Body Structures Engineer (Direct Hire)
Winamac, Indiana
Job Requisition: 7683
Description for Body Structures Engineer:
The Body Structures Engineer will support the development of next-generation vehicles with a primary focus on vehicle body and floor structure engineering from concept through production launch. This role involves designing and developing structural components in CAD, supporting prototype and validation builds, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure designs meet manufacturing, quality, timing, and cost objectives. The engineer will work heavily with sheet metal structures, welding processes, material selection, and vehicle integration while supporting design reviews, fixture development, dimensional management, and validation activities. This position requires a strong understanding of automotive body structures, manufacturing methods, and structural design best practices within a fast-paced product development environment.
Responsibilities for Body Structures Engineer:
- Design and develop vehicle body and floor structures in CAD
- Support concept generation, mock-ups, prototype builds, and validation activities
- Lead and support design verification and process verification builds
- Plan design, procurement, assembly, and validation activities aligned to APQP and project timing
- Ensure designs meet quality, performance, and cost targets
- Recommend low-cost alternatives and support design commonization initiatives
- Collaborate on body structure fixture design and manufacturing support
- Lead design reviews and coordinate with manufacturing, quality, sales, and portfolio teams
- Support dimensional management, GD&T application, and tolerance stack-up analysis
- Assist with structural validation, problem solving, and continuous improvement initiatives
Requirements for Body Structures Engineer:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field
- Automotive body structures design experience
- Experience with sheet metal structural design
- Knowledge of welding processes including ARC and resistance spot welding
- Understanding of metal forming and joining methods
- CAD experience with Inventor or similar tools
- Experience with steel and aluminum structural components
- Understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-up
- Strong problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Knowledge of automotive materials and manufacturing processes
Nice to Have:
- Prototype fabrication and welding experience
- Assembly plant launch experience
- Teamcenter PLM experience
- FEA, DFA/M, DOE, D/PFMEA, DVP&R experience
- FMVSS standards knowledge
- Fixture design experience
- APQP and stage gate development process experience
- Experience supporting prototype and validation builds
