Mechanical Design Engineer - Suspension & Mobility

Position Overview

The Mechanical Design Engineer's responsibilities include but are not limited to; review project design requirements, provide input for potential additional requirements, develop, and execute the design of ideas for the product, review and justify designs during preliminary and critical project design reviews. The Design Engineer will create CAD models using MSI's parametric skeleton strategy, fully defining the bill of materials of the system. The Design Engineer will also manage the development of the drawing package used to convey the system requirement to the production team. The Design Engineer will ensure designs meet the goals and requirements outlined for the project and will report the design's status to the Project Manager to ensure it remains in line with the master project schedule. The Design Engineer will work with the Engineering Team to continuously promote professional self-growth and design knowledge.

The Mechanical Design Engineers will report to the Lead Suspension & Mobility Engineer. This position requires a full-time work week spent in the shop/office. Normal hours are Monday through Thursday 7:00am-4:30pm and Friday 7:00am-12:00pm. (Must be flexible to work additional hours as needed based on project requirements and deadlines).

Key Responsibilities

• Must demonstrate understanding of the function and purpose of vehicle sub-systems including, but not limited to chassis, suspension, drive train, brakes, exterior and interior systems, payload capacity, electrical, HVAC, fluid cooling systems. General hands-on experience with automotive or vehicle systems is a plus.
• Develop and manage vehicle components and assemblies in CAD. Use experience/knowledge to generate new design ideas. Work with Project Managers to provide continual schedule updates towards the progress of the overall project. MSI's design goals are to develop superior products by utilizing sound engineering principles and creative thinking. Our manufacturing goals are to minimize lead time and cost while building a high-quality component. The Design Engineer shall have experience with the application of GD&T techniques and ASME Y14.5 practices.
• Modeling at MSI is performed using PTC Creo 7.0. MSI has proven itself to be a leader with an "unmatched speed to market" approach by utilizing skeleton top-down parametric modeling. The Design Engineer shall understand the relationships that are built throughout the model using "external copy geometry" through assembly skeletons. A Senior Design Engineer will provide guidance of the model tree's parent and child structure relationships for each project. Design Engineers execute the design structure in the CAD system throughout the products developmental lifecycle process.
• The Design Engineer will perform structural FEA or mathematical analyses of a design within their capabilities. Experience with Ansys software is a plus. When necessary, the Design Engineer will work with outside FEA partners to manage and support the analysis effort by providing necessary information to these outside partners so they can provide MSI with a complete and through analysis summary that either confirms or directs modification of the design(s). The Design Engineer will also provide guidance to the Project Manager on when FEA should be used to validate a design. This will allow the Project Manager to plan and budget for the requested resources.
• The Design Engineer will work with the production team and vendor base to produce the prototypes. The Design Engineer will be expected to support manufacturing in the development of prototypes to ensure that the required changes for manufacturing are reported and implemented back to the CAD system. The Design Engineer is required to have a strong understanding of standard prototyping manufacturing methods.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining thorough and complete BOM's and production of accurate drawings for use in manufacturing processes and configuration management. Produce reports detailing analysis and design changes when necessary.
• Be able to develop a clear understanding of MSI's ERP system and how the other departments of the company function throughout the product life cycle.

Skills and Qualifications Required

• Minimum of a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering or similar
• Minimum 5 years in appropriate automotive, motorsports or defense vehicle related field
• Experience with sheet metal, weldments, and machined parts is a plus
• Minimum 3 years as high-level CAD user (CREO Preferred)
• Minimum of 1 year of PDM experience (Windchill Preferred)
• Experience in FEA (Ansys) is a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience designing and analyzing automotive components and systems
• Highly motivated, organized, and responsible.
• Leadership skills
• Ability to interact with all types of people under pressure
• Knowledge of machining practices, industry workings, fabrication shop procedures
• Microsoft Office Suite experience
• Must be able to verify U.S. Person Status as defined by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
• Ability to obtain security clearance if deemed necessary for position.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.

The MSI Operating Code

Every employee at MSI is expected to operate in accordance with the MSI Operating Code. These seven principles define how we think, decide, and execute. They are not aspirational. They are the working standard by which all employees are evaluated.

The Seven Principles

• Own It. If a problem touches your function, it is yours until it is solved or explicitly transferred. Do not wait. Do not delegate upward. Do not hide behind process. Ownership means driving to resolution, not monitoring status.
• Kill the Wrong Fight. Before optimizing a solution, question whether the problem is yours to solve. If an opportunity requires MSI to become something we are not, kill it fast. The discipline to say no is what protects our ability to say yes to the right things.
• Move Before You're Told. Speed is MSI's compounding advantage. We move when directionally correct and adjust in motion. Leaders who wait for permission are not leading. We would rather correct a fast decision than wait for a perfect one.
• Solve Before You Contract. Prove the integration works before formalizing the relationship. Capability first, paperwork follows. Working capability is the strongest negotiating position and the most honest form of business development.
• Integrate First. MSI's moat is not any single technology. It is the ability to integrate modular systems faster and more effectively than anyone else. Every decision should reinforce our position as the integration hub.
• Say It Now. Silence is not alignment. If you disagree, say so, with data, with reasoning, and with an alternative path. Passive execution is institutional risk.
• Build Beyond Yourself. If your function depends on your presence to operate, you have not built anything. Develop your people. Document your processes. Create depth that survives your absence.

Benefits

• 401(k) with employer match
• Dental Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Parental and Maternity Leave
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off – 120 hours per year to start (prorated in first year of employment)
• Continuing Education
• Annual Year End Paid Holiday Closure

Classification

• Position is full-time, Exempt

MSI Defense Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We recruit, hire, train, promote, and compensate employees based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, including race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. MSI Defense Solutions is committed to fostering a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.