CAE Engineer – Piston Structures, Durability

General Motors

. Lead piston structural and durability evaluations from problem definition through recommendation .

Posted 10/2/2026full-timeWarren • Michigan • United StatesMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading piston structural and durability evaluations, utilizing CAE and FEA methods to analyze performance across various operating conditions. Proficient in developing automation solutions and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance engineering workflows.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Piston Structural EvaluationCAE and FEA ApplicationPython and MATLAB AutomationTechnical Report PreparationCross-Functional Collaboration

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Structural AnalysisDurability EvaluationThermal-Structural AnalysisModel Quality EvaluationBoundary Condition Definition

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsProblem-Solving AbilityIndependent Work CapabilityCollaboration with Teams

Tools & Technologies

AbaqusHyperMeshFLAREAVL EXCITEExcel/VBA

Industry Keywords

Mechanical EngineeringAutomotive EngineeringAerospace EngineeringDFMEARisk-Based Evaluation

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonVBA

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead piston structural and durability evaluations from problem definition through recommendation
Define loads, set up models, execute analyses, post-process results, interpret findings, and prepare technical reports
Assess piston and related component performance across thermal, mechanical, inertia, pressure, bore-distortion, clearance, and other operating conditions
Select appropriate CAE fidelity for screening, risk retirement, and design-release decisions
Diagnose non-routine issues, conduct sensitivity and variation studies, identify failure mechanisms, and recommend design or analysis improvements
Connect analysis to requirements, DFMEA failure modes, detection/prevention methods, and qualification evidence
Prepare traceable analysis reports and decision packages for program teams, design-release engineers, suppliers, leadership reviews, PPDR/PRTS support, and warranty or field investigations
Maintain and improve piston-analysis standard work, procedures, templates, macros, and reusable data practices
Develop automation and capability improvements using Python, MATLAB, Excel/VBA, or comparable scripting and post-processing tools
Support benchmarking and method development, including tool comparison, model fidelity, correlation evidence, and emerging virtual-engineering practices
Share knowledge and coach developing engineers and technical partners
Collaborate across piston, rings, connecting-rod, cranktrain, lubrication/tribology, materials, testing, design, and program organizations

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered
Professional experience applying CAE, FEA, or comparable engineering simulation methods to structural, durability, thermal-structural, or related mechanical problems
Ability to work independently with limited guidance and exercise sound engineering judgment
Experience defining analysis inputs and boundary conditions, evaluating model quality, interpreting results, and communicating limitations, uncertainty, and recommendations
Ability to identify and resolve non-routine technical problems and manage moderate-scope work through completion
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and customers
Preferred: Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a related technical discipline
Preferred: Experience with piston structures, powertrain hardware, CAE tools, engineering workflows, DFMEA, risk-based evaluation, and automation
Preferred: Experience with Abaqus, HyperMesh, FLARE, AVL EXCITE, Python, MATLAB, Excel/VBA, or comparable tools
Must be a U.S. Person: U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, or refugee
Required to travel less than 25%

Benefits

Comp & perks

Relocation benefits may be available for eligible candidates
Benefits supporting employee well-being at work and home
Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities