CAE Engineer - Piston Structures & Durability

Job Description

About the role. We are seeking a CAE Engineer to support piston structures and durability within Global Virtual Engineering. This role converts engineering questions requirements and failure modes into physics-based analysis and clear design decisions. The engineer will independently execute moderate-scope work resolve non-routine technical issues and partner with program teams design-release engineers suppliers and other virtual-analysis specialists.

Why this role matters. The role helps GM make earlier higher-confidence decisions on piston and cranktrain hardware by combining structural CAE engineering judgment risk-based evaluation and reusable capability development. The successful candidate will contribute to production program support while improving standard work automation and the teams ability to detect and reduce design risk.

What you will do:

Lead piston structural and durability evaluations from problem definition through recommendation including load definition model setup analysis execution post-processing interpretation and technical reporting.

Assess piston and related component performance across thermal mechanical inertia pressure bore-distortion clearance and other relevant operating conditions.

Use appropriate CAE fidelity for the engineering decision: fast screening methods for broad option spaces and higher-fidelity models for critical risk retirement and design release decisions.

Diagnose non-routine issues perform sensitivity and variation studies identify likely failure mechanisms and recommend practical design or analysis improvements.

Connect analysis to requirements DFMEA failure modes detection/prevention methods and qualification evidence so that virtual work directly supports risk reduction.

Prepare concise traceable analysis reports and decision packages for program teams DREs suppliers leadership reviews PPDR/PRTS support and warranty or field investigations as needed.

Maintain and improve piston-analysis standard work procedures templates macros and reusable data practices; identify opportunities to improve cycle time physics repeatability and first-time quality.

Develop automation and capability improvements using appropriate tools such as Python MATLAB Excel/VBA or comparable scripting and post-processing methods.

Support benchmarking and method development including comparison of alternative tools model fidelity correlation evidence and emerging virtual-engineering practices.

Share knowledge and coach developing engineers or technical partners on analysis methods standard work interpretation and quality expectations.

Collaborate across piston rings connecting-rod cranktrain lubrication/tribology materials testing design and program organizations to deliver customer-focused outcomes.

Required qualifications:

Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Automotive Engineering Aerospace Engineering Materials Engineering or a related technical discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.

Professional experience applying CAE FEA or comparable engineering simulation methods to structural durability thermal-structural or related mechanical problems.

Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited guidance exercise sound engineering judgment and determine an appropriate course of action within established procedures and practices.

Experience defining analysis inputs and boundary conditions evaluating model quality interpreting results and communicating limitations uncertainty and recommendations.

Ability to identify and resolve non-routine technical problems and manage moderate-scope work through completion.

Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to explain technical conclusions to both engineering specialists and broader program audiences.

Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams suppliers and customers while maintaining accountability for quality timing and follow-through.

Preferred qualifications

Masters or Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering Automotive Engineering Aerospace Engineering Materials Engineering or a related technical discipline.

Experience with piston structures piston pins connecting rods cranktrain components engine durability or related powertrain hardware.

Experience with tools such as Abaqus HyperMesh FLARE AVL EXCITE or comparable pre-processing solving and post-processing environments.

Knowledge of piston failure modes and performance topics such as safety factors thermal loading bore distortion skirt contact/scuffing land clearance piston noise pin behavior or fatigue.

Experience with DFMEA risk-based evaluation planning design variation/sensitivity studies qualification evidence or virtualphysical correlation.

Experience developing or maintaining engineering standard work analysis procedures Excel/VBA tools Python/MATLAB scripts automation or reusable engineering workflows.

Experience working with production programs supplier technical issues warranty/field investigations or design changes under timing pressure.

Experience applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to engineering workflowssuch as surrogate modeling reduced-order modeling design-space exploration optimization or predictive analyticsand using design synthesis methods to generate evaluate and down-select component or system concepts.

Location: Hybrid. This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the - Global HQ Warren MI three times per week at minimum or other frequency dictated by the business

Relocation: This role MAY be eligible for relocation benefits.

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week or other frequency dictated by their manager. The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role. Relocation benefits are available for candidates who qualify under company policy. The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen U.S. permanent resident asylee or refugee).

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