Mechanical Engineer, Production Development
Location: Ann Arbor, MI (Required)
We are seeking a versatile and hands-on Mechanical Engineer with 2 - 4 years of experience to join our Corporate Engineering team. You will serve as an internal centralized engineering resource supporting multiple businesses across our organization, working on a wide range of product development projects. While the primary focus is commercial truck bodies, you will also support one-off accessory designs and custom engineering requests for testing and manufacturing-ideal for an engineer who enjoys variety and is not locked into a narrow specialty.
This role blends design, analysis, prototyping, manufacturing support, supplier interaction, and customer engagement. We are looking for a well-rounded engineer who thrives in both CAD and hands-on shop environments.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Product Development & Design
• Lead and contribute to the design of commercial truck bodies and related mechanical systems.
• Support custom accessories, retrofit, and specialty engineering projects across multiple business units.
• Develop 3D models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and proper documentation practices.
Engineering Analysis
• Perform structural and mechanical simulations (i.e., FEA).
• Evaluate designs for durability in heavy-duty, high-vibration, and high-load environments.
• Use sound engineering principles to ensure reliability, manufacturability, and safety.
• Competitive benchmarking activities, reverse engineering, VAVE
Manufacturing, Prototyping & 3D Printing
• Work closely with in-house prototype and fabrication teams to ensure manufacturable designs.
• Provide DFM guidance for production processes and manufacturing lines.
• Participate in hands-on prototype builds, fit checks, and validation activities.
• Utilize 3D printing for prototyping, concept evaluation, fixtures, or low-volume components.
• Incorporate additive manufacturing constraints and capabilities into design work when applicable.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers, designers, fabricators, and cross functional teams.
• Serve as an internal centralized engineering resource to multiple business units, supporting diverse project needs.
• Communicate directly with customers to gather requirements, present designs, and provide technical insights.
• Work with suppliers on feasibility reviews, design improvements, and manufacturing considerations.
Project Leadership & Mentoring
• Lead engineering projects from concept through design release and handoff.
• Support multi-disciplinary project teams as a key contributor.
• Train, mentor, and guide interns, new engineers, and junior technical staff.
Qualifications and Skills:
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2 - 4 years of experience in mechanical engineering, preferably in automotive or commercial vehicle industries.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks.
• Strong understanding of:
o GD&T
o Tolerance analysis
o Product lifecycle
o DFMEA / PFMEA
o DFM
o DVP&R
• Familiarity with automotive and commercial truck standards (SAE, ISO, FMVSS).
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Hands-on prototyping and experience with 3D printing technologies.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with body design
• Background working with heavy-duty or fleet vehicle environments.
• Experience using COMSOL or similar FEA tools.
• Practical fabrication, machining, or shop-floor experience.
• Control systems understanding
• Experience with Microsoft Suite of tools
• Strong communication skills for customer and cross-functional interactions.
• Comfort working in an engineering team with diverse project scopes.
What We Are Looking For:
• A broad, adaptable problem solver-not overly specialized.
• Someone who enjoys a mix of CAD, analysis, prototyping, and hands-on engineering.
• A team-oriented engineer who can lead when necessary and support others when needed.
• A self starter who thrives working on varied projects in a dynamic environment.
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