Welding Simulation Engineer

Martinrea International; Auburn Hills (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Martinrea International Inc. is seeking a Joining & Welding Simulation Engineer to support new-product development and manufacturing problem-solving.

You will evaluate automotive assemblies, joining methods, tooling, and production processes using digital simulation, developing models and recommending practical changes to improve manufacturability and launch readiness. The role requires strong CAD/CAE skills, data analysis, programming, and the ability to work with global teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, automotive engineering, or related technical field.
• Experience with simulation, mechanical design, manufacturing, or testing.

Responsibilities

• Perform joining and assembly simulation studies for welded automotive structures and assemblies.
• Review geometry, GD&T, datum schemes, weld locations, stack-ups, and functional requirements.
• Prepare CAD geometry and meshes; define contacts, constraints, materials, boundary conditions.
• Model assembly tooling and process conditions to represent production intent.
• Use simulation software to solve models, post-process results, and communicate risks.

Skills

CAD/CAE

Python

FEM/CFD CAE

GD&T

Data analysis

Engineering drawings

Project coordination

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Simufact

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

Creo

AutoCAD

ANSYS

Job description

Martinrea International Inc. is a diversified and global automotive supplier,a diversified and global automotive supplier engaged in developing and manufacturing highly engineered, value-added Lightweight Structures and Propulsion Systems. We employ approximately 16,000 skilled and currently operate in 57 locations in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Slovakia, Spain, China, South Africa, and Japan. Martinrea's vision is making lives better by being the best supplier we can be in the products we make and the services we provide.

Our Mission is to make people's lives better by:

• Delivering outstanding quality products and services to our customers.
• Providing meaningful opportunity, job satisfaction, and job security for our people.
• Providing superior long-term investment returns to our stakeholders.
• Being positive contributors to our communities.

Martinrea's success is globally shown through its core sustainable culture. Focused on entrepreneurship, lean manufacturing principles, and the Golden Rule philosophy, Martinrea believes in dignity and respect for its people, communities, customers, and investors. Our strength is in our people, embracing a diverse culture, giving employees opportunities to help grow our footprint and expand product offerings and areas of expertise with discipline, dedication and determination

We invite you to follow your dreams and explore a challenging and rewarding career at Martinrea.

Position Summary

The Joining & Welding Simulation Engineer supports new-product development and manufacturing problem-solving by evaluating automotive assemblies, joining methods, tooling, and production processes using digital simulation. This role suits a technically curious engineer who combines mechanical fundamentals with strong CAD/CAE, data analysis, programming, and computer skills. The engineer develops simulation models, interprets results, and recommends practical product and process changes to improve manufacturability, weld quality, dimensional performance, cycle time, and launch readiness.

What You Will Do

• Perform joining and assembly simulation studies for welded automotive structures and assemblies, including resistance spot welding and other applicable joining processes.
• Review product geometry, material data, GD&T, datum schemes, weld locations, stack-ups, and functional requirements to establish simulation assumptions and acceptance criteria.
• Prepare CAD geometry and create analysis-ready meshes; define contacts, constraints, connectors, material models, boundary conditions, and process sequences.
• Model relevant assembly tooling and process conditions, including fixtures, clamps, locators, guns, stations, and joining sequences, to represent production intent.
• Use simulation software to prepare inputs, solve models, post-process results, assess sensitivity, and communicate risks and recommended countermeasures.
• Use engineering calculations, test or production data, and sound mechanical fundamentals to establish boundary conditions and validate simulation behaviour.
• Evaluate distortion, dimensional variation, weld behaviour, load paths, process robustness, and other joining or assembly performance indicators as applicable.
• Modify CAD, meshes, simulation setups, tooling concepts, or joining sequences to support iterative product and process development.
• Participate in design reviews and propose assembly concepts based on engineering best practices, equipment specifications, plant input, and integrator information.
• Partner with product, CAE, formability, tooling, manufacturing, quality, and project teams to develop solutions that enable strong process performance.
• Prepare clear technical reports, renderings, process-flow concepts, and presentations for engineering teams, management, customers, and suppliers.
• Support production sites with model correlation, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and cost or risk reduction during launch and ongoing production.
• Maintain simulation standards, reusable methods, reports, lessons learned, and technical references; contribute to design-for-manufacturing guidelines.
• Apply scripting, spreadsheets, or other digital tools to organize data, improve repeatability, automate routine analysis tasks, and strengthen engineering workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, automotive engineering, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated engineering experience through employment, internships, co‑op assignments, research, or substantial university projects involving simulation, mechanical design, manufacturing, or testing.
• Foundational understanding of joining and welding processes, assembly tooling, process sequencing, weld quality, and common welding failure modes, with the willingness to develop deeper automotive expertise.
• Experience with CAD geometry, finite-element or CFD/CAE model preparation, meshing, boundary conditions, solver execution, and results interpretation through professional, academic, or personal projects.
• Working knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, datum structures, tolerance requirements, and the relationship between product definition and manufacturing feasibility.
• Strong computer and software aptitude, including the ability to learn new CAE tools, troubleshoot models and data, manage engineering files, and automate repetitive work where practical.
• Working knowledge of one or more programming or technical‑computing tools such as Python.
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and shared data or document‑management platforms; ability to prepare clear work instructions, reports, and presentations.
• Hands‑on problem‑solving ability and familiarity with measurement, testing, prototyping, machining, fabrication, or manufacturing equipment.
• Clear written and verbal communication, strong time management, and the ability to work independently and across global, cross‑functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• One to three years of relevant industry, internship, co‑op, research, or project experience; exceptional new graduates with strong simulation and manufacturing project work are encouraged to apply.
• Experience with commercial CAD and CAE tools such as Simufact, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Creo, AutoCAD, ANSYS, or comparable pre‑processing, meshing, finite‑element, joining, weld, or assembly simulation software.
• Experience using programming, scripting, or data‑analysis tools to automate engineering tasks, process results, or manage technical information.
• Knowledge of body‑in‑white, dimensional engineering, assembly DFM/DFA, line integration, equipment specifications, and production troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with structured problem‑solving methods such as Six Sigma, 8D, or equivalent approaches.

What Success Looks Like

• Simulation findings are technically sound, traceable, and delivered early enough to influence product, tooling, and process decisions.
• Recommendations balance analytical accuracy with practical manufacturing constraints, cost, timing, safety, and production robustness.
• Models, reports, and lessons learned are organized, repeatable, and useful to engineering and manufacturing stakeholders.

Work Conditions

This position is based in a corporate engineering office and requires periodic travel to customer, company manufacturing, integrator, and supplier sites. Site work may involve exposure to manufacturing operations and potentially hazardous products or processes within controlled environments; follow all applicable safety requirements.