Job Description
We are seeking a highly technical and experienced Senior Manager, Durability CAE to spearhead our structural simulation department. In this pivotal leadership role, you will direct a multidisciplinary engineering team performing high\-fidelity CAE across Explicit Dynamics (e.g., high\-energy chassis impacts, underbody strikes) and the Implicit Domain (e.g., static strength, fatigue, vibration).
As the technical anchor for virtual structural sign\-offs, you will ensure our vehicle architectures achieve world\-class durability and safety standards long before the first physical prototype is built. The ideal candidate brings a "master\-level" background in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and a proven track record of scaling high\-performing teams within an OEM or high\-growth EV environment.
Technical Leadership \& Strategic Oversight* Virtual Validation Authority: Lead the structural durability and fatigue sign\-offs for all critical systems, including Body\-in\-White (BIW), chassis, frames, and EV\-specific battery structures.
* Advanced Simulation Management: Oversee complex, full\-vehicle explicit simulations—including sand dune impacts, rock scrapes, and lateral curb strikes—while ensuring numerical stability through rigorous analysis of energy plots and mass scaling.
* Methodology Innovation: Drive the development of next\-generation CAE workflows, focusing on advanced material failure modeling, in\-house fatigue S\-N curve generation, and the integration of AI/Machine Learning for automation.
* Test\-to\-Simulation Correlation: Lead correlation efforts using data from proving grounds and lab\-based test rigs to ensure virtual models achieve high\-fidelity replication of real\-world physics.
Team Management \& Organizational Growth* Mentorship \& Directing: Lead and grow a large team of CAE engineers, providing deep technical coaching and defining professional development pathways.
* Resource \& Budget Strategy: Manage manpower allocation, project timelines, and software budgets to align CAE deliverables with aggressive vehicle program milestones.
* Cross\-Functional Synergy: Partner closely with Design, Physical Testing, Materials, and Program teams to ensure structural integrity is prioritized during the earliest architectural phases.
* Quality \& Standards: Establish robust simulation and reporting standards to ensure all technical presentations provide clear, actionable design recommendations to executive stakeholders.
* Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering (Master’s or Ph.D. strongly preferred).
* Experience: 10\+ years in automotive CAE, including 3–5 years in a formal leadership or managerial role.
* Solver Mastery: Advanced proficiency in LS\-DYNA (Explicit) and Abaqus, Nastran, or OptiStruct (Implicit). Understanding of multi\-body dynamics and experience is a plus.
* Fatigue \& Joining: Deep expertise in fatigue life prediction software (e.g., nCode DesignLife or FEMFAT) and the durability of metal joining methods.
* Software Stack: Expert\-level command of pre/post\-processing tools such as ANSA, HyperMesh, HyperView, or Meta/Post.
* Executive Presence: Ability to translate complex technical data into high\-level insights that drive rapid, multi\-domain design decisions.