SUMMARY:
This position is responsible for the end-to-end design, development, and support of wheels and tires, from initial concept through production and validation. The role includes CAD design and drawings, manufacturing support, and hands-on involvement in testing, mounting, and balancing to ensure performance, quality, and reliability.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Lead full lifecycle development of wheels and tires, including concept ideation, design, prototyping, testing, and production implementation.
• Design wheel and tire systems using CAD software, creating detailed 3D models, engineering drawings, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with internal teams and manufacturing partners to develop designs that meet performance, durability, cost, and manufacturability targets.
• Develop product specifications, select appropriate materials and components, and ensure designs meet application-specific requirements.
• Support and troubleshoot manufacturing processes for wheels and tires, including mold development, assembly, and quality control.
• Build, evaluate, and refine prototypes through hands-on testing, including mounting, balancing, and performance validation.
• Analyze test data, benchmark against competitive products, and iterate designs to optimize performance and reliability.
• Provide on-site or remote factory support to ensure successful product launch and ongoing production quality.
• Assist in the development and improvement of mounting and balancing processes, tools, and equipment.
• Maintain organized design records, reports, and documentation throughout the product development cycle.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by management.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Computer skills required:
o Spreadsheet Software (Excel);
o Design Software (2D and 3D CAD; Onshape preferred);
o Project Management Software;
o Word Processing Software (Word);
o Electronic Mail Software (Outlook);
o Presentation Software (PowerPoint);
• Other relevant skills
o Experience in Tire and/or Wheel Industry preferred.
o Experience sourcing/installing/maintaining manufacturing equipment preferred.
o Working understanding of tire mounting/balancing preferred.
o Internship, academic project, or professional experience in mechanical engineering preferred.
o Exposure to product lifecycle management (PLM) and finite element analysis (FEA) preferred.
o Hands-on experience with computer-aided engineering (CAE) and computer-aided design (CAD).
o Familiarity with 2D or 3D engineering design and manufacturing tools (e.g., Onshape, Solidworks, AutoCAD, ProE or other).
o Adequate knowledge of engineering analysis tools (ANSYS, ProMechanica or similar).
o Familiarity with engineering analysis and computing tools (MATLAB, Excel, LabVIEW, or similar).
o Solid understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science etc.
o Creativity and analytical skills.
o Ability to communicate technical knowledge in a clear and understandable manner.
o Technical writing skills.
o Spanish-speaking ability is a bonus, but not a requirement.
COMPETENCIES:
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.