Lead Automotive Body Structures Engineer – FEA & Lightweighting

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Retirement annuity contributions

Professional growth and skill dev.

Exposure to cutting-edge automotive技

Work-life balance initiatives

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Automotive Body Structures Engineer to join our client in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. You will lead structural analysis and design activities for vehicle body structures, emphasizing lightweighting, safety, and performance.

You will perform FEA, select materials, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet regulatory and internal targets, while mentoring junior engineers and coordinating with suppliers on structural matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• 7+ years of professional experience in automotive body structures or structural analysis.
• Expertise in using FEA software such as Abaqus, Nastran, ANSYS or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of automotive safety standards and crash simulation methodologies.
• Experience with material selection for automotive applications, particularly lightweight materials.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on vehicle body structures for crashworthiness, stiffness, and durability.
• Develop and optimize body structure designs using lightweight materials (e.g., advanced high-strength steel, aluminum, composites).
• Collaborate with design, styling, and manufacturing teams to ensure structural requirements are met.
• Define and validate structural performance targets based on regulatory requirements and internal goals.
• Support physical testing and validation of structural components and assemblies.
• Analyze test data and iterate designs to improve structural performance and reduce weight.
• Stay current with emerging trends and technologies in automotive structural engineering and materials science.
• Prepare technical documentation, reports, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers in structural analysis techniques and best practices.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination with suppliers and external partners on structural matters.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical/Civil Engineering

Tools

Abaqus

Nastran

ANSYS

CATIA

SolidWorks

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Automotive Body Structures Engineer to join our client in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. You will lead structural analysis and design activities for vehicle body structures, emphasizing lightweighting, safety, and performance.

You will perform FEA, select materials, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet regulatory and internal targets, while mentoring junior engineers and coordinating with suppliers on structural matters.