Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer - Exteriors

As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Exteriors, you will be responsible to design, prototype, validate, release and launch components for current and future vehicle programs. Exteriors covers a diverse family of components including; Front & Rear Fascia Assemblies, Wheel Liners and Sound Absorbers, Underbody shields, Rocker panels and other trim components. Front End structures, Active grille shutter systems, luggage compartments, Badges and other decorative parts, etc.

You will be part of the team that creates and executes complex exterior vehicle systems in terms of styling, function and quality. You will utilize your expertise in one or more of these commodities and develop as a full vehicle engineer, designing and delivering entire systems rather than just components. You ll interface with many other vehicle engineering teams and work cross functionally with Studio design from the concept phase all the way to manufacturing and quality teams for the launch.

You will be part of Tesla s vehicle engineering organization and report to the Engineering Manager of Exterior Systems.

Responsibilities

As part of Vehicle Exterior Engineering team, you will design release and launch exterior components and subsystems, aligned with program product profile with responsibilities to include:

• Concept engineering & feasibility;
• Packaging & layout within vehicle architecture;
• Design to deliver customer-driven exterior system targets for craftsmanship, function, cost and weight;
• Participate in the iterative process with the Tesla design/styling studio to deliver the optimal balance of form vs. function vs. cost;
• Detail design including surface development, structures, datum strategy, attachments, GD&T.
• Complete and release component & sub system design, utilizing a mix of in-house design and supplier engineering where required;
• Utilize DFSS methodologies as appropriate during the design, validation and launch of the program;
• Interpret CAE simulation results and integrate recommendations into product design;
• Collaborate with key suppliers for approving tooling designs for block out and manufacturing;
• Support overall vehicle development milestones and prototype/production build events;
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams within the Tesla Vehicle Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and Procurement groups to ensure system manufacturing and assembly feasibility and serviceability.
• Responsible for technical documentation to include DFMEAs, DVP&R s.
  

Requirements

• BS/MS degree in Mechanical Engineering or another related field. Exceptional work and achievement will be accepted instead of an academic degree.
• 5 years of experience in automotive or similar field in preferred, proven evidence of technical aptitude can be a substitute for exposure.
• Catia V5 or V6 experience is required. Extensive experience and proven expertise in other CAD software are acceptable.
• Strong understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals is required.
• Evidence of following the design process from initial concept stages through tooling release and production launch is required.
• Experience managing suppliers for product development is preferred
• Exposure to a mix of design challenges for variety of materials and processes such as stamping, injection molding, casting, composites is preferred.
• Knowledge of designing kinematics, mechanisms, electromechanical components is a plus.
• Understanding the fundamental differences in design and engineering between low and high-volume production, as well as entry and premium vehicle requirements is a plus.
• Experience with DFSS methodologies during the design, validation and launch of automotive programs is a plus
• Strong familiarity with the development of specifications, DFMEAs, DVP&R s and other technical documents is a plus.
• Demonstrating an ability to manage difficult projects with tight timing constraints and provide examples of such scenarios throughout your career is a plus.