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Body Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Body Design Engineer information

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$13

$42

$65

How much do body design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for body design engineer in California is $42.21, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35.07 and $52.49 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Body Design Engineer vs Structural Engineer?

AspectBody Design EngineerStructural Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Automotive, or Aerospace EngineeringBachelor's in Civil, Mechanical, or Structural Engineering
Work EnvironmentAutomotive, aerospace, or manufacturing industriesConstruction, infrastructure, or building projects
Industry UsageDesigning vehicle bodies, aircraft fuselages, or product shellsDesigning load-bearing structures for buildings and bridges

While both roles involve engineering design, a Body Design Engineer focuses on creating vehicle or product shells, emphasizing aerodynamics and aesthetics, whereas a Structural Engineer specializes in ensuring the safety and stability of buildings and infrastructure. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work in related industries, but their specific applications and design focus differ significantly.

What is a body design engineer?

A Body Design Engineer is a professional who designs and develops the structural and exterior components of vehicles, such as doors, hoods, fenders, roofs, and frames. They focus on ensuring that these parts meet safety, durability, and aesthetic requirements while collaborating with other engineering teams. Body Design Engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) software and work closely with manufacturing to ensure that designs can be efficiently produced. Their role is essential in creating vehicles that are safe, functional, and visually appealing.

What are some common challenges faced by body design engineers in automotive projects?

Body Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing aesthetic requirements with structural integrity, meeting safety regulations, and integrating new materials or technologies. They must coordinate closely with cross-functional teams, including manufacturing, electrical, and safety engineers, to ensure that all design aspects are feasible for mass production and meet quality standards. Additionally, tight project timelines and evolving customer expectations can add complexity to the role, requiring strong problem-solving skills and adaptability.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a body design engineer?

To thrive as a Body Design Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical engineering, knowledge of automotive body structures, and proficiency in CAD software, often supported by a relevant degree. Experience with tools like CATIA, NX, and familiarity with GD&T standards and manufacturing processes are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating across design, engineering, and manufacturing teams. These skills ensure that vehicle body components are engineered for safety, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness in a competitive automotive industry.
What are popular job titles related to Body Design Engineer jobs in California? For Body Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Body Design Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Body Design Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Body Design Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Body Design Engineer job openings:
Body Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Body Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,802 per year, or $42.2 per hour.

Design Engineer Body Exterior - Lighting, Tail Lamp

ALTEN Technology USA

Long Beach, CA • On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

We're ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life-from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.
As part of the global ALTEN Group-57,000+ engineers in 30 countries-we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.
When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you'll collaborate on some of the world's toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
Location: Long Beach, CA
As our Design Engineer Body Exterior - Lighting, Tail Lamp will be responsible for the end-to-end development of vehicle components and systems, from concept through production release. This role requires strong 3D design capability, deep understanding of engineering requirements, and the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions.
Key Responsibilities
CAD & Technical Design
  • Create and develop components using 3DX CAD with the ability to design parts independently.
  • Apply GD&T principles and perform dimensional variation analysis to ensure robust designs.
  • Conduct system and component-level design aligned with all program requirements.

Requirements & Validation
  • Design to meet Voice of Customer, regulatory, functional, quality, DFA (Design for Assembly), DFS (Design for Service), packaging, and clearance requirements.
  • Utilize validation methods including CAE, physical testing, and analytical techniques to confirm design integrity.

Feasibility & Manufacturing
  • Assess tooling, manufacturing, supplier sub-assembly, and vehicle assembly feasibility.
  • Evaluate surface feasibility, fit & finish, and craftsmanship considerations when applicable.
  • Perform interface and assembly feasibility studies, including packaging, static/dynamic clearances, joint analysis, GD&T datum schemes, and dimensional variation analysis.

Quality & Documentation
  • Maintain comprehensive design documentation and quality history.
  • Support technical reviews using DFMEA, DVPR, SCCAF (SC & CC), PFMEA, Control Plans, Robustness Checklists, Demonstration Matrices, Boundary Diagrams, Interface Matrices, and P-Diagrams.

Electrical & Software Integration
  • Develop and manage engineering transmittals, feature definitions, and related documentation for electrical and software interfaces.

Project Management
  • Utilize PLM systems (including BOM management) to control design data and release processes.
  • Manage engineering timing to support prototype builds, validation phases, and overall program milestones.
  • Prepare RFQ packages and support sourcing activities with purchasing and supplier teams.

Program Financials
  • Evaluate and track landed cost, vendor tooling (F&T), ED&T (as applicable), and other financial impacts to the program business case.

Engineering Budget Management
  • Oversee development expenses including prototype parts, tooling, and other engineering-related costs.

Salary:
  • $115,000-135,000
  • The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate's combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.
Please beware of job seeker scams and see this important notice on our careers page for more information about our recruiting process.
Compliance Notice: Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Drug Screening Requirement: As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug-free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.

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