1

Friction Material Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mechanical Design Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI ยท On-site

$75K - $101K/yr

Purpose of Job The Mechanical Design Engineer will be responsible to lead the Design & Development ... Course work or Specialization in Strength of Materials, Design for Six Sigma, Statics & Dynamics ...

Sr. Thermal Design Engineer

Kenosha, WI ยท On-site

$102K - $140K/yr

Concept development, standards development (material, design, and test focus). Responsible for ... Heat Transfer Modeling, Programming and Application Development with Kuli * Prototype Planning

Engineering teams are responsible for the design and integration of conveyor control systems for ... Skid, Skillet, Pallet, Friction Drive, EMS ++ * Must be willing to travel up to 25% * Willing to ...

Design Engineer Location: Waterloo, Iowa Salary: $65-75K plus 10% bonus Job Summary of the Design ... and materials. * Confirm system and product capabilities by designing feasibility and testing ...

Design Engineer Location: Waterloo, Iowa Salary: $65-75K plus 10% bonus Job Summary of the Design ... and materials. * Confirm system and product capabilities by designing feasibility and testing ...

Design Engineer Location: Waterloo, Iowa Salary: $65-75K plus 10% bonus Job Summary of the Design ... and materials. * Confirm system and product capabilities by designing feasibility and testing ...

Design Engineer

New York, NY ยท On-site

$120K - $250K/yr

... of verticals with minimal friction. We work in person, 5 days a week in our NYC office ... Engineers here talk to users, design features, and ship fast * We value clarity over process. You ...

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$175K - $300K/yr

... friction operational work across their organizations. At the core of Serval is an agentic AI ... As Serval's first Design Engineer, you are first and foremost a great frontend engineer - someone ...

Design Engineer

Glen Cove, NY ยท On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

The Design Engineer translates creative direction into buildable fixtures. Working on both new ... Specify materials and finishes in collaboration with Design, including glass, machined and spun ...

The Design Engineer translates creative direction into buildable fixtures. Working on both new ... Specify materials and finishes in collaboration with Design, including glass, machined and spun ...

Design Engineer

Glen Cove, NY ยท On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

The Design Engineer translates creative direction into buildable fixtures. Working on both new ... Specify materials and finishes in collaboration with Design, including glass, machined and spun ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Friction Material Design Engineer information

See salary details

$38K

$100.7K

$158K

How much do friction material design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for friction material design engineer in the United States is $100,738.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Friction Material Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Friction Material Design Engineer, you need a solid background in materials science, mechanical engineering, and tribology, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with CAD software, finite element analysis (FEA), and experience with material testing equipment are commonly required, along with knowledge of industry standards. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are crucial for developing reliable, high-performance friction materials that meet safety, regulatory, and customer requirements in industries like automotive or aerospace.

What are some common challenges a Friction Material Design Engineer faces when developing new brake materials?

Friction Material Design Engineers often encounter the challenge of balancing performance requirements with regulatory standards and cost constraints. Developing brake materials involves rigorous testing to ensure optimal friction, wear resistance, and thermal stability, all while minimizing noise and environmental impact. Additionally, engineers must collaborate closely with manufacturing teams to ensure the material can be produced efficiently at scale, and with quality assurance teams to meet safety certifications. This role requires adaptability and problem-solving skills to address evolving industry standards and customer expectations.

What does a Friction Material Design Engineer do?

A Friction Material Design Engineer specializes in developing and optimizing materials used for friction-based components such as brake pads, clutches, and other systems that require controlled friction. They work on selecting and formulating materials to achieve desired properties like durability, performance, and safety while considering environmental and cost constraints. These engineers collaborate with product designers, testing teams, and manufacturers to ensure that friction materials meet regulatory standards and function effectively across various applications. Their work is crucial in automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors where precise control of friction is essential.

What is the difference between Friction Material Design Engineer vs Brake Systems Engineer?

AspectFriction Material Design EngineerBrake Systems Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, materials science or mechanical engineering, certifications in materials testingEngineering degree, mechanical or automotive engineering, certifications in systems design
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departmentsAutomotive or aerospace companies, testing facilities, design offices
Industry UsageAutomotive, heavy machinery, aerospaceAutomotive, aerospace, transportation

Friction Material Design Engineers focus on developing and testing friction materials used in braking systems, while Brake Systems Engineers design and integrate entire brake systems. Both roles require engineering expertise and often overlap in automotive industries, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and specialization.

Infographic showing various Friction Material Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Full Time, 78% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 75% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,738 per year, or $48.4 per hour.

Mechanical Design Engineer

NSNA

Auburn Hills, MI โ€ข On-site

$75K - $101K/yr

Other

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

Company Overview

Nippon Seiki is a world-class manufacturer of instruments for vehicles, agricultural, and construction equipment. Established in 1945, Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan, with numerous facilities worldwide. N.S. International, Ltd. ("NSI"), a group company of Nippon Seiki, located in Troy, MI, is a tier one supplier of instrument clusters and head-up display units for FCA US, General Motors, BMW, Honda, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat and other OEM's.

