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Director Automotive Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Lead Engineer

Battle Creek, MI ยท On-site

$94K - $129K/yr

The ideal candidate will have strong automotive design experience and the ability to work closely ... At Freedom Motors USA, you'll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on products that improve ...

Senior Lead Engineer

Battle Creek, MI ยท On-site

$100K - $170K/yr

The ideal candidate will have strong automotive design experience and the ability to work closely ... At Freedom Motors USA, you'll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on products that improve ...

Quality Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI ยท On-site

$44.10/hr

Temp/Contract (High potential for direct hire with the company based on performance) Location ... This position is ideal for an experienced automotive engineer who enjoys problem-solving, cross ...

New

Senior Lead Engineer

Battle Creek, MI ยท On-site

$100K - $170K/yr

The ideal candidate will have strong automotive design experience and the ability to work closely ... At Freedom Motors USA, you'll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on products that improve ...

... automotive company. You will work directly with teams across the organization, turn high-value ... Direct, Measurable Outcomes Your work will directly improve internal productivity, automation, and ...

Senior Lead Engineer

Battle Creek, MI ยท On-site

$100K - $170K/yr

The ideal candidate will have strong automotive design experience and the ability to work closely ... At Freedom Motors USA, you'll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on products that improve ...

Showing results 21-40

Director Automotive Engineer information

See salary details

$73K

$194.7K

$254K

How much do director automotive engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for director automotive engineer in the United States is $194,709.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,500.00 and $253,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Automotive Engineer vs Automotive Engineer?

AspectDirector Automotive EngineerAutomotive Engineer
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire automotive engineering projects, manages teams, sets strategic goalsDesigns, develops, and tests vehicle components and systems
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Automotive, or Electrical Engineering; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Automotive, or Electrical Engineering
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles in R&D departments, corporate offices, or manufacturing plantsDesign labs, testing facilities, manufacturing sites

The main difference is that a Director Automotive Engineer focuses on strategic leadership, project management, and overseeing teams, while an Automotive Engineer is involved in the hands-on design and development of vehicle systems. Both roles require similar technical credentials, but the director position emphasizes management and strategic planning.

More about Director Automotive Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for Director Automotive Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Director Automotive Engineer job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Automotive Engineer jobs?

The most popular types of Automotive Engineer jobs are:

What states have the most Director Automotive Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Director Automotive Engineer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Director Automotive Engineer jobs?

For Director Automotive Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Director Automotive Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 85% In-person, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $194,709 per year, or $93.6 per hour.

Senior Lead Engineer

Battle Creek, MI โ€ข On-site

Freedom Motors USA, Inc.
Personal Servicesย โ€ขย 11 - 50 employees

$94K - $129K/yr

Other

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

About Freedom Motors USA

Freedom Motors USA is a leading manufacturer and retailer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, dedicated to redefining mobility and helping individuals maintain independence through innovative vehicle solutions.

About the Role

The Lead/Senior Mechanical Engineer will play a key role in the design, development, and continuous improvement of Freedom Motors' wheelchair-accessible vehicle conversions.

This position will lead engineering projects from concept through design, prototyping, testing, validation, and production implementation. The ideal candidate will have strong automotive design experience and the ability to work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, Quality, Purchasing, and other cross-functional teams.

A major focus of the role will be identifying opportunities to improve product performance, quality, manufacturability, customer experience, and cost while maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead mechanical engineering and vehicle conversion projects from concept through production.
  • Drive Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives to improve product performance, quality, manufacturability, and cost.
  • Identify opportunities to simplify designs, reduce manufacturing costs, improve assembly processes, and enhance the customer experience.
  • Design and develop mechanical systems, structures, mechanisms, and vehicle components.
  • Apply engineering principles to vehicle integration and modification of production vehicles.
  • Develop and modify 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings.
  • Work closely with Production and Manufacturing to identify and resolve design and assembly challenges.
  • Collaborate with Purchasing and suppliers on component design, sourcing, cost reduction, and implementation.
  • Support prototyping, testing, validation, and production launches.
  • Evaluate existing designs and develop innovative engineering solutions to improve functionality and reliability.
  • Ensure designs meet applicable engineering, quality, dimensional, and manufacturing requirements.
  • Participate in design reviews, problem-solving activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineering team members.
What We're Looking For
  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  • 7+ years of professional experience in automotive design and engineering.
  • Strong experience with mechanical design, vehicle engineering, and product development.
  • Experience with vehicle modification, integration, conversion, or specialty vehicle applications is highly preferred.
  • Strong understanding of GD&T and dimensional management.
  • Experience working with manufacturing and production environments.
  • Previous assembly plant launch or production launch experience preferred.
  • Strong understanding of design for manufacturability and assembly (DFMA).
  • Ability to analyze designs and identify opportunities for cost reduction and product improvement.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and cross-functional communication skills.
Technical Skills

Experience with the following is preferred:

  • Mechanism Design
  • Vehicle Engineering & Integration
  • Structural Design
  • Suspension and chassis systems
  • Door and liftgate systems
  • Fuel, exhaust, cooling, and braking systems
  • GD&T and Dimensional Management
  • Design for Manufacturing & Assembly
  • Root Cause Analysis and Problem Solving
  • Quality and engineering design tools
Software
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • SolidWorks
  • AutoCAD
  • Microsoft Office
  • Experience with additional CAD, PLM, or engineering software is a plus.
Why Join Freedom Motors USA?

At Freedom Motors USA, youโ€™ll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on products that improve peopleโ€™s mobility, independence, and quality of life. Youโ€™ll work in an environment where engineering ideas can move from concept to reality and where collaboration between Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, and other teams is essential to our success.

If youโ€™re an experienced automotive engineer who enjoys solving complex design challenges, improving products, and seeing your work make a real-world difference, weโ€™d like to hear from you.

Join Freedom Motors USA and help us continue to redefine mobility through innovative vehicle design and engineering.
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