Mechanical Engineer

Job Title:
Design Engineer II – Motorsports Focus

Location:
Huntersville, NC 28078 (Hybrid: 2–3 days per week WFH)

Duration: 5–6 months (Possible extension based on project pipelines)

Core

Hours:

8:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST (Minimum; project surge support as needed)

Travel Requirements: 5% travel to local customers (up to 1.5 hours away)

Pratt Miller is seeking a mid-level Design Engineer II to join our Design department with a core focus on vehicle and product system design and development in the motorsports industry. Based out of our Huntersville, NC office, this position spans from initial concepting through detailed drawing execution. The ideal candidate will take on system-level design responsibilities, utilizing parametric 3D CAD modeling and structural analysis (FEA) supported by systems modeling to substantiate low-level engineering decisions within a collaborative project team.

• Vehicle & Product System Design: Execute system physics modeling, characterization, component concept development, and packaging.
• Structural Optimization: Apply linear-static Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to optimize mechanical designs.
• Technical Execution: Generate detailed technical drawings and prepare/present project status reports.
• Testing & Validation: Conduct test design, development, and reporting (DVP&R).
• Project & Manufacturing Support: Resolve customer technical issues using mechanical, analytical, CAE, and project management skills. Prepare technical specifications and support manufacturing by addressing Engineering Change Requests (ECRs).
• Client Interfacing: Effectively present engineering results to and take direction from external customers.

• Education: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical, Aerospace, Automotive Engineering, or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum of 3+ years of professional engineering employment experience.
• CAD/PLM Tools: Proficiency in Siemens NX (version 2406 or newer) for parametric 3D modeling. Familiarity with Windchill Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is highly helpful.
• FEA Tool (Hiring Manager Focus): Hands-on experience with ANSYS Mechanical for linear-static analysis.
• Industry
  
  Experience:
  
  Motorsport industry experience is required (
  NASCAR preferred
  ).
• Technical Standards: Strong understanding of parametric 3D modeling and ASME Y14.5 - Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Manufacturing Methods: Broad knowledge of mechanical design spanning billet, sheet metal, composite materials, mold, and tooling design.
• Vehicle Domain Knowledge: Full vehicle understanding, including how complex automotive systems interact with one another.

• Ability to support technicians and physical shop builds (including operating simple hand tools).
• Typically performed in a fast-paced, team-based office environment.