Vehicle Dynamics Performance Engineer

Stellantis•Chelsea, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Performance Engineer (PPE) for Vehicle Dynamics is responsible for achieving vehicle-level ride and handling targets for Stellantis vehicles. The engineer coordinates with core dynamics engineers to establish development timelines that meet functional objectives, component tuning freeze dates, and electronic control hardware and software release dates. The role also analyzes and mitigates the vehicle-dynamics impact of engineering, brand, and marketing requests, coordinates activities with external stakeholders such as powertrain and mechatronics teams, and provides program-status updates to senior management. The PPE leads in-vehicle development of critical components to meet overall ride, steering, handling, and tire-performance objectives. Development takes place predominantly at Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan, with travel to other test locations as weather and test-surface conditions dictate. Travel is approximately 20% of the engineer’s time, mostly within North America but sometimes internationally. Significant winter travel may involve trips lasting two to three weeks. The role includes developing suspension systems and electromechanical components, conducting vehicle testing and subjective evaluations, working with suppliers and chassis-controls teams, developing prototype and production control solutions, and executing vehicle-performance and software-related DVP&R activities.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent major.
At least 8 years of related engineering experience.
At least 8 years of automotive testing and validation experience.
Excellent knowledge of vehicle dynamics.
Excellent knowledge and understanding of vehicle systems.
Experience with requirements-management and software-version-management tools.
Effective project-management, organizational, and teamwork skills.
Experience with data logging and analysis tools such as Vector CANalyzer and CANape.
Ability to drive vehicles at or above the limit of handling.
Valid U.S. driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Master of Science in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
DFSS Green Belt certification.
Hardware-in-Loop (HIL) simulation experience.
Mechatronics-based skills, experience, or education.
Self-starter with strong communication skills.
CAN networking experience.
Microsoft Office tools.

Responsibilities

Provide guidance to advanced chassis design teams to develop suspension architectures that support vehicle-line targets and FOs.
Lead development activities, including testing and subjective assessment of vehicle-level function, to ensure alignment with targets.
Develop suspension mechanical and electromechanical components and systems to achieve driving-dynamics functional attribute targets.
Conduct subjective evaluations of ride, steering, and handling, and assign ratings according to SAE subjective scales up to and beyond the vehicle’s handling limits.
Work with suppliers to drive changes needed to complete tuning of systems, including air springs, passive dampers, semi-active dampers, and electronic power steering.
Support active chassis teams in development, implementation, and testing of electromechanical hardware and supporting software through a data-acquisition system.
Develop prototype and production control solutions for electromechanical suspension components.
Contribute to development of semi-active damping strategies and algorithm functional execution.
Work with chassis-controls team members to integrate other active chassis-control components and systems.
Develop and execute vehicle-performance DVP&R.
Support the core software team in executing functional and failsafe DVP&R with vehicle-level tests.
Coordinate development timelines with core dynamics engineers, including functional objectives, component tuning freeze dates, and electronic-control hardware and software release dates.
Analyze and mitigate vehicle-dynamics performance impacts of engineering, brand, and marketing requests.
Coordinate activities with external stakeholders and provide program-status updates to senior management.