Body Structure Engineer

Location: Winamac

Job Title:

Body Structure Engineer

Job Description

The Body Structure Engineer designs and develops vehicle body floor structures in CAD, with a focus on supporting prototype builds and converting SUVs into wheelchair-accessible vehicles. This role plans and executes design, procurement, assembly, and validation activities while ensuring alignment with project timelines, quality standards, and cost targets. The engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, manufacturable, and cost-effective body structure solutions.

Responsibilities

+ Design and develop vehicle body (floor) structures using CAD tools, ensuring robust, manufacturable, and serviceable designs.

+ Support all prototype, design verification, and process verification builds by providing complete and accurate CAD data and documentation.

+ Generate and refine concepts and mock-ups to explore design options and optimize body structure performance.

+ Plan design, procurement, assembly, and validation requirements and align them with overall project timing and deliverables, including Stage Gate and APQP processes.

+ Ensure designs meet quality and cost targets and proactively propose low-cost alternatives without compromising performance or safety.

+ Support design commonization efforts to standardize components and reduce complexity across product lines.

+ Collaborate in the design of body structure fixtures to support manufacturing, assembly, and validation activities.

+ Lead design reviews and present design intent, trade-offs, and risk assessments to stakeholders.

+ Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Portfolio, to ensure designs meet functional, regulatory, and customer requirements.

+ Incorporate joining methods, particularly welding, into body structure designs to ensure structural integrity and manufacturability.

+ Apply engineering fundamentals and best practices to improve durability, safety, and performance of body structures.

+ Support continuous improvement initiatives related to body structure design, processes, and standards.

Essential Skills

+ Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering field.

+ At least 5 years of work experience within design, preferably in the automotive industry.

+ Proficiency in designing body structures in CAD, with the ability to create detailed models and drawings.

+ Hands-on experience with sheet metal design, including forming, bending, and fabrication considerations.

+

Experience with joining methods, particularly welding, and their application in body structure design.

+ Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals related to structural design, load paths, and durability.

+ Ability to plan and execute design activities in alignment with project timelines, Stage Gate processes, and APQP deliverables.

+ Experience supporting prototype, design verification, and process verification builds.

+ Strong communication skills with the ability to lead design reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

+ Ability to balance quality, cost, and manufacturability when making design decisions.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Previous assembly plant launch experience, especially ground-up design, is preferred.

+ At least 5 years of work experience in the automotive industry is preferred.

+

Experience with dimensional management and a solid understanding of GD&T is preferred.

+ Experience designing fixtures to support body structure manufacturing and validation is beneficial.

+ Familiarity with converting vehicles for specialized applications, such as wheelchair accessibility, is an advantage.

+ Ability to contribute to design commonization efforts to reduce complexity and cost across platforms.

Work Environment

This role is fully onsite at a manufacturing and product development facility in Winamac. The Body Structure Engineer works closely with a team of product development engineers in a collaborative environment focused on designing and building wheelchair-accessible vehicles, including SUV conversions. The setting combines office-based CAD and engineering work with regular interaction on the shop floor to support prototype builds, verification activities, and fixture design.

The position offers a structured, project-driven environment with defined processes such as Stage Gate and APQP. When converted to direct employment, the company offers a 401(k) program with a 5% match and an annual bonus opportunity in the range of 5-10% based on company performance.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Winamac, IN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $95000.00 - $110000.00/yr.

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