A client of ours is looking for a full-time, US-based contractor or employee (remote or on-site) to act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in an FEA automotive engineering role. The ideal candidate is an ambitious, customer-oriented individual with a strong background in FEA involving Abaqus, Ansys, and/or NASTRAN.

Role Description

You will be the primary link between agentic technologies and the rigorous physics-based engineering standards of the client’s Tier-1 automotive partners. You
will act as the “physical conscience” of the deployment team, ensuring that our software systems are not only high-performing in simulation but are able to augment pipelines optimized for real-world manufacturing processes.

Required Qualifications

● Advanced CAE/FEA Expertise: Mastery of structural analysis and simulation-driven design. Proven ability to interpret complex FEA results (Abaqus, Ansys, or NASTRAN) and translate them into actionable design modifications.
● Simulation-to-Physical Correlation: Proven track record of validating digital twin/CAE models against physical test data. You know why a simulation fails to match reality and how to tune the model accordingly.
● Technical Customer Liaison: Experience acting as the technical “face” of a project, communicating complex mechanical trade-offs to both executive stakeholders and software developers.
● Automotive Regulatory & Quality Familiarity: Hands-on experience working within stringent automotive Quality Management Systems (like IATF 16949) and safety standards enforced by agencies like NHTSA (FMVSS) or UNECE. Working knowledge of applying overarching frameworks alongside domain-specific standards like ISO 26262 (Functional Safety) and ASPICE.
● Requirements Engineering: Ability to elicit and define “testable” mechanical requirements—ensuring that design intent is preserved from the initial PRD through to the final V&V (Verification & Validation) report.
● Deep Manufacturing Literacy: Hands-on experience designing for and simulating at least two of the following: High-speed machining, Sheet Metal (stamping/pressing), Injection Molding, or Additive Manufacturing. Understanding of how different variables affect part performance.
● Client-Specific Verification & Validation: Participated in the development and execution of V&V strategies to ensure the final product is verified against technical specs and validated for the client’s use. Familiar with generating the rigorous testing documentation required to definitively prove client requirements have been satisfied.

Preferred Qualifications

● Software Literacy: Understanding of Software Engineering fundamentals (Git, Python, Java, Go, Typescript) and how ML models interface with agentic software systems.
● PLM & Data Integrity: Experience managing complex BOMs and requirement architectures within PLM systems (Teamcenter, Windchill, or Enovia).
● Mechanical & Product Design: Experience in full-lifecycle mechanical design, moving from conceptual sketches to production-ready, complex structural assemblies.

Key Responsibilities

● Physical Grounding of AI: Provide the domain expertise to ensure agentic systems produce designs that are physically viable.
● CAE Strategy Lead: Guide client stakeholders on how to integrate output into their existing simulation pipelines, ensuring mesh integrity and boundary condition accuracy.
● Design for Manufacturability (DfM) Oversight: Review generated geometry to ensure compatibility with machining tool-paths, mold draft angles, or sheet metal bend radii.
● Cross-Functional Translation: Act as the “translator” between Software/ML teams and the client’s mechanical engineering, design, and product teams.
● Root Cause Analysis: Utilize engineering fundamentals to troubleshoot system-level failures in the field, bridging the gap between digital predictions and physical hardware outcomes.

Compensation

To be discussed with the client.