BODY STRUCTURES AND CLOSURE ENGINEER (DETROIT AREA)

Italdesign is an Italian design and engineering company specializing in automotive, transportation, and product development sectors. Based in Moncalieri (Turin) with over 1,300 employees worldwide, it has been shaping innovation and collaborating with leading car manufacturers and emerging players for more than 55 years. Renowned for its pivotal role in automotive design, Italdesign has developed iconic vehicles and offers comprehensive services spanning exterior and interior design, prototyping, engineering, and turnkey project management. Its vertical integrated approach ensures seamless support throughout the product lifecycle, from initial concept to homologation and series production, delivering solutions tailored to client needs. As an incubator of innovative technologies, Italdesign fosters advancements in mobility and prototyping. In recent years, it has expanded into electronic systems development, including infotainment, ADAS, high-voltage batteries, and Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs). This blend of technical expertise and creative design solidifies its position as a reference point in the industry. Since joining the Audi Group in 2010, Italdesign has continued to grow, combining aesthetics and functionality to pioneer cutting-edge solutions that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market. In 2024 Italdesign obtained the Top Employers Certification for the ninth consecutive year. Italdesign is looking for a charismatic person, a great lover of challenges and innovation, especially in the automotive sector, with displayed excellence in engineering and product development, who wants to join the new Italdesign office in the United States with the position of Staff Engineer-Body Structures. The role will directly report to the Engineering Manager of our customer, having a functional report with the Engineering Manager of Interior and Exterior based in Michigan. Responsibilities Responsible to lead the design and development of weight efficient BIW structural designs and closures to deliver the highest level of performance in NVH, durability and crash performance from a blank page through to production. Design with excellence at system and component level with great attention to every detail creating optimized for performance, size, weight, durability, and cost. Work closely with both internal teams and external suppliers using creativity and teamwork to lead integration of multiple systems in the most efficient way possible. Work closely with other stake owners and attribute owners across the company such as Vehicle Safety, Vehicle Dynamics, NVH, Durability, Manufacturing, Design Studio, etc. Collaboration with cross functional teams such as CAE by interpreting and using analysis results to guide and evolve the design. Collaborate and support tool buy-offs and secondary component changes. Ability to create testing plan to prove out design concepts and conduct physical testing to confirm the design meets performance targets. Ability to collaborate with the Design Team to evaluate Class A styling surfaces to provide feasibility assessments to deliver vehicle body structures and closures. Perform detailed analysis of section properties, materials and manufacturing processes through benchmarking activities to understand competitiveness of designs. Coordinate virtual engineering and physical validation testing activities for your designs. Coordinate and communicate with interfacing suppliers. Effectively provide direction to others and negotiate a balanced solution. Determine required tolerances using GD&T. Travel domestically and internationally as required. Key requirements 5+ years of expertise in automotive Body Structures systems and sub-systems at OEM or supplier. Experience with castings, extrusion process, stampings and their advantages and limitations. Knowledge of manufacturing processes applicable for Closures dynamic sealing such as extrusions, moldings, stampings, coatings, etc. Experience with structural load path planning and solving complicated packaging problems. Experience in full life cycle from concept to prototype to full production. Experience in technology, system and supplier selection with expectation of leading activities. Proven 3D CAD skills, proficient with CATIA V5/V6 or similar software. · A strong desire to create the very best product, working as an integral part of a very capable team. Preferential requirements Solid track record of successful system level integration Hands-on practical experience in prototype assembly and production assembly A strong understanding of various analysis tools such as ANSYS, OptiStruct, MatLab, ADAMS, etc. Project leadership and mentoring skills Detail oriented personality with a determined problem-solving attitude using an Engineering first principles approach Detailed knowledge of manufacturing processes related to body structure forming. Master/Construction Sections development experience. Design for vehicle level safety performance including regulatory requirements and homologation knowledge. Additional Information Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or equivalent from ABET accredited institution or equivalent body structures automotive experience. Language skills: Fluent knowledge of English is required; Knowledge of Italian is a plus;Workplace: Moncalieri (TO) and availability to travel Workplace: Oakland County – MI – USA and availability to travel Italdesign is committed to create an inclusive, diverse and safe workplace, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer (L.903/77). We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of the gender, ethnic, religion, sexual orientation, disability, parental status, or social origin.