Purpose of Job

The Mechanical Design Engineerย will be responsible to lead the Design & Development of automotive instrument clusters and head-up displays (HUDs). Responsible to review customer requirements, specifications and manufacturing constraints in order to create comprehensive engineering product design proposals, specifications, drawings utilizing and applying engineering principles, and Design Engineering Standards (DES). ย Responsibilities also include analyzing test data, performing root-cause analysis, preparation of 5-Phase/5-Why analysis reports as needed, Engineering reports, Technical Presentation material, and deliver Engineering Presentations to internal and external customers as required.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

Top duties or activities with the approximate percentage of time spent on each duty in a given year. Not all tasks/steps performed are listed.

Rank % of Role Focus Major Duty / Responsibility of Job 1. 35%
  • Lead the design and development of automotive instrument clusters (IPC) and head-up displays (HUDs), creation of 3D Models and 2D drawings including GD&T for all structural components considering DFM/DFA factors and assembly drawings, cost, material & component specifications, and other design factors.
  • Mentor in the optical design and simulation using light simulation software.
  • Mentor support-engineer(s) in the performing engineering calculation, stack-up analysis as parts of design development deliverables.
  • Ensure that development metrics are in compliance to APICE / IATF process requirements.
2. 20%
  • Post Development: Provide technical/design support during the pre-production phase (PV testing, root-cause analysis, 5-Phase report preparation), during production preparation phase (Quality, Assembly, Process related areas).
  • Provide technical/design support to assembly plants, suppliers related to quality, design related aspects.
  • Execute customer design changes and reflect to internal design deliverables, and documentation.
3. 15%
  • Interface with customer to understand design requirements during the design specification/Styling development, and product development phases. Compile Specification Confirmation Reports prior to the development.
  • Provide mentorship in the structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis using FEA Software.
4. 10%
  • Lead in the development of conceptual design, bill of materials (BOM), design feasibility studies for the RFQ response and technical presentation.ย 
  • Lead in the development of DFMEA, DVP, Failure Analysis/5-Phase Report creation.
5. 5%
  • Lead "In-vehicle performance checks" at customer location during pre-production phases to evaluate the design integrity of NSI Products and to Identify design flaws or issues and compile summary report.
6. 5%
  • Mentor design engineers in the benchmark analysis, attend trade shows (NAIAS) and compile market trend analysis of IPC/ HUD Products.
7. 5%
  • Assist in the prototype development during the build trials.
  • Assist manufacturing plants, quality teams in resolving technical, manufacturing, quality issues.
  • Assist in the testing & evaluation of IPC/HUD Products as required.
8. 5%
  • Mentor support engineer(s) in the preparation of technical documents in support of the quality gate assessment meetings with parent company in Japan.
Education, Experience and Knowledge

Required and/or preferred level of education, knowledge and skills that are necessary.

Education Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering; Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering preferred; Course work or Specialization in Strength of Materials, Design for Six Sigma, Statics & Dynamics, SQC, CAD / CAE, Optics principles, Materials, Manufacturing Principles. Related Experience
  • 4 - 8 years of automotive design & development experience.
  • Required work experience with CAD - CATIA/UG.ย 
  • Experience with the automotive, structures, plastics or optics are preferred.ย 
  • FEA analysis knowledge especially vibration, thermal, linear/non-linear Analysis are required experience. Working knowledge of ABAQUS preferred.
  • Experience working with optical design principles; OPTIS / Light Tools - Light simulation software package is preferred.
  • GD&T and Stack-up Analysis work experience are required.
Special Training or Competency ย  NSI Competencies
  • Adaptation/Flexibility: Includes keeping an open mind regarding new ideas and ways of doing things. Willing to consider alternative interpretations or ways of looking at the situation. Demonstrating flexibility.
  • Initiative/ Results Driven: Includes setting high standards of performance for self and others. Striving to accomplish goals even if it means personal sacrifice. Putting the goals of the organization above own goals.
  • Judgment/ Decision Making: Includes making decisions and takes actions that have beneficial impact. Effectively evaluating information in order to come up with sound conclusions and recommendations.
  • Resource Management: Includes setting clear objectives to guide action for self or others to accomplish goals. Organizing or adjusting information, people and materials to meet those goals.
  • Team Work: Includes encouraging and supporting the ideas and effort of others. Finding ways to help the team or group perform effectively.
Additional Information
Work Hours Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5pm. Off-hours as needed. Travel Requirements

10-15% internationally and/or domestically.

If domestic travel is necessary, valid drivers' license is required.
If international travel is necessary, valid passport is required.
ย 

Additional Information ย 
DISCLAIMER

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.


N.S. International, Ltd. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.ย 

Candidates must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years to comply with labor laws and job responsibilities.