Senior CAD Design Engineer -- Automotive Exteriors

Job Description

Job Description

What a typical day looks like

You start your morning reviewing customer inputs and yesterday’s design notes. By mid-morning, you’re modeling and refining components in CATIA/NX, preparing complete detail and layout drawings for prototypes as well as updates to in-production parts. After lunch, you host a design review, align stakeholders on trade-offs, and capture decisions in documentation. You close the day by releasing data through the gated Product Delivery Process (PDP), updating timelines and costs, and ensuring every action is traceable in program records.

The role at a glance

• Create, modify, and release internal and external CAD data and drawings to drive new product launches for Magna Exteriors.
• Support current production with customer-driven VA/VE work and partner locally with Manufacturing during CI events.
• Participate in (and often lead) design reviews, surveillance activities, and program management tasks while maintaining impeccable documentation.

Scope and program context DE2 — Design Engineer

• Location: North America or Global
• Program load: Medium (2–4 programs at once)
• Program type/complexity: Standard programs
• Process: Product Delivery Process (PDP) gated launch
• Responsibility: Leads programs

DE3 — Senior Design Engineer

• Location: North America or Global
• Program load: Large (1–3 programs at once)
• Program type/complexity: High complexity
• Process: Product Delivery Process (PDP) gated launch
• Responsibility: Mentors and trains others

Core impact areas

1. Translate concepts into robust 3D models and drawings; collaborate with peers and leaders to mature ideas into manufacturable designs; keep work highly organized.
2. Think spatially in 3D and integrate internal data, CAE/simulation, math/analysis, and lessons learned to inform development.
3. Run/lead design reviews and project checkpoints, coordinating activities end-to-end; serve as the bridge between internal teams and customers; incorporate customer change requests thoughtfully.
4. Document thoroughly—drawings, renderings, reports—meeting both company and customer standards; schedule and conduct design reviews with the right stakeholders.
5. Own drawing systems, 3D modeling, layouts, and design definition; perform cost studies and tolerance stack-ups; create layouts and assembly drawings.
6. Work directly with customer design groups and Magna Program Management to advocate for Magna’s best-in-class design parameters—especially when proposals affect manufacturability or cost.
7. Drive continuous improvement, from process enhancements to product cost analysis; research and recommend upgrades.
8. Innovate toward patentable solutions; understand internal and USPTO submission procedures, approval criteria, and how to track internal/external patent status for relevance.
9. Partner with Magna Exteriors Product and Manufacturing Engineering on future concepts and advanced systems; champion Design for Manufacturing (DfM) for faster, safer, and more cost-effective assembly.
10. Execute tasks tied to Change Requests (CR) and Change Notices (CN) within the Magna Change X tool.
11. Capture best practices and lessons learned; disseminate insights across programs.
12. Support prototype, pre-production, and production builds as needed.
13. Pitch in on related tasks to achieve project and departmental goals; protect intellectual property.
14. Build strong, positive relationships with internal and external customers.
15. Assist program management on product/process development, including prototype tooling and builds.

PDP / TraX deliverables you own

• ME-003: Intellectual Property / Patent Searches
• ME-030: Critical Design Review (CDR)
• ME-035: CAE (Moldflow, FEA, Warpage Analysis, Other)
• ME-039: Customer Design Freeze
• ME-040: Data Release

You will work in close partnership with the Program Manager within Magna’s corporate PDP and the online requirements system, TraX.

Key competencies

• Communication & English proficiency: Write clearly, present confidently one-on-one, and represent the company professionally; listen well and collaborate effectively.
• Ethics & initiative: High integrity and values; a self-starter who acts decisively amid ambiguity.
• Safety & customer focus: Follow safety protocols, steward materials responsibly, and cultivate strong customer relationships.
• Collaboration & stakeholder alignment: Engage stakeholders to reach consensus and align to program goals.

Qualifications DE2 — Design Engineer

• Education (must): Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or a Technical field
• Experience (must): 4–9 years
• Microsoft tools (must): Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.
• Travel: Limited; occasional supplier and/or customer support as needed
• Work environment: Comfortable spending extended time on the manufacturing floor during pre/post-production builds and launch activities, including at customer sites when requested; able to occasionally lift/move up to 35 pounds.
• Direct customer/supplier experience (must): Skilled
• New product launch (must): Skilled
• Gated launch (must): Skilled
• Automotive OEM (must): Skilled
• CAD software (CATIA, NX, other) (must): Skilled
• Profile: Handles moderately complex tasks, works independently, leads programs without mentorship, and manages decisions with long-term impact.

DE3 — Senior Design Engineer

• Education (must): Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering or a Technical field
• Experience (must): 10+ years
• Microsoft tools (must): Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.
• Travel: Limited; occasional supplier and/or customer support as needed
• Work environment: Comfortable spending extended time on the manufacturing floor during pre/post-production builds and launch activities, including at customer sites when requested; able to occasionally lift/move up to 35 pounds.
• Direct customer/supplier experience (must): Expert
• New product launch (must): Expert
• Gated launch (must): Expert
• Automotive OEM (must): Expert
• CAD software (CATIA, NX, other) (must): Expert
• Profile: Tackles complex programs, manages multiple large-scale efforts, demonstrates full domain mastery, mentors others, and carries high-risk responsibility.

Tools, skills, and certifications Required

• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) knowledge
• Strong mathematics foundation
• GD&T fundamentals and the ability to read/interpret blueprints
• Ability to support and maintain DFMEA, Open Issue Lists, and timelines

Desired / Recommended

• Membership in a professional engineering organization related to Design Engineering
• ASME Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) certification

You should be proficient in

• GD&T
• OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing)
• Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA)
• Supplier Management
• CAD Software
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
• Product Design Experience
• Engineering Degree
• Supplier Negotiation Experience

Machines & technologies you’ll use

• CAD Software (NX CAD — Siemens)