Break System Engineer

ND DEFENSE LLC • Madison Heights, MI

4d • $90,000 - $100,000

About The Position

ND Defense designs, builds, and manufactures an array of military and commercial products including tactical wheeled vehicles, heavy trucks, and products for multiple other verticals. As our Braking System Engineer, you will work on a wide variety of vehicles across multiple programs. This is a role for someone who is energized by variety rather than worn down by it. Priorities shift, programs compete for attention, and the ability to pivot without losing momentum on the projects already underway is what makes this job work.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in braking system design or vehicle chassis systems engineering, including hands-on work with pneumatic brake systems and ABS/ESC integration.
• Comfortable reviewing and interrogating 3D CAD models and assemblies (e.g., Creo, NX, CATIA) to make fast, sound engineering calls.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.62): a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with heavy trucks is preferred.
• Knowledge of functional safety requirements and fail-safe design strategies (e.g., ISO 26262) is a plus.
• Genuine interest in using AI tools to work smarter; not required on day one, but adoption of AI tools over time is expected.

Responsibilities

• Design and integrate braking systems across drive-by-wire conversions and new-vehicle programs, balancing performance, redundancy, and program timelines that do not always wait for perfect information.
• Juggle multiple braking subsystems, supplier relationships, and test schedules at once, reprioritizing as program needs change.
• Bring creative problem-solving to ABS/ESC integration, fail-safe design, and on-vehicle issues that do not have an off-the-shelf answer.
• Help build and refine the processes, standards, and documentation this role runs on; you will often be writing the playbook, not just following it.
• Get hands-on during prototype builds and on-vehicle validation, solving fit and assembly issues in real time on the shop floor.
• Look for ways AI tools and automation can take routine analysis or documentation off your plate so you can focus on the engineering that needs a person.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level