Vehicle Development Engineer

Company Overview

LinHR‘ Client is a leading global tier 1 auto parts supplier, celebrated for its innovation and excellence in the automotive industry. With two major Engineering sites in the USA—located in Moraine, OH, and Brighton, MI—and a combined team of approximately 150 employees, we are committed to driving technological progress and nurturing a vibrant, collaborative work environment.

We are seeking Vehicle Development Engineer to lead the development, tuning, and validation of passive and semi‑active suspension systems, including Magne Ride (MR) technology. This role focuses on delivering optimal ride, handling, and vehicle dynamics performance while supporting OEM programs from concept through production. The Magne Ride system uses magnetorheological fluid to rapidly adjust damping forces, enabling precise control of vehicle dynamics and ride comfort.

The role will work with the application engineering and product development teams specializing in pneumatic and hydraulic vehicle lift and leveling systems. You will assist in closing the gap between advanced technical solutions and customer‑specific vehicle applications, assist with the full lifecycle from initial concept to high‑volume production release. This role requires a blend of deep technical expertise in vertical dynamics and leadership skills to mentor a high‑performing multidisciplinary team.

• Lead vehicle‑level development of passive and MR (Magne Ride) damper systems
• Perform ride & handling tuning, subjective and objective evaluations
• Support simulated / virtual tuning to model vehicle performance prior to physical hardware
• Define and execute vehicle test plans (proving grounds, road tests, lab validation)
• Analyze vehicle dynamics data and recommend calibration improvements
• Author verification test reports
• Support integration of Magne Ride systems (dampers, sensors, ECU controls)
• Collaborate with controls/software teams on damping algorithms and calibration
• Troubleshoot system‑level issues and support root cause analysis
• Develop and validate conventional damper systems (valving, tuning, durability)
• Support benchmarking and competitive analysis of suspension systems

• Work directly with OEM customers on vehicle performance targets and feedback
• Support design reviews, DV/PV testing, and launch activities
• Ensure alignment with program timing, quality, and cost objectives
• Frequency travel to test sites and customer locations as required

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics (ride, handling, NVH basics)
• Understanding of modern controls techniques and theory
• Knowledge of Mathworks Matlab, Simulink and Stateflow
• Experience with vehicle testing, data acquisition, and analysis tools
• Ability to interpret test data and translate into engineering improvements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, preferably master’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 3-10 years’ experience in the automotive industry, preferably in suspension controls or vehicle testing
• Vehicle suspension system knowledge
• Familiarity with electrical engineering concepts including embedded microcontroller software/controls
• Simulation and modeling experience
• Ability to read and interpret Simulink models and compiled C‑code
• Experience in developing performance specifications
• High performance driving experience
• Experience with data acquisition systems and data collection / reduction
• Experience with HIL testing or vehicle testing
• FSAE or Baja SAE Experience

>50% travel to meet customers and suppliers with day travel to the various manufacturing facilities as required.

• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Abi…