Mechanical Design Engineer - Automotive

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Career development

Dynamic automotive work environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer to join its automotive product development team on-site. You will design mechanical components, run simulations, and prepare drawings and BOMs for manufacturing.

You will collaborate with manufacturing, QA, and suppliers to ensure producibility and quality while maintaining ISO/SAE compliance. Relevant experience with electric or hybrid vehicle technologies is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in mechanical design within automotive.
• Proficient with CATIA/SolidWorks and CAE tools.
• Experience with FEA/CFD simulations.
• Knowledge of automotive standards and regulations.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and communication skills.
• Collaborative team player; adaptable to cross-functional work.
• Experience with electric or hybrid vehicle tech preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and subsystems for automotive applications using 3D CAD.
• Perform stress, thermal, and vibration simulations to verify design integrity.
• Create manufacturing drawings, specs, and BOMs.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, QA, and suppliers to ensure producibility and quality.
• Support prototyping, testing, and validation; implement design changes.
• Troubleshoot design issues and provide technical solutions.
• Ensure designs meet ISO/SAE standards and regulatory requirements.
• Lead design reviews and present findings to stakeholders.
• Stay updated on automotive trends and best practices.

Skills

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Communication

Team collaboration

Hybrid/electric vehicle knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

CAE tools

FEA

CFD

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned leader in the automotive manufacturing industry, is seeking a talented Mechanical Design Engineer to join their innovative product development team based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. This role is pivotal in designing and developing high-quality automotive components and systems, contributing to the next generation of vehicles. The successful candidate will leverage advanced CAD tools and engineering principles to create robust and efficient designs, working closely with cross-functional teams. This is an on-site position, offering a dynamic environment focused on automotive excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and sub-systems for automotive applications using 3D CAD software.
• Perform engineering analysis, including stress, thermal, and vibration simulations, to ensure design integrity and performance.
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings, specifications, and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers, quality assurance teams, and suppliers to ensure designs are producible and meet quality standards.
• Support prototyping, testing, and validation activities, implementing design modifications as required.
• Troubleshoot design issues and provide technical solutions throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Ensure designs comply with automotive industry standards (e.g., ISO, SAE) and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to design reviews and present technical findings to stakeholders.
• Stay updated on automotive industry trends, technologies, and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in mechanical design, specifically within the automotive sector.
• Proficiency in advanced CAD software (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar) and CAE tools.
• Strong understanding of automotive components, systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with simulation and analysis tools (FEA, CFD).
• Knowledge of automotive industry standards and regulations.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Experience with electric or hybrid vehicle technologies is a significant advantage.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and retirement fund, opportunities for professional development and career advancement, and a stimulating work environment dedicated to automotive innovation. This role is based at our state-of-the-art facility in Nelspruit.