments).
• Proficiency in 3D modeling and 2D drawing creation with GD&T (CATIA or SolidWorks preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications.
• Experience with structural and fatigue analysis (FEA/FEM) and test correlation.
• Solid understanding of DFMEA, DVP&R, and automotive development processes.
• Knowledge of corrosion behavior, coatings, and durability testing methods is a plus.
• Knowledge of vehicle dynamics and ride & handling fundamentals, including an understanding of how damper characteristics influence ride comfort, handling, and vehicle performance, is a plus.

Professional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently while providing technical leadership.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable collaborating across design, CAE, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and OEMs.
• Willingness to support global teams and occasional travel.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: 6+ years of applicable experience in automotive or mechanical product development. Strong background in suspension, shock absorbers, or highly loaded mechanical components preferred.

Working Conditions

• Occasional meetings outside standard business hours to support global teams.
• Domestic and international travel may be required on a limited basis.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and lift up to 25 lbs.
• Standard workweek with flexibility based on project needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None (Technical Mentorship Expected)

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) – Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, disability, protected veteran status and national origin.

At Astemo, we’re challenging the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration.

Our goal is to build an inclusive work environment that celebrates the differences of our employees.

We want to ensure that every employee feels valued, respected and empowered.

We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community.

Astemo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job at Astemo, please send the nature of the request and contact information to [e-mail] when applying for the position.

At Astemo, innovation drives our passion for excellence. As a global leader in the mobility sector, we are dedicated to shaping the future through advanced technology, sustainable practices and a commitment to empowering our diverse team of talented individuals.

We believe that our greatest asset is our people. With a rich legacy of pioneering breakthroughs and forward-thinking mindset, we continuously seek exceptional individuals who share our vision and ambition to redefine the mobility industry.

As you explore our website, we invite you to discover exciting career opportunities across various disciplines and regions.

Whether you are an experienced professional or new graduate, there is a place for you to thrive and make a meaningful impact within our dynamic global community.

Join us in driving innovation, shaping the future and unlocking new possibilities in the mobility industry.

Your journey begins here at Astemo.

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