Job Title: Virtual Analysis Engineer
Location: Auburn Hills, Michigan (Onsite)
Pay Rate: $40-$43/hr
Position Overview
The Virtual Analysis Engineer Vehicle Dynamics will lead CAE and virtual analysis activities throughout all phases of vehicle program development. This role focuses on steering and suspension hardpoint development, component performance, stiffness and damping specifications, tire characteristics, and ride and handling optimization across all variants of a vehicle architecture.The engineer will develop and validate vehicle and subsystem simulation models, evaluate vehicle dynamics performance, and provide data-driven design recommendations to achieve vehicle functional objectives. A key goal is to minimize vehicle and suspension sensitivity to road-induced forces, assembly variation, vehicle architecture differences, and component wear while improving overall ride quality, handling, stability, and performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform kinematic and compliance (K&C) analysis and optimization of steering and suspension subsystems.
- Conduct steady-state and transient vehicle handling assessments, including Fishhook, Trailer Tow, Slow Ramp Steer, Step Steer, and off-road events associated with Trail Rating.
- Calculate component loads and evaluate system behavior under various vehicle handling and operating conditions.
- Simulate ride events and characterize vehicle performance across low- and high-frequency inputs, impact harshness, braking-induced pitch, head toss, shimmy, wander, and brake judder.
- Develop, validate, maintain, and own full-vehicle and subsystem simulation models using multibody dynamics, parametric simulation, and flexible-body modeling techniques.
- Utilize simulation tools such as ADAMS/Car, CarSim, VI-Car RealTime, NASTRAN, Altair HyperWorks, and MATLAB to support virtual engineering activities.
- Develop and support remote simulation models and provide on-site engineering support for driving simulator studies.
- Plan and execute analytical support activities for physical mule testing and vehicle tuning programs.
- Correlate simulation results with physical test data and recommend design improvements to meet ride and handling performance targets.
- Develop and enhance CAE methodologies, simulation workflows, and custom automation routines to improve engineering efficiency.
- Extract and utilize component and assembly data from NX, Teamcenter, and CoDeP.
- Communicate technical findings, analysis results, and design recommendations to management and cross-functional engineering teams.
- Apply vehicle dynamics fundamentals, structured problem-solving methods, and Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) principles to support robust vehicle development.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent degree from an accredited university.
- Practical experience with suspension, steering, and brake system analysis, including kinematics, compliance, vibration, ride and handling, and component structural analysis.
- Demonstrated understanding of vehicle dynamics theory and its practical application to vehicle development.
- Experience developing, validating, and interpreting vehicle or subsystem simulation models.
- Working knowledge of relevant CAE and simulation tools, including ADAMS/Car, Altair HyperWorks, NASTRAN, CarSim, VI-Car RealTime, and MATLAB.
- Ability to analyze engineering data, identify performance issues, and formulate technically sound design recommendations.
- Strong problem-solving skills, initiative, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
- Excellent English communication skills, including speaking, reading, writing, and presenting technical findings.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with CarSim vehicle dynamics simulation software.
- Experience developing custom engineering routines using Visual Basic, ADAMS command files, ADAMS/Car templates, or MATLAB.
- Familiarity with DFMEA and engineering risk assessment methodologies.
- Experience with NX, Teamcenter, and CoDeP for extracting component and assembly information.
- Experience supporting physical vehicle testing, simulator studies, and correlation between virtual analysis and real-world performance.