Sr. Wheels & Tires Engineer

Job title: Sr. Wheels & Tires Engineer

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) seeks a Senior Engineer to join the Chassis Engineering Design Team as the Sr. Wheels & Tires Engineer. The role focuses on leading design, development, and validation of wheel and tire systems for U.S. SUV, pickup, and off-road applications, ensuring a robust and high-performance wheel/tire architecture while guiding junior engineers and collaborating across functions to meet durability and safety targets.

What You'll Do

• Lead end-to-end engineering of wheel and tire systems (wheels, tires, and related components) from concept through production, using CATIA V5 to create 3D models and 2D drawings of wheels, tire/rim interfaces, and TPMS sensor integration. Ensure designs meet performance targets and integrate with braking and suspension.
• Develop and implement specialty off-road systems (beadlock wheels for low-pressure use, mud-terrain/all-terrain tire packages, run-flat inserts, central tire inflation/TPMS solutions) and work with suppliers to tailor for Hyundai vehicle applications.
• Define validation plans for wheel/tire designs, lead test plan creation and criteria for durability, fatigue, impact, and off-road abuse testing; support vehicle-level ride and handling testing across terrains; analyze data and iterate designs to meet FMVSS and SAE standards.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with FMVSS, SAE, tire sizing, load ratings, and related standards; oversee documentation for compliance and homologation.
• Collaborate with vehicle dynamics, suspension, brake, and body teams to ensure proper integration (e.g., caliper clearance, suspension travel, fender clearance); coordinate with electrical/control teams on TPMS, and with manufacturing/service teams for producibility and spare tire provisions.
• Liaise with OEM and Tier 1 suppliers; develop specs for supplier-designed components (custom tire compounds, wheel castings/forgings); lead design reviews and resolve technical issues.
• Lead wheel/tire subsystem projects on new vehicle programs; develop timing plans, track design/testing milestones, and ensure on-time delivery for prototype and production builds; conduct DFMEA and DVP&R and report progress to program management.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and foster on-the-job learning.
• Travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or automotive engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in chassis and suspension design with a focus on wheel and tire systems.
• Experience with pickup trucks, SUVs, or off-road vehicles is highly preferred.
• Experience working on electric or hybrid vehicle suspension systems.
• Knowledge of wheel/tire systems, durability, setup, articulation; strong understanding of ride/handling, off-road performance, and NVH for heavy-duty trucks and SUVs.
• Proficiency in GD&T and tolerance stack-ups in wheel hubs and rim interfaces; knowledge of solid axle and independent suspension systems in off-road contexts.
• Proficiency in CATIA V5; familiarity with CATIA V6, NX, SolidWorks is beneficial.
• Experience using engineering tools to create/modify 2D and 3D drawings.
• Familiarity with PDM/PLM systems such as ENOVIA V6 or Windchill.
• Knowledge of mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering design principles.

Nice to Have

• Experience with CATIA V6, NX, or SolidWorks beyond CATIA V5.
• Additional familiarity with ENOVIA V6 or Windchill PLM and related collaboration tools.

Travel

• Travel up to 20% of the time, domestically and internationally.