Motorsports Development Engineer

Yamaha has an excellent opportunity for a Motorsports Development Engineer to join our Motorsports team in Kennesaw, GA.  The Motorsports Development Engineer is a senior individual contributor responsible for the end-to-end engineering development of motorsports and performance accessories. You will lead component and subsystem design from concept through production release, applying strong engineering judgment to ensure products meet Yamaha standards for performance, quality, durability, cost, and manufacturability. This position operates with a high degree of technical autonomy and provides informal technical leadership without formal people-management responsibility.  

What you'll be doing:

• Lead the end-to-end design and development of motorsports and performance components from concept definition through production release, including CAD, drawings, and BOMs.
• Serve as technical owner for assigned components or subsystems, making day-to-day engineering decisions in alignment with Yamaha standards, processes, and cost targets.
• Plan, execute, and lead laboratory, bench, and ride testing to validate performance, durability, reliability, and production readiness. 
• Analyze and interpret test data, identify technical risks, and drive design iterations or mitigation plans to ensure quality and reliability objectives are met. 
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to communicate design intent, support prototype and production builds, and resolve technical issues.
• Support manufacturing readiness through design reviews, tolerance analysis, and resolution of production issues. 
• Coordinate engineering activities with Product Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, and Testing to support project timing and objectives. 

What you need to be successful:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
• 6–10 years of progressive experience in mechanical design, including ownership of components or subsystems through production release.
• Experience in motorsports, powersports, automotive, or other high-performance mechanical systems preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience designing performance-driven or durability-critical mechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, and their associated DFM methodologies; including machining, sheet metal, tube bending, castings, molded plastics, and welding. 
• Experience designing components/sub-assemblies belonging to larger assemblies with a strong understanding of DFA. 
• Proficiency SolidWorks and NX or equivalent parametric CAD tools. 
• Solid working knowledge of GD&T per ANSI/ASME Y14.5, including tolerance stack-up and drawing release standards. 
• Working knowledge of FEA for structural, thermal, or durability analysis and the ability to interpret results to guide design decisions. 
• Experience with release management, versioning, and document retention within PDM systems (SolidWorks PDM)
• Familiarity using project management software (e.g. Smartsheet, Asana) and experience operating under a Stage Gate project management framework.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and underrepresented minorities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Yamaha, we understand that talent comes in various forms; as such, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.  If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!  

What’s in it for you: 

• 401(k) and Profit Sharing 
• Fertility Benefits 
• 37.5 hour work-week 
• Medical, Dental, Vision 
• Life and AD&D Insurance 
• Wellness Program 
• Short-Term Disability Coverage (for hourly roles) 
• Long-Term Disability 
• Student Debt Repayment Benefits 
• Ability to borrow Yamaha product 

Reports to:  Department Manager 

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, veteran or disability or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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