CAE Body Structure Engineer

General Motors•Warren, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The CAE Body Structure Engineer performs computer-aided engineering (CAE) and structural analysis for vehicle product development. The role builds and runs analytical models, interprets results for customers, and works with Product Development Teams (PDTs), compartment integration teams, and other engineering groups to assess designs and meet product requirements. The engineer develops analysis capabilities and root-cause methods, evaluates complete trimmed vehicle structures, and recommends design solutions that address performance issues efficiently in terms of mass and cost. The position creates and executes FEA plans, builds and updates models from CAD solid models and NX math data, debugs supplier vehicle-structure models, and coordinates internal and supplier resources to meet program milestones. It also supports virtual design assessments, topology optimization, test and development programs, CAE tools and process improvements, and the interpretation of physical test results. The engineer prepares virtual assessment presentations and CAE reports, provides technical guidance to body structure PDTs, and stays current with technology, competitive products, and CAE tools and trends. The role follows a hybrid work policy of three days in the office and two days remote, and the employee must be able to report to a local office.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
Three years of experience as a CAE Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, or in a related role.
Three years of experience with linear analysis, including NASTRAN and OPTISTRUCT.
Three years of experience with nonlinear analysis, including LS DYNA.
Three years of experience using material properties as inputs to CAE analysis.
Three years of experience with CAE modeling tools.
Three years of experience with quasistatic nonlinear analysis, NVH including modal and optimization, durability analysis, and dynamic crash simulation.
Three years of experience building FEA models from CAD solid models.
Three years of experience creating CAE geometry or constructing and updating FEA models from NX math data.
Must be able to report to a local office under the hybrid work policy.

Responsibilities

Capture information from sources inside and outside GM; build and run analytical models and interpret results for customers.
Attend development team meetings and interact with compartment integration teams.
Participate in developing new engineering analysis capabilities and in Product Development Teams for new, major, and minor designs.
Develop methods for problem root-cause analysis and identification.
Build FEA models from CAD solid models and create CAE geometry or construct and update FEA models from NX math data.
Perform structural analysis on complete trimmed vehicle structures, including BIW, chassis structure, interior structure, fixed glass, bumpers, modules, and closures.
Use FEA and other analysis methods to assess designs and create and execute FEA plans for assigned projects.
Work with Product Development Teams to share analysis results, provide design recommendations, and ensure product requirements are met and validated.
Lead CAE suppliers and internal resources to meet program milestones and deliverables.
Debug first-run vehicle structure models from suppliers.
Perform and coordinate virtual design assessments and compare results with performance requirements.
Recommend viable, mass- and cost-efficient design solutions to resolve performance issues.
Interface with body SMT, validation, structure integration, N&V, and safety integration engineers to balance vehicle structure requirements and design solutions.
Conduct topology optimization to identify architectural load paths and implement enablers into released math.
Plan and implement test and development programs to enhance CAE capability.
Recommend process automators and CAE enhancements for modeling software and solvers, and assist in developing new CAE techniques.
Use CAE to explain physical test results and engineer solutions with validation and release engineers.
Prepare virtual assessment presentations for program management and formal CAE reports as required.
Provide technical guidance to Body Structure Product Development Teams based on CAE assessments.
Stay abreast of new technology, competitive products, and the latest CAE tools and trends.