Engineer, Vehicle Development

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation.

The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio,  .

The Vehicle Development Engineer in Engineering leads the physical integration, validation, and optimization of complete vehicle systems for Blue Bird's commercial and school bus platforms. This role drives the physical development lifecycle of traditional, low-emission, and electric vehicle (EV) platforms from early prototype stages through to production line sign-off. The Vehicle Development Engineer acts as the bridge between virtual engineering design and physical reality, ensuring that complete vehicles meet performance, durability, safety, and ride‑and‑handling targets.

• Vehicle Integration & Build:
  Oversee the physical assembly and functional integration of complex vehicle subsystems, including powertrain, chassis, thermal management, and high‑voltage EV networks onto prototype platforms.
• Test Planning & Execution:
  Author comprehensive vehicle validation plans (DVP&R) and conduct physical vehicle testing on test tracks and laboratory environments (e.g., structural durability, thermal performance, and vehicle dynamics).
• Data Acquisition & Analysis:
  Instrument prototype vehicles with sensors (accelerometers, thermocouples, strain gauges) and utilize data acquisition tools to capture, analyze, and interpret real‑world engineering metrics.
• Issue Resolution & Tuning:
  Identify system‑level conflicts, design defects, or performance shortfalls during physical testing, and lead root cause analysis (RCA) to implement corrective design modifications.
• Regulatory & Safety Validation:
  Manage vehicle‑level compliance testing to satisfy Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), environmental mandates, and internal safety protocols.
• Subjective & Objective Evaluation:
  Conduct vehicle ride, handling, braking, and NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) evaluations, translating subjective test‑driver feedback into quantitative engineering targets.
• Cross‑Functional Optimization:
  Collaborate directly with Component Design Engineers, Simulation teams (FEA/CFD), and Plant Manufacturing Operations to refine vehicle designs for optimal assembly and performance.

• Vehicle Systems Expertise
  :
  Holistic understanding of complete automotive architectures, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, and electronic control unit (ECU) networks.
• Data Acquisition Proficiency
  :
  Hands‑on experience with automotive instrumentation tools and data analysis software (e.g., Vector CANalyzer, CANape, Dewesoft, or Somat eDAQ).
• Problem‑Solving Mastery
  :
  Expert diagnostic skills to troubleshoot complex, interacting system faults across mechanical, high‑voltage electrical, and software domains.
• Testing Methodologies
  :
  Deep knowledge of vehicle dynamics testing, accelerated structural durability protocols, and thermal management evaluation techniques.
• Communication & Collaboration
  :
  Strong interpersonal skills to effectively convey vehicle‑level test findings and engineering recommendations to cross‑functional design and executive teams.

• Education
  :
  Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Experience
  :
  Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in vehicle development, vehicle integration, or experimental validation within an automotive or heavy truck OEM environment.

All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent…