Principal Chassis Engineer -Suspension/Steering

Our client, a leading consultancy in the automotive sector, is currently seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Suspension/Steering to join their team in Leamington Spa on a contract basis.

Technical Leadership:

Serve as the technical authority in suspension design and development for assigned projects. Own and be responsible for engineering content, quality, and solutions. Ensure design integrity, compliance with standards, and alignment with customer requirements.

Project Execution:

Lead the technical planning and execution of suspension engineering tasks from concept to production. Translate customer needs into actionable engineering deliverables. Manage technical risks and resolve issues proactively. Conduct and supervise experimental investigations, including data analysis and reporting. Prepare project reports, including cost and timing estimates and technical specifications. Identify and coordinate with external suppliers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Coordinate with internal teams (design, validation, manufacturing) and external stakeholders (suppliers, clients). Facilitate effective communication across disciplines to ensure alignment and progress. Represent the chassis engineering team in customer meetings, technical reviews, and programme updates.

Innovation & Problem Solving:

Apply engineering theory to address complex problems with practical solutions. Promote continuous improvement in design, validation, and integration processes. Foster and implement innovative approaches to meet evolving technical challenges.

Mentorship & Team Leadership:

Guide junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence. Provide technical sign-off and mentorship on chassis design reviews, validation plans, and documentation. Promote knowledge sharing and professional development within the team.

Quality & Compliance:

Ensure all designs comply with regulatory, safety, and customer-required standards. Review product designs for adherence to legislative and engineering standards as required. Supervise engineering documentation, including reports, BOMs, FMEAs, DVP&Rs, and test specifications. Uphold high standards of quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle.

Customer Focus:

Deliver excellent customer service by understanding and anticipating client needs. Act as a trusted technical advisor, building long-term relationships through reliability and performance. Ensure all deliverables meet or surpass customer expectations in quality, timing, and budget.

Technical Expertise:

Experience in vehicle suspension design, development, and integration. Strong understanding of suspension and steering design and vehicle engineering. Experience with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, Pro/E, AutoCAD), GD&T, FMEA, DVP&R, and engineering documentation. Proficiency in managing systems from concept through production release and commissioning. Familiarity with data acquisition software, systems requirements tools, and the Microsoft Office Suite. Experience developing robust Development and Validation plans and executing them. Familiar with DFMEA, 8D, and fault tree approaches.

Project & Technical Leadership:

Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables. Confidence and competence to approve technical solutions and guide engineering direction. Experience managing external vendors and internal teams to meet technical and commercial goals. Understanding of project financial targets, cost estimation, and budget management.

Communication & Collaboration:

Ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences, including clients and executives. Experience mentoring junior engineers and promoting a collaborative team environment. Strong focus on understanding and meeting client expectations.

Industry-Specific Knowledge:

Knowledge of suspension and steering design, geometry, and performance fundamentals. Experience with different suspension types (Double wishbone, MacPherson strut, multi-link). Understanding of vehicle dynamics fundamentals, theory, and application/testing. Experience with heavy-duty on and off-highway vehicles. Knowledge of automotive system design and development processes. Understanding of braking, wheels and tyres, traction control, and active steering and damping systems. Familiarity with supporting simulation tools such as ADAMS, FEA. Experience with suspension rig testing (e.g. K&C), vehicle dynamics testing.

Advanced Engineering Tools & Methods:

Experience with requirements management software and systems modelling. Proficiency with DFMEA, DOE, 8D problem-solving, and validation testing strategies. Knowledge of agile and lean engineering practices.

Soft Skills:

Strategic thinking with the ability to align technical decisions with business goals. Adaptability in a fast-paced, matrixed organisation. An innovative mindset with a willingness to challenge norms.

Experience Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in engineering; Master's degree preferred. Experience in design, validation, manufacturing, and product release of vehicle systems. Experience with commercial vehicle and off-highway is a plus. Beneficial experience in general vehicle integration (including powertrain, electrified systems). Proven experience in planning and coordinating design and/or production validation testing. Skill in developing engineering test specifications and analysing test data. Strong problem-solving skills utilising Design of Experiments (DOE), 8D, etc. If you are an experienced Principal Systems Engineer with a focus on suspension and steering, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our client's dynamic and talented team in Leamington Spa