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Ride Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

ZF

Ride Development Engineer

Northville, MI · Hybrid

What you can look forward to as a Ride Development Engineer: * Responsible for coordinating ride work activities with customer, submitting ride work requests through Engineering Resource Manager, and ...

New

ZF Group

Ride Development Engineer

Northville, MI · On-site

What you can look forward to as a Ride Development Engineer: * Responsible for coordinating ride work activities with customer, submitting ride work requests through Engineering Resource Manager, and ...

Stellantis

Tire Design Release Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

$38 - $43.50/hr

Define tire performance specifications aligned with vehicle-level targets (ride, handling, NVH ... Suspension/Chassis Engineering * Vehicle Dynamics * Wheel & Brake Systems * Manufacturing and ...

Astemo

Sr. Engineer - Core Engineering

Farmington Hills, MI

$102K - $141K/yr

In this role, the Senior Engineer will lead and influence material selection, structural integrity ... Knowledge of vehicle dynamics and ride & handling fundamentals, including an understanding of how ...

Astemo Ltd

Sr. Engineer - Core Engineering

Farmington Hills, MI · On-site

$102K - $141K/yr

In this role, the Senior Engineer will lead and influence material selection, structural integrity ... Knowledge of vehicle dynamics and ride & handling fundamentals, including an understanding of how ...

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All JobsRide Engineer JobsRide Engineer Jobs in Michigan

Ride Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$51.9K

$78.9K

$133.8K

How much do ride engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for ride engineer in Michigan is $78,889.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,700.00 and $91,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves working in high-demand industries, holding managerial positions, or possessing rare expertise and certifications.

What does a ride engineer do?

A ride engineer is responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining amusement park rides to ensure safety and proper operation. They often work with mechanical, electrical, and control systems, and must adhere to safety standards and regulations. The role may require technical skills, certifications, and attention to detail to prevent accidents and ensure ride reliability.

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

To thrive as a Ride Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical or electrical engineering, often supported by a relevant engineering degree and experience with ride design or theme park systems. Familiarity with CAD software, PLC programming, and safety compliance standards like ASTM F24 is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and clear communication help you excel in cross-functional environments. These skills are crucial for ensuring the safety, reliability, and innovation of amusement park rides.

What are some common challenges Ride Engineers face when maintaining and upgrading amusement park rides?

Ride Engineers often encounter challenges such as diagnosing complex mechanical and electrical issues, ensuring compliance with rigorous safety standards, and coordinating maintenance schedules to minimize ride downtime. They must quickly adapt to evolving technologies and work collaboratively with operations teams, electricians, and mechanics to resolve problems efficiently. Balancing preventative maintenance with urgent repairs, especially during peak park seasons, requires strong organizational and communication skills.

What is the difference between Ride Engineer vs Ride Technician?

AspectRide EngineerRide Technician
CredentialsEngineering degree or technical certification, specialized trainingTechnical diploma or certification, hands-on training
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and overseeing ride systems; office and manufacturing settingsMaintenance, repair, and troubleshooting on-site at amusement parks or facilities
Industry UsageUsed in design and development phases, ensuring safety and performance standards

Ride Engineers focus on designing, testing, and ensuring the safety of amusement rides, often working in offices or labs. Ride Technicians perform maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting on rides at parks or facilities. While both roles require technical knowledge, Ride Engineers typically hold engineering credentials and work in development, whereas Ride Technicians focus on operational safety and maintenance on-site.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

While most engineering roles do not reach a $500,000 annual salary, some highly specialized or senior-level engineers, such as aerospace, petroleum, or software engineers in executive or leadership positions, can earn this level of compensation. These roles often require advanced skills, extensive experience, and sometimes work in high-cost-of-living areas or for large corporations.

How much do amusement ride engineers make?

Amusement ride engineers typically earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and employer. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced engineers or those working on complex projects can earn higher salaries. Certifications in mechanical or electrical engineering and familiarity with safety standards are often required.

What are ride engineers?

Ride engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain amusement park rides and attractions. They combine knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering to ensure rides are safe, reliable, and enjoyable for guests. Ride engineers work closely with architects, designers, and safety inspectors throughout the planning, construction, and operation phases. Their responsibilities often include troubleshooting technical issues, performing regular safety checks, and implementing upgrades or repairs as needed.
What are popular job titles related to Ride Engineer jobs in Michigan? For Ride Engineer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Ride Engineer jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Ride Engineer jobs in Michigan are:
Ride Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Ride Engineer job openings in Michigan as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, and 24% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $78,889 per year, or $37.9 per hour.

Ride Development Engineer

ZF

Northville, MI • Hybrid

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

ZF rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 57 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

412th of 487 rated machine equipment manufacturers

Job description

 Req ID 89997 | Northville, United States ZF North America, Inc.

Job Description

About the team: The team is looking for a new member to join them in Northville, in a hybrid role. This person could be hired as an Engineer II or Senior Engineer, based on skillset and experience. 

What you can look forward to as a Ride Development Engineer:

  • Responsible for coordinating ride work activities with customer, submitting ride work requests through Engineering Resource Manager, and coordinating all needed tools and components needed for tuning.
  • Develop strong working relationships with customers conveying both professionalism and strong product knowledge.
  • Determines required adjustments to hydraulic valve codes to achieve ride and handling targets established by the customer.
  • Directs the efforts of support technicians when conducting ride work at customer locations and supports less-experienced ride engineers as needed.
  • Assists the support technician in making the component changes required to achieve desired results.
  • Maintains accurate change logs and evaluation notes during every step of the tuning process using the correct terminology. Organize information systematically and separately for each program.
  • Completes pre- and post- tuning activities including issuing R01 (Engineering Report) after each ride tuning session, obtaining Customer sign off and effectively communicating customer expectations and tuning outcomes to project team.
  • Releases hydraulic settings for production including creating valve BOMs and preparing the necessary documents for final valve codes, forces, and tolerances.
  • Responsible for hydraulic function test results as part of the customer DV/PV testing including analyzing results, reviewing test specimens, and preparing test reports based on those results.

Your profile as a Ride Development Engineer:

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics Engineering.
  • 4+ years of experience with strong functional/product knowledge, and ability to train others (internship/co-op included).
  • Possesses good working knowledge of vehicle dynamics fundamentals for application to damper development.
  • Ability to evaluate vehicle ride characteristics and associate them with product specific component changes.
  • Understands function of latest ZF adaptive valve technology and is adept at execution of all types of ZF adaptive valve settings.
  • Exhibits superior knowledge and execution of damper / ride development processes, both ZF internal processes and customer processes.
  • Demonstrates proven skills in damper characterization and testing including damper industrialization and serial production support.
  • Good organizational skills and self- motivated.

Why you should choose ZF :

  • A supportive collaborative team environment
  • Annual Incentive Plan
  • Paid Vacation
  • Personal Time
  • 401k Plan
  • Health Care Benefits
  • Paid Holidays
  • A strong diversity culture
  • Supportive Employee Groups and community outreach activities

Be part of our ZF team as Ride Development Engineer and apply now!

Contact

Hannah Cline

+7 34 855 2922

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT: 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are more than just words for us. They are at the core of the ZF Way that propels our team members towards their utmost success. We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a natural reflex. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that every member of ZF can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape next generation mobility, safety, sustainability and social justice. 

With four generations across 118 nationalities in 41 countries, ZF combines a unique variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Together, we solve problems, drive innovation and shape next generation mobility. 

Our company is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with us and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please contact us. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. ZF is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran

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