Wheels & Tires Engineer

Wheels & Tires Engineer

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) is looking for an experienced engineer to join the Chassis Engineering Design Team/Department

The Team:

Chassis Engineering Design is a collaborative and innovation-driven team at a leading automotive company. The Chassis Engineering Design Team values open communication, continuous learning, and a hands‑on approach. Additionally, the Chassis Engineering Design Team fosters a culture where senior engineers guide less experienced colleagues, share knowledge freely, and work together to solve complex engineering challenges. The team is committed to delivering high-quality, safe, and reliable Chassis systems, encouraging creative problem-solving and ownership at all levels.

As part of the Chassis Engineering Design Team, one would work closely with a diverse group of designers, testers, and manufacturing engineers in an environment that rewards initiative, technical excellence, and professional growth.

The Position:

The Wheels & Tires Engineer would support design, development, and validation-related efforts concerning wheel and tire systems for U.S. SUV, pickup truck, and off‑road vehicles to create a robust, high-performance wheel and tire architecture. Additionally, one would work closely with cross‑functional teams to ensure seamless integration, meet customer requirements, and achieve durability and reliability goals.

• Design and Development: Engage in the end‑to‑end engineering of wheel and tire systems (i.e., wheels, tires, and related components) from concept through production. Use CATIA V5 to create 3D models and 2D drawings of wheels, tire/rim interfaces, and integration of TPMS (tire‑pressure monitoring system) sensors. Ensure designs meet all performance targets (i.e., strength, weight, and cost) and integrate seamlessly with braking and suspension systems.
• Specialty Off‑Road Systems: Develop, support, and implement specialized off‑road tire technologies such as beadlock wheel systems (for low‑pressure off‑road usage), mud‑terrain and all‑terrain tire packages, run‑flat tire inserts, and central tire inflation/TPMS solutions. Work with suppliers to customize these systems for Hyundai's vehicle applications, enhancing off‑road capability and durability.
• Validation and Testing: Support validation plans for wheel and tire designs by aiding in test plan creation and criteria efforts concerning durability, fatigue, impact, and off‑road abuse testing of wheel and tire systems. Support vehicle‑level testing for ride and handling, including ride tuning and handling dynamics evaluations on various terrains. Analyze test data and failure modes and iterate designs to meet rigorous Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and SAE performance standards.
• Regulatory Compliance: Support workload to ensure all wheel and tire systems comply with relevant regulations and industry standards, including adhering to FMVSS for wheels/tires and TPMS, as well as SAE and other applicable standards for tire sizing, load ratings, and performance. Prepare documentation and reports to demonstrate compliance and support homologation for targeted markets.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with vehicle dynamics, suspension, brake, and body engineering teams to integrate wheel/tire systems without issues (e.g., brake caliper clearance, suspension travel, fender clearance, etc.). Work with electrical/control teams on TPMS and any active tire pressure management. Coordinate with manufacturing and service teams to ensure the wheel and tire designs are feasible to produce, assemble, and service (including spare tire and jack/tool provisions).
• Supplier Coordination: Liaise with OEM and Tier 1 suppliers for wheels and tires. Develop specifications and requirements for supplier‑designed components (e.g., custom tire compounds, wheel castings/forgings, etc.) and manage supplier deliverables. Participate in design reviews with suppliers and resolve technical issues in development or production (e.g., tire uniformity problems, wheel finish issues, etc.).
• Project Leadership: Support wheel and tire subsystem projects on new vehicle…