Vehicle Engineering and Development Manager

Hendrick Motorsports

Location: 4400 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262

 

Summary:  The Design and Development Engineer III will oversee the design, development, and delivery of motorsport systems and components, ensuring adherence to governing body regulations and project requirements. This role requires a blend of advanced technical knowledge, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to thrive in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.

The engineer will lead a team of designers, within the Vehicle Dynamics Group, providing mentorship and managing workload distribution to meet tight deadlines while maintaining exceptional quality standards. Collaboration with manufacturing leaders and departments is critical, as the role involves ensuring designs are optimized for manufacturability and production.

In addition to design and development, the engineer will play a key role in failure analysis and resolution. This includes identifying root causes of design or performance issues, creating detailed problem reports, and implementing corrective actions to enhance reliability and prevent recurrence.

The role demands a proactive, innovative approach to problem-solving, effective team coordination, and exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  Vehicle Engineering Design and Development Engineers

Key Responsibilities:

Design and Development:

• Oversee the design, analysis, and optimization of motorsport components, including chassis, suspension, drivetrain, and aerodynamics.
• Ensure designs comply with motorsport governing body regulations (e.g., FIA, NASCAR).

Team Leadership:

• Manage and mentor a team of designers and junior engineers, fostering growth and technical excellence.
• Guide the team to meet aggressive deadlines while maintaining high-quality work.
• Cultivate a collaborative and results-oriented team culture in a high-pressure environment.

Failure Analysis and Problem Resolution:

• Lead the team in identifying root causes of design failures or performance issues.
• Develop detailed problem reports outlining failures, analysis, and corrective actions.
• Implement resolution strategies to ensure reliability and prevent recurrence.

Collaboration with Manufacturing:

• Work closely with manufacturing leaders to ensure parts are designed for manufacturability and meet production requirements.
• Support fabrication, assembly, and troubleshooting during manufacturing processes.
• Align design specifications with manufacturing capabilities and constraints.

Prototyping and Testing:

• Oversee the development and validation of prototypes, ensuring performance and compliance with standards.
• Analyze test data and direct iterative design improvements.

Project and Resource Management:

• Lead multiple projects simultaneously, balancing resources and deadlines.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align objectives and meet organizational goals.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement:

• Drive innovative design solutions under tight deadlines and resource constraints.
• Stay informed on emerging materials and technologies to integrate into future designs.

Documentation and Communication:

• Prepare comprehensive engineering documentation, including specifications, test reports, and failure analysis.
• Provide clear and concise updates to stakeholders, including technical presentations to leadership.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience:
  • Proven ability to lead in high-pressure, fast-paced environments.
  • Experience with motorsport regulatory frameworks and failure resolution processes.
• Technical Skills:
  • Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo).
  • Strong knowledge of FEA/CFD tools and manufacturing processes, including CNC machining and composites.
  • Applied learning – ability to engage in learning activities to maximize skill acquisition.
  • Innovative thinking – looks beyond standard solutions to drive performance improvements.
• Leadership and Interpersonal Skills:
  • Leadership – ability to influence and guide others effectively while making key decisions.
  • Coaching and Development – provides guidance and feedback to help others strengthen skills.
  • Conflict Resolution – manages antagonistic situations constructively.
  • Collaboration – works effectively with individuals and departments to achieve common goals.
  • Initiative – demonstrates proactive decision-making to solve problems and achieve objectives.
  • Listening – utilizes active listening to enhance communication.
• Communication Skills:
  • Oral Communication – collaborates effectively with colleagues and stakeholders of varying backgrounds.
  • Written Communication – articulates ideas clearly and concisely in written formats.
• Organizational and Analytical Abilities:
  • Detail-Oriented – pays attention to minute details of a project or task.
  • Organized – employs systematic methods to manage tasks and projects.
  • Multi-tasking – effectively manages several items simultaneously without compromising quality.
  • Analytical Skills – applies critical thinking and reasoning to solve complex problems.
• Core Competencies:
  • Accountability – accepts responsibility for actions and outcomes.
  • Business Acumen – understands and applies business concepts and strategies.
  • Goal-Oriented – remains focused on achieving predetermined objectives.
  • Reliability – demonstrates dependability and trustworthiness.
  • Quality Work – consistently delivers work that meets or exceeds specifications.
  • Customer-Oriented – addresses customer needs while adhering to company protocols.
• Preferred:
  • Familiarity with motorsport governing body regulations and agile project management practices.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Passion for motorsports and a strong understanding of vehicle dynamics.
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Ability to handle high-pressure situations and meet tight deadlines effectively.
  • Willingness to travel to testing locations, races, and supplier facilities as needed.

Communication Skills:

Need excellent internal customer relation skills and possess excellent coaching and development skills.

Attendance Expectations:

The position requires regular and predictable attendance.  Scheduled shifts may include evening hours, weekends, and holidays.

Physical Demands:

Vision, ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – safety glasses and hearing protection. Frequently stands, walks, sits, manually manipulates, lifts/carries up to 20 pounds, and pushes/pulls up to 25 pounds. Occasionally reaches outward, reaches above shoulder, climbs, crawls, squats or kneels, bends, grasps, lifts/carries up to 50 pounds, and pushes/pulls up to 100 pounds.

Environment Demands:

Due to the nature of the business, this position may be required to work indoors and outdoors. Individuals in this role may be exposed to poignant odors, chemicals, uneven surfaces, and loud noises.

Reasoning Ability:

Must have strong analytical skills.

Hendrick is an Equal Opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information regarding the EEOC, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf.