Job Title: Closures CAE Engineer
Location: Dearborn, Michigan (Hybrid)
Job Type: W2 Contract
Expected Hours per Week: 40 hours per week
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Position Summary:
We are seeking a Closures CAE Engineer to support automotive closures development through structural CAE analysis, including NVH, durability, fatigue, and non-linear impact assessments. This role will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to evaluate designs, develop countermeasures, optimize performance, and support vehicle program milestones using advanced CAE tools and methodologies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Perform CAE analyses and provide engineering solutions within program deadlines.
- Develop, build, and maintain finite element (FE) models for closures systems.
- Conduct NVH, durability, fatigue, linear static, and non-linear dynamic analyses.
- Perform impact and crash-related simulations for automotive closures components.
- Support cross-functional teams in resolving functional and structural design issues.
- Generate engineering status reports and verify completeness of CAE assessments.
- Execute DOE and optimization studies to identify design alternatives and improve performance.
- Lead technical discussions between D&R engineers and related functions.
- Support development and implementation of CAE standards, methods, and best practices.
- Drive continuous improvement and automation of CAE processes.
- Present analysis findings and recommendations to engineering leadership.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field.
- 3-5 years of Closures CAE experience or Structural CAE experience within automotive or aerospace industries.
- Experience with NVH, durability, fatigue, and impact analyses.
- Strong understanding of linear static and non-linear dynamic finite element analysis.
- Hands-on experience with meshing and post-processing tools such as ANSA, HyperMesh, HyperView, or MetaPost.
- Experience using CAE software including Abaqus, Nastran, LS-DYNA, OptiStruct, HyperWorks, and/or nCode.
- Ability to develop FE models and perform iterative analyses to resolve design issues.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Engineering.
- Automotive closures systems experience (doors, liftgates, hoods, tailgates).
- Knowledge of hinges, latches, handles, seals, bumpers, and wedges.
- Experience with FMEA activities, WCRs, and regulatory requirements.
- Understanding of manufacturing processes and design constraints.
- Experience with explicit and implicit CAE methods.
- Programming experience with Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
- Experience with optimization software such as ModeFrontier, HEEDS, or iSight.
- Structural optimization experience using OptiStruct or Tosca.
- Automotive product development experience.
- Experience working within cross-functional engineering teams.
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