Senior Automotive Mechanical Design Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and life insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous annual leave

Professional development opportunities

Access to advanced design and simTools

Hybrid work schedule

Location in Pretoria

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Automotive Mechanical Design Engineer for a hybrid role in Pretoria, Gauteng. You will design, simulate, and validate mechanical systems for automotive applications using leading CAD tools and collaborate across cross-functional teams to bring concepts to production.

The role requires a strong background in mechanical design, FEA/CFD experience, GD&T, and a passion for innovative automotive solutions. Hybrid schedule offers office focus with remote tasks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of mechanical design experience, preferably in automotive industry.
• Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6, SolidWorks, and Siemens NX.
• Experience with FEA/CFD analysis is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and systems for automotive applications using advanced CAD software.
• Perform engineering analysis, including FEA and CFD, to validate designs.
• Create detailed 3D models, 2D drawings, and BOMs.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to ensure producibility and cost-effectiveness.
• Mentor junior engineers and participate in design reviews.

Skills

CATIA V5/V6

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

FEA

CFD

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned leader in automotive component design and manufacturing, is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Automotive Mechanical Design Engineer to contribute to their advanced engineering efforts in Pretoria, Gauteng, ZA. This hybrid role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge automotive systems, contributing to the design and development of critical mechanical components. You will be responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and validating new mechanical systems, ensuring they meet performance, durability, and safety requirements. This position requires a strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles, proficiency in CAD software, and a deep understanding of automotive applications. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including simulation engineers, manufacturing engineers, and testing personnel, to bring designs from concept to production. We are looking for a creative problem-solver with a passion for automotive engineering and a proven ability to deliver high-quality designs. The hybrid nature of this role allows for focused work in the office and flexibility for remote tasks, fostering a productive and balanced work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components and systems for automotive applications using advanced CAD software (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX).
• Perform engineering analysis, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), to validate designs.
• Create detailed 3D models, 2D drawings, and Bill of Materials (BOMs).
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to ensure designs are producible and cost-effective.
• Work with testing and validation teams to develop and execute test plans for prototype components.
• Troubleshoot design issues and implement design changes to improve performance, durability, or cost.
• Stay abreast of new materials, manufacturing processes, and technologies in the automotive industry.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the technical growth of the design team.
• Participate in design reviews and present technical information to stakeholders.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant automotive standards and regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in mechanical design, with a significant portion within the automotive industry.
• Proficiency in industry-standard CAD software (e.g., CATIA V5/V6, SolidWorks, Siemens NX).
• Strong understanding of material science, manufacturing processes (e.g., injection molding, stamping, casting), and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience with FEA and/or CFD analysis is highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a hybrid work setting.
• Experience with automotive product development processes (e.g., APQP).
• Familiarity with automotive systems such as powertrains, chassis, or thermal management.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Generous annual leave and company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and further education.
• Access to advanced design and simulation tools.
• A stimulating and innovative work environment in Pretoria, Gauteng, ZA.
• Flexibility of a hybrid work schedule.