Mechanical VA/VE Engineer (Direct Hire)
Winamac, IN
Job Requisition: 7684
Description for Mechanical VA/VE Engineer:
The Mechanical VA/VE Engineer will lead value analysis and value engineering initiatives focused on improving vehicle product designs, manufacturing efficiency, quality, and overall cost performance. This role is responsible for identifying and implementing cost reduction opportunities through concept development, design optimization, prototyping, testing, and production implementation. The engineer will collaborate cross-functionally with manufacturing, purchasing, quality, sales, and portfolio teams to develop innovative and manufacturable solutions that improve customer experience while supporting profitability goals. The position also includes vehicle system and mechanism design work, including structures, suspensions, closures, and vehicle integration using CAD tools within a fast-paced automotive product development environment.
Responsibilities for Mechanical VA/VE Engineer:
- Lead and execute VA/VE projects from concept through implementation
- Identify cost reduction and product improvement opportunities for vehicle platforms
- Develop and maintain a pipeline of VA/VE initiatives through internal and external events
- Collaborate with purchasing, manufacturing, quality, sales, and portfolio teams on feasible cost reduction solutions
- Utilize rapid prototyping methods to evaluate concept feasibility
- Coordinate implementation activities with production and purchasing teams
- Design and develop vehicle conversions and systems in CAD using Inventor
- Support mechanism, suspension, structure, and closure design activities
- Ensure designs meet quality, timing, cost, and APQP stage gate requirements
- Drive standardization and commonization initiatives across vehicle platforms
- Participate in design reviews and support continuous improvement efforts
- Support validation, problem solving, and manufacturing readiness activities
Requirements for Mechanical VA/VE Engineer:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
- Minimum 4 years of automotive design experience
- Strong mechanism design experience
- Experience with vehicle integration and automotive systems
- CAD design experience with Inventor or similar software
- Experience with structural design, sheet metal fabrication, and welding processes
- Understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-up
- Experience with steel and aluminum component design and manufacturing
- Strong problem-solving and cross-functional communication skills
- Experience supporting cost reduction or design optimization initiatives
Nice to Haves:
- VA/VE methodology experience
- Prototype fabrication and welding knowledge
- Assembly plant launch experience
- Experience with closures and suspension systems
- FEA, DFA/M, DOE, D/PFMEA, DVP&R experience
- Lean manufacturing knowledge
- APQP and stage gate development process experience
- Experience with Vault, AutoCAD, Epicor ERP, or Teamcenter
- Rapid prototyping experience
