Vehicle Dynamics Engineer - GM Defense

GM•Milford, MI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Role Vehicle Dynamics Performance Engineer has responsibility for the development and tuning of the Vehicle Dynamics for a given vehicle or vehicle platform. Vehicle Dynamics includes Vehicle Ride Tuning, Vehicle Handling Tuning, Chassis Controls Development, Steering Tuning/Calibration, Tire Development, etc. The Vehicle Dynamics Performance Engineer defines performance requirements and leads the tuning integration of the vehicle hardware.

Requirements

Bachelor in Engineering, Technology, Applied Physics, or related technical or science disciplines
5+ years of experience in design/development/analysis/test of chassis subsystems; suspensions, steering systems, tires, brakes, powertrain mounting as applied to the development of vehicle level dynamic performance
Must be experienced in subjective evaluation skills with the ability to accurately rate vehicle ride, handling, steering, stability, and acceleration/deceleration performance characteristics to set targets and status performance
Experienced in synthesizing new suspension, steering, tire/wheel, structures, and control system designs to meet vehicle level performance requirements and driving performance driven requirements into the sourcing documents
Knowledgeable in the use of Vehicle Dynamics analysis tools and procedures to set requirements and make coarse balance decisions.
Capability to use analysis to support the development of design recommendations
Understanding of tire mechanics, vehicle dynamics, testing and development practices to achieve balanced vehicle level performance
Must be willing to be flexible & take on tasks outside of templated job responsibilities
Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, or refugee)

Nice To Haves

MS in Engineering
In depth knowledge of Truck vehicle integration, Military Ground wheel vehicle knowledge
Experience on military or government projects
Experience in both advanced and execution phases of vehicle dynamics development
Previous experience in other vehicle performance areas (noise & vibration, chassis hardware development, thermal development, etc.)

Responsibilities

Tune the vehicle ride and handling systems including damper and steering tuning to meet requirements.
Develop tires to meet requirements including steering, ride quality, snow handling, dry handling, and wet handling evaluations.
Design the vehicle development test plan and material to support it – calendar, events, milestones, test vehicles, locations, supplier scheduling, development parts, and demonstrations.
Create and apply models to determine system performance and interactions analytically to guide hardware development as applicable.
Set up vehicle measurement instrumentation and execute measurements as required during development to guide process.
Interpret data.
Measure vehicle as part of the validation of vehicle to requirements – both MVSS (federal) and global and internal.
Accurately status vehicle dynamics performance to requirements and develop effective solutions to close gaps to VTS, Consumers Reports, warranty, customer satisfaction and magazine metrics.
Effectively report results to Program Teams and Integration management and escalate issues for prompt resolution.
Demonstrate vehicle performance of vehicle dynamics systems to management and media
Effectively participate in program meetings, rides, and other events to ensure that vehicle dynamics requirements are satisfied.
Initiate documents to provide engineering authority for design group and suppliers to execute design.
Work with engineering functions, suppliers, plant personnel and others to implement cost reduction, methods, and product improvements, and to support build programs
Support assembly plant at start of production as required
Supports ride evaluation trips and demonstrations.
Exchanges information with others as needed to work across architectures
Travel as required to GM & outside test facilities including but not limited to DPG, Northern Michigan, & customer test facilities (Army bases, NATC, Aberdeen, Yuma, etc.). This work varies at different phases of the development program as a vehicle is taken from initial concept and planning through prototype development and final buy-off and start of production at the assembly plant.