Body Structure Engineer

The Body Structure Engineer designs and develops vehicle body floor structures in CAD, with a focus on supporting prototype builds and converting SUVs into wheelchair-accessible vehicles. This role plans and executes design, procurement, assembly, and validation activities while ensuring alignment with project timelines, quality standards, and cost targets. The engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, manufacturable, and cost-effective body structure solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop vehicle body (floor) structures using CAD tools, ensuring robust, manufacturable, and serviceable designs.
• Support all prototype, design verification, and process verification builds by providing complete and accurate CAD data and documentation.
• Generate and refine concepts and mock-ups to explore design options and optimize body structure performance.
• Plan design, procurement, assembly, and validation requirements and align them with overall project timing and deliverables, including Stage Gate and APQP processes.
• Ensure designs meet quality and cost targets and proactively propose low-cost alternatives without compromising performance or safety.
• Support design commonization efforts to standardize components and reduce complexity across product lines.
• Collaborate in the design of body structure fixtures to support manufacturing, assembly, and validation activities.
• Lead design reviews and present design intent, trade-offs, and risk assessments to stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, and Portfolio, to ensure designs meet functional, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Incorporate joining methods, particularly welding, into body structure designs to ensure structural integrity and manufacturability.
• Apply engineering fundamentals and best practices to improve durability, safety, and performance of body structures.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to body structure design, processes, and standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering field.
• At least 5 years of work experience within design, preferably in the automotive industry.
• Proficiency in designing body structures in CAD, with the ability to create detailed models and drawings.
• Hands-on experience with sheet metal design, including forming, bending, and fabrication considerations.
• Experience with joining methods, particularly welding, and their application in body structure design.
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals related to structural design, load paths, and durability.
• Ability to plan and execute design activities in alignment with project timelines, Stage Gate processes, and APQP deliverables.
• Experience supporting prototype, design verification, and process verification builds.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead design reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to balance quality, cost, and manufacturability when making design decisions.

• Previous assembly plant launch experience, especially ground-up design, is preferred.
• At least 5 years of work experience in the automotive industry is preferred.
• Experience with dimensional management and a solid understanding of GD&T is preferred.
• Experience designing fixtures to support body structure manufacturing and validation is beneficial.
• Familiarity with converting vehicles for specialized applications, such as wheelchair accessibility, is an advantage.
• Ability to contribute to design commonization efforts to reduce complexity and cost across platforms.

This role is fully onsite at a manufacturing and product development facility in Winamac. The Body Structure Engineer works closely with a team of product development engineers in a collaborative environment focused on designing and building wheelchair-accessible vehicles, including SUV conversions. The setting combines office-based CAD and engineering work with regular interaction on the shop floor to support prototype builds, verification activities, and fixture design. The position offers a structured, project-driven environment with defined processes such as Stage Gate and APQP. When converted to direct employment, the company offers a 401(k) program with a 5% match and an annual bonus opportunity in the range of 5–10% based on company performance.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Winamac, IN.

The pay range for this position is $95000.00 - $110000.00/yr.

I want to walk through what some of the great things about this position, Braunability, as well as being an Actalent consultant at Braunability. They are a large national company with multiple sites nationwide They are making major facility upgrades and automation upgrades. Their will be a variety of ways to build a variety skillsets that you can use to grow internally or take with you. They will give you automotive experience and manufacturing for consumer products as well. They have a company 401k match up to 40%. Good work environement. Ability to move up to different levels of senior engineering (categories 1-7) Through Actalent, you will have access to 2 weeks of PTO and 6 paid holidays that we provide in your first year that you can use in the entirety of 2023. We also provide multiple insurance and benefits options if needed that you can sign up for. I can send those over to you if you would like the chance to review those. Again those would be while you are on the contract portion with Braunability.

This is a fully onsite position in Winamac,IN.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 2, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $95,000 - $110,000