Steering Wheel Engineer

Thundersoft; Newark (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Thundersoft in Newark, CA or Southfield, MI is seeking a Sr. Engineer, Restraint System – Steering Wheels to own steering wheel development from concept through production, collaborating with design, engineering, safety, and supplier teams to deliver safer, high-quality vehicles.

The role requires a mechanical engineering background and 5+ years in automotive product development, with hands-on experience in GD&T, materials, metal forming, stamping, and CAD review.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Automotive product development

CAD proficiency

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD

Tolerance analysis

Job description

Location: Must be located near or willing to work onsite in Newark, CA or Southfield, MI.

Working Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST (Michigan) or 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM PST (California).

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.