Mechanical Design Engineer - CATIA V5

Senior CATIA V5 Mechanical Designer / Checker – Body-in-White (BIW) Tooling & Transfer Systems

Location: Southfield, MI

Travel: 5–20% (Domestic & International as Required)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior CATIA V5 Mechanical Designer / Checker with a strong background in Body-in-White (BIW) tooling, transfer systems, and fixture design. This position is focused on automotive body shop automation and requires hands-on experience designing and checking tooling for production environments.

Responsibilities

Design and check Body-in-White (BIW) tooling using CATIA V5

Develop detailed 3D models and 2D manufacturing drawings

Design transfer systems and tooling fixtures for automotive body shops

Modify existing tooling and develop new mechanical designs for simple to complex systems

Create kit sheets illustrating design revisions and modifications

Review customer specifications, sketches, and engineering data to ensure design accuracy

Apply North American automotive standards and customer specifications throughout the design process

Coordinate with Project Engineers, Technical Leaders, Mechanical Engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing teams

Support supplier integration, purchased components, and imported CAD models

Participate in installation, startup, debugging, and final equipment acceptance as needed

Required Qualifications

Approximately 8+ years of mechanical design experience

Expert proficiency with CATIA V5

Extensive experience with Body-in-White (BIW) tooling

Strong background in Transfer System Design & Coordination

Experience designing:

GEO Systems

Framing Lines

Bodyside Systems

Sub-Assembly Fixtures

Tooling Fixtures

Transfer Systems

Knowledge of:

North American automotive standards

Body assembly geometry

Fixture tooling

Tool stack-up methodology

Auto assembly strategies

Part flow through body shops

Pallet systems

Robot systems

Experience importing and coordinating purchased components including:

Weld Guns

End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT)

Switches

Supplier Models

Familiarity with:

NAAMS Standards

Customer CAD Standards

CAD attributes

CAD checking procedures

Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications

Associate Degree in Mechanical Technology or equivalent experience

Additional experience with Powertrain automation projects

Understanding of mechanical design sequences and controls documentation

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

Ability to interpret customer specifications and technical documentation

Knowledge of manufacturing processes and mechanical systems

Ability to work independently and within cross-functional engineering teams

Travel

Domestic and international travel may be required (approximately 5–20%) to support equipment installation, startup, commissioning, and customer acceptance.

Ideal Backgrounds

Body-in-White (BIW)

Automotive Tooling

Automation Systems

Transfer Systems

Tooling Fixtures

Machine Building

Automotive Assembly Equipment

CATIA V5 Mechanical Design