Automotive Body-in-White (BIW) Design Engineer

Placements24; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

competitive salary

medical aid

retirement fund

performance-related bonuses

state-of-the-art design and analysis工具

Job summary

Placements24 in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa is seeking an Automotive BIW Design Engineer to lead the primary structure design and development of body-in-white components. You will apply CAD design, perform FEA assessments, and collaborate with CAE and manufacturing teams to ensure safe, lightweight, and manufacturable BIW architectures.

The role requires hands-on experience with CATIA V5 or SolidWorks, experience in stamping and welding processes, and a strong track record in automotive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of automotive BIW design and development experience.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD (CATIA V5, SolidWorks) and FEA tools (ANYSYS, Abaqus).

Responsibilities

• Design BIW structures (floor pans, pillars, roof, cross-members) using advanced CAD software.
• Perform FEA to assess crashworthiness, stiffness, durability, and fatigue.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication & teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Automotive Engineering

Tools

CATIA V5

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a key player in the automotive manufacturing sector, is seeking a skilled Automotive Body-in-White (BIW) Design Engineer to join their design and engineering department. This position is located in Paarl, Western Cape, ZA, and requires a hands-on approach to vehicle structural design. You will be responsible for the conceptualization, design, and development of the vehicle's primary structure, ensuring it meets stringent requirements for safety, rigidity, weight, and manufacturability. The ideal candidate has a strong background in structural analysis, CAD design, and a deep understanding of automotive manufacturing processes. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative vehicle architectures within a reputable company in Paarl, Western Cape, ZA.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop Body-in-White (BIW) structures, including floor pans, pillars, roof structures, and cross-members, using advanced CAD software.
• Perform structural analysis (FEA) to assess crashworthiness, stiffness, durability, and fatigue performance of BIW components and assemblies.
• Collaborate with CAE engineers to optimize designs based on simulation results, focusing on weight reduction and cost efficiency.
• Work closely with manufacturing engineers to ensure the designed BIW structures are feasible for production using stamping, welding, and assembly processes.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and Bill of Materials (BOM) for BIW components.
• Participate in design reviews and technical discussions, presenting design concepts and analysis results.
• Support prototype build activities and address any issues related to BIW assembly and integrity.
• Stay updated on industry best practices, new materials, and emerging technologies in BIW design and manufacturing.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant automotive safety regulations and standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in automotive BIW design and development.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., CATIA V5, SolidWorks) for surfacing and solid modeling.
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus) for structural and crash simulations.
• Understanding of automotive stamping, welding (spot, MIG, laser), and assembly processes.
• Knowledge of automotive safety standards (e.g., FMVSS, ECE).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Experience with material selection for automotive structures (e.g., high-strength steel, aluminum).
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Paarl, Western Cape, ZA.

Benefits

• competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• medical aid
• a retirement fund
• performance-related bonuses
• access to state-of-the-art design and analysis tools
• opportunities for continuous professional development
• collaborative work environment
• career advancement prospects