Vehicle Dynamics Performance Engineer

Position Overview

The Project Performance Engineer (PPE) for Vehicle Dynamics is responsible for achieving vehicle-level ride and handling targets for Stellantis Vehicles. The candidate will coordinate with a team of core dynamics engineers to establish development timelines, meet functional objectives, component tuning freeze dates, and electronic control hardware/software release dates. They will also analyze and mitigate the vehicle dynamics performance impact of various engineering, brand, and marketing requests, while leading coordination with external stakeholders (powertrain, mechatronics, etc.) and providing updates to senior management.

The PPE is tasked with in-vehicle development of critical components to meet overall ride, steering, handling, and tire performance objectives. This work is conducted predominantly at the Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan, with travel required to other test locations as weather and surface conditions dictate. Significant travel occurs during the winter months (trips lasting 2–3 weeks, approximately 20% of the Engineer’s time, mostly domestic within North America but also international).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to advanced chassis design teams to develop suspension architectures that support vehicle line targets and FOs.
• Lead development activities including testing and subjective assessment of vehicle-level functions to ensure alignment with targets.
• Develop suspension mechanical and electromechanical components and systems to achieve driving dynamics functional attribute targets.
• Perform subjective evaluations of ride, steering, and handling, assigning ratings per SAE subjective scales up to and beyond the vehicle’s handling limits.
• Collaborate with suppliers to drive necessary changes for tuning systems including air springs, passive dampers, semi-active dampers, and electronic power steering.
• Support active chassis teams in the development, implementation, and testing of electromechanical hardware and supporting software using data acquisition systems.
• Develop state-of-the-art prototype and production control solutions for electromechanical suspension components.
• Contribute to the development of future semi-active damping strategies and algorithm functional execution.
• Collaborate with chassis controls team members to ensure seamless integration with other active chassis control components and systems.
• Plan and execute vehicle performance DVP&R.
• Support the core software team in executing functional and failsafe DVP&R with vehicle-level tests.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• A minimum of 2 years of related engineering experience.
• At least 2 years of automotive testing and validation experience.
• Excellent knowledge of vehicle dynamics and vehicle systems.
• Experience with requirements management and software version management tools.
• Strong project management, organizational, and teamwork skills.
• Experience in data logging and analysis using tools such as Vector CANalyzer and CANape.
• Must be capable of driving vehicles at or above the limit of handling.
• Valid US driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited university.
• DFSS Green Belt certification.
• Hardware-in-Loop (HIL) simulation experience.
• Mechatronics-based skills, experience, or education.
• A self-starter with strong communication skills.
• Experience with CAN networking.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.