Design and Release Engineer - Underbody

Position Overview

The Design Release Engineer (DRE) – Underbody takes full ownership of the end-to-end design, development, validation, and production release of structural, mechanical, and protective components located beneath the vehicle cabin floor.

Core Responsibilities

• Component Ownership: Lead engineering lifecycle management for floor pans, frame rails, crossmembers, torque boxes, heat shields, EV battery enclosures, aero panels, and splash guards.
• CAD & Packaging: Partner with CAD designers to package components within tight clearance envelopes, avoiding interference with exhaust, suspension, high-voltage routing, and powertrain systems.
• Structural Performance: Collaborate with FEA teams to optimize parts for crashworthiness (side-impact, pole, underbody strike), NVH, and structural durability.
• Supplier & Manufacturing Management: Direct Tier-1 suppliers from prototype phase through Start of Production (SOP), ensuring Design for Manufacturability (DFM) across sheet metal, extrusions, and composite structures.
• Testing & Validation: Define and execute the Design Verification Plan & Report (DVP&R), overseeing gravel impact, salt spray corrosion, thermal durability, and fatigue testing.

Qualifications & Technical Skills

• CAD Systems: Proficiency in CATIA V5/V6 or Siemens NX.
• Materials & Joining: Hands-on experience with Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS), aluminum alloys, composite shielding, spot welding, structural adhesives, SPR, and standard automotive fasteners.
• Manufacturing Processes: Deep understanding of stamping, extrusion, compression molding, surface coating/e-coat, and corrosion mitigation.
• Quality & Engineering Standards: Direct experience applying DFMEA, DVP&R, GD&T, APQP, and PPAP frameworks.