Vehicle Dynamics Performance Quality Engineer

Position Description:

The Vehicle Dynamics Performance Quality (VDPQ) Engineer is responsible for the development and validation of Vehicle Dynamics functionality as it relates to Chassis quality/warranty of Stellantis vehicles. The overall objective is to minimize vehicle/suspension sensitivity to variation in forces induced by road surfaces, assembly build variation, vehicular architecture and wear. The VDPQ Engineer is responsible for quality testing activities throughout all Program development phases. From up-front target setting and design definition, through in-vehicle testing on prototype properties, and then pre-production (pilot) properties. The VDPQ Engineer will work closely with Vehicle Dynamics (VD) engineers, component Design and Release Engineers (DREs - Chassis), VD Virtual Analysis (VA) Engineers, Noise/Vibration/Harshness (NVH) Engineers, and the Vehicle Product engineering team to ensure that critical components such as suspension, steering, powertrain/engine/body mounts, and tires have appropriate targets/specifications to minimize sensitivity to brake rotor wear (judder), tire/wheel imbalance, vehicle lead/drift/pull, steering wander, torque steer, and vehicle shake (ride). This will be accomplished through a combination of simulation, objective testing, and subjective evaluation methods.

The VDPQ Engineer will be directly responsible for in-vehicle accelerometer measurements as outlined by quality test standards (instrumenting, data processing & data interpretation). This development/validation work takes place predominantly at the Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan, with travel required to other test locations as both weather, and test surface conditions dictate (Significant travel occurs during the winter months, with trips lasting 2-3 weeks at a time. Travel is mostly domestic within North America and is approximately 20% of the Engineer’s time).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Equivalent from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited university.
• Experience in chassis design/development and/or vehicle dynamics engineering experience.
• Solid understanding of system/component design/development processes.
• Experience with processes and simulation techniques associated with suspension/steering/brake system kinematics/compliance/vibration studies, vehicle ride/handling assessments, component structural analysis, and optimization.
• Experience with associated simulation tools: ADAMS/Car, Altair Motionview, Opti-struct, NASTRAN,
• AMEsim, CARsim, I-Sight, Matlab, Simulink, VI-Car realtime.
• Advanced user of ADAMS/Car, Carsim, and VI-Car realtime.
• Experience with driving simulator studies and associated preparation, validation, and loading of CAE/virtual models.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to coordinate activities with the extended team.
• Ability to develop custom routines (Visual Basic, ADAMS command files, ADAMS/Car templates, Altair Motionview templates,
• Matlab, etc.) to support process enhancement.
• Familiarity with Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (Design Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R) structure.
• Ability to extract component detail from NX, Teamcenter and CoDeP
• Self-starter with demonstrated problem solving ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to summarize, present work to management and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated understanding of vehicle dynamics theory and application
• Experience with Suspension and Steering system kinematics and compliance as well as full vehicle ride and handling.
• Vehicle ride, steering and handling evaluation experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to coordinate activities with other department / functions
• Proficient use of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).
• Organized, self-motivated, work as required to support projects.
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Valid driver's license is required as well as a clean driving record - will be required to drive company vehicles.
• Flexibility in local work sites between Chelsea Proving Grounds, Roush Livonia, Tech Center Auburn Hills
• Ability to travel to Internationally for meetings and manufacturing plant support
• Must be legally eligible to work in the USA

Preferred Qualifications:

• Formal training in Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methods.
• DFSS Green/ Black Belt
• Shainin Green/Black Belt
• Vehicle chassis experience (brakes, tires, steering, suspension, mounts)
• Vehicle vibration data acquisition and data processing experience