Automotive Body Structures Engineer

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund contributions

Professional development

Exposure to cutting-edge technologies

Dynamic team environment

On-site facilities

Career growth

Performance-related bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 in Pretoria seeks an Automotive Body Structures Engineer to design, analyze, and validate vehicle body structures, focusing on safety, rigidity, and weight efficiency. This hands-on role involves advanced simulation and physical testing to bring innovative designs to life for new platforms.

You will run FEA (Abaqus/LS-DYNA/ANSYS), correlate with crash-test data, and collaborate with styling, packaging, and manufacturing teams to deliver production-ready designs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering required.
• Minimum 5 years in automotive body structures design/analysis.
• Strong proficiency in FEA and material properties.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop vehicle body structures to meet safety and performance targets.
• Perform FEA (Abaqus/LS-DYNA/ANSYS) for crashworthiness and stiffness.
• Correlate simulations with physical test data from crash tests.
• Collaborate with styling, packaging, and manufacturing teams.
• Ensure designs are production-feasible with various materials and joining methods.
• Maintain detailed design docs, drawings, specs, and reports.
• Support sourcing and supplier development for structural components.
• Investigate and resolve structural issues during prototype testing.
• Stay updated on advanced materials and joining technologies.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Problem solving

Teamwork

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Automotive Engineering

Tools

Abaqus

LS-DYNA

ANSYS

CATIA V5

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned leader in automotive manufacturing, is seeking a highly motivated Automotive Body Structures Engineer to join their advanced engineering team in **Pretoria, Gauteng**. This hands-on role is critical to the design, development, and validation of vehicle body structures, ensuring optimal safety, rigidity, and weight efficiency. You will be deeply involved in utilizing advanced simulation techniques and physical testing to bring innovative structural designs to life for new vehicle platforms. The position is office-based in **Pretoria**, allowing for direct collaboration with manufacturing and design teams to ensure seamless product development. This is an outstanding opportunity to contribute to high-profile automotive projects and grow your career within a company committed to excellence and innovation in vehicle engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop vehicle body structures, including chassis, frame, and closure panels, adhering to performance and safety targets.
• Perform Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using industry-standard software (e.g., Abaqus, LS-DYNA) to simulate crashworthiness, stiffness, and durability.
• Correlate simulation results with physical test data from component and full-vehicle crash tests.
• Collaborate with the styling and packaging teams to integrate structural requirements with aesthetic and functional design.
• Work closely with manufacturing engineers to ensure designs are feasible for production using various materials and joining techniques.
• Develop and maintain detailed design documentation, including drawings, specifications, and reports.
• Support the sourcing and supplier development process for structural components.
• Investigate and resolve structural issues identified during prototype testing and vehicle assembly.
• Stay updated on advancements in materials science, joining technologies, and structural design best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in automotive body structures design and analysis.
• Proficiency in FEA software such as Abaqus, LS-DYNA, ANSYS, or similar.
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, crash safety regulations (e.g., NCAP, FMVSS), and material properties.
• Experience with CATIA V5 or similar CAD software for 3D modeling and drafting.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes for automotive body structures (stamping, welding, bonding).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities, with experience working in cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with lightweighting strategies and advanced materials (e.g., aluminum, composites) is a plus.

Benefits

• An attractive annual salary of ZAR.
• Comprehensive medical aid plan and retirement fund contributions.
• Opportunities for professional development and advanced training courses.
• Exposure to cutting-edge vehicle design and manufacturing technologies.
• A dynamic and collaborative team environment.
• On-site facilities and amenities.
• Potential for career growth within a leading automotive manufacturer.
• Performance-related bonuses.