Principal Engineer - Validation Technology

Position Purpose:

Provides technical leadership for Trailer Division R&D teams, pursues engineering excellence by leveraging and enhancing state-of-the-art product validation methods, and ensures [H] Trailer remains the leader in the suspension technology industry. Management of direct reports consisting of Validation Engineers.

Main areas of responsibility:

• Ensures the efficient development or modification of products through advanced research methods and tools.
• Enhances understanding of product performance such as structural analysis, fatigue life, vibrational characteristics, and vehicle dynamics.
• Mentors R&D engineers for their successful assimilation of R&D technology and methods.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for managing significant engineering technical projects and application of advanced R&D methods to ensure optimal product designs with minimal investment of resources – 40%
• Leads and mentors test engineers and virtual analysts with the use of specialized analysis software, such as ANSYS (FEA), ADAMS (Dynamics), RPC, nCode, hand calculations, free body diagrams, curve fitting, etc. - 40%
• Participate in the setup and execution of physical test and virtual simulation projects to ensure that continuous improvement is performed and optimal methods are developed and leveraged - 10%
• Lead R&D engineering excellence teams (model correlation team, material analysis activities, testing continuous improvement team) to ensure validation strategies are optimal - 10%

Education and Training

• A Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is required, or equivalent demonstrated industry experience in a technical leadership position. 

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years engineering experience in automotive (preferably commercial vehicles), heavy equipment, or related industry is desired
• A thorough understanding of engineering fundamentals and ability to perform hand calculations is required. Ability to use computer software for plotting and curve fitting is necessary.
• Experience using a Finite Element Analysis software (such as ANSYS) for stress and strain analysis is required.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and the desire for hands-on understanding of the product and associated physical testing is required.
• Course work in the areas of vehicle structural design, structural analysis, finite element methods, fatigue, and vehicle dynamics is a plus.

 Physical Demands

• Ability to lift and maneuver up to 25lbs with occasional twisting, reaching, and out of position body placement.
• Ability to maneuver and guide objects heavier than 25lbs with assistance from a crane, hoist, or other lifting device.
• Ability to drive powered industrial truck to position test fixtures and test samples.
• Ability to physically work on the underside of a Class 8 trailer – use of a roll-around stool, knee pads, or creeper is encouraged. Ability to use precision tools with fine dexterity to affix sensors to test samples – may require out of position body placement.
• Must be able to wear all required PPE – safety glasses, steel toe boots, and hearing protection when required.
• Ability to perform all required job tasks in a heated/non-air-conditioned test laboratory – refreshments provided during hot seasons; regular “breather” breaks are encouraged in the air-conditioned R&D office area.
• Ability to remain seated at a computer workstation for data entry, up to a couple hours at a time – brief stretching breaks are encouraged to reduce muscle stiffness and eye fatigue.

*NOTE: None of the physical lifting and manipulation within the job duties is repetitive.

Environmental Conditions

• Exposure to R&D and manufacturing setting.
• Approximately 50% desk/computer work in a temperature-controlled office environment and 50% work in a test laboratory environment that is heated in winter and fan cooled in summer.

Behavioral Traits

• Highly self-motivated
• Able to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to function in a fast-paced environment and tend to multiple projects with tight schedules

*This is not a comprehensive list of duties. Duties may change without notice in management’s sole discretion.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.