Our client, a leading consultancy in the automotive sector, is currently seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Suspension/Steering to join their team in Leamington Spa on a contract basis.
Technical Leadership:
- Serve as the technical authority in suspension design and development for assigned projects.
- Own and be responsible for engineering content, quality, and solutions.
- Ensure design integrity, compliance with standards, and alignment with customer requirements.
Project Execution:
- Lead the technical planning and execution of suspension engineering tasks from concept to production.
- Translate customer needs into actionable engineering deliverables.
- Manage technical risks and resolve issues proactively.
- Conduct and supervise experimental investigations, including data analysis and reporting.
- Prepare project reports, including cost and timing estimates and technical specifications.
- Identify and coordinate with external suppliers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Coordinate with internal teams (design, validation, manufacturing) and external stakeholders (suppliers, clients).
- Facilitate effective communication across disciplines to ensure alignment and progress.
- Represent the chassis engineering team in customer meetings, technical reviews, and programme updates.
Innovation & Problem Solving:
- Apply engineering theory to address complex problems with practical solutions.
- Promote continuous improvement in design, validation, and integration processes.
- Foster and implement innovative approaches to meet evolving technical challenges.
Mentorship & Team Leadership:
- Guide junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
- Provide technical sign-off and mentorship on chassis design reviews, validation plans, and documentation.
- Promote knowledge sharing and professional development within the team.
Quality & Compliance:
- Ensure all designs comply with regulatory, safety, and customer-required standards.
- Review product designs for adherence to legislative and engineering standards as required.
- Supervise engineering documentation, including reports, BOMs, FMEAs, DVP&Rs, and test specifications.
- Uphold high standards of quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle.
Customer Focus:
- Deliver excellent customer service by understanding and anticipating client needs.
- Act as a trusted technical advisor, building long-term relationships through reliability and performance.
- Ensure all deliverables meet or surpass customer expectations in quality, timing, and budget.
Technical Expertise:
- Experience in vehicle suspension design, development, and integration.
- Strong understanding of suspension and steering design and vehicle engineering.
- Experience with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, Pro/E, AutoCAD), GD&T, FMEA, DVP&R, and engineering documentation.
- Proficiency in managing systems from concept through production release and commissioning.
- Familiarity with data acquisition software, systems requirements tools, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
- Experience developing robust Development and Validation plans and executing them.
- Familiar with DFMEA, 8D, and fault tree approaches.
Project & Technical Leadership:
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Confidence and competence to approve technical solutions and guide engineering direction.
- Experience managing external vendors and internal teams to meet technical and commercial goals.
- Understanding of project financial targets, cost estimation, and budget management.
Communication & Collaboration:
- Ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences, including clients and executives.
- Experience mentoring junior engineers and promoting a collaborative team environment.
- Strong focus on understanding and meeting client expectations.
Industry-Specific Knowledge:
- Knowledge of suspension and steering design, geometry, and performance fundamentals.
- Experience with different suspension types (Double wishbone, MacPherson strut, multi-link).
- Understanding of vehicle dynamics fundamentals, theory, and application/testing.
- Experience with heavy-duty on and off-highway vehicles.
- Knowledge of automotive system design and development processes.
- Understanding of braking, wheels and tyres, traction control, and active steering and damping systems.
- Familiarity with supporting simulation tools such as ADAMS, FEA.
- Experience with suspension rig testing (e.g. K&C), vehicle dynamics testing.
Advanced Engineering Tools & Methods:
- Experience with requirements management software and systems modelling.
- Proficiency with DFMEA, DOE, 8D problem-solving, and validation testing strategies.
- Knowledge of agile and lean engineering practices.
Soft Skills:
- Strategic thinking with the ability to align technical decisions with business goals.
- Adaptability in a fast-paced, matrixed organisation.
- An innovative mindset with a willingness to challenge norms.
Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering; Master's degree preferred.
- Experience in design, validation, manufacturing, and product release of vehicle systems.
- Experience with commercial vehicle and off-highway is a plus.
- Beneficial experience in general vehicle integration (including powertrain, electrified systems).
- Proven experience in planning and coordinating design and/or production validation testing.
- Skill in developing engineering test specifications and analysing test data.
- Strong problem-solving skills utilising Design of Experiments (DOE), 8D, etc.
If you are an experienced Principal Systems Engineer with a focus on suspension and steering, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our client's dynamic and talented team in Leamington Spa.