Vice President – Mechanical Engineering (Vehicle Systems)

The Vice President – Mechanical Engineering (Vehicle Systems) is a senior executive responsible for leading the mechanical engineering strategy, design, integration, and execution across all vehicle platforms. This role focuses on delivering innovative, safe, and manufacturable vehicle systems—including chassis, body, thermal, and structural systems—while ensuring alignment with performance, cost, and regulatory goals. The VP will guide a global, multidisciplinary team and serve as a key member of the engineering leadership team influencing company-wide technology decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Engineering Leadership

• Define the vision, goals, and roadmap for mechanical systems across all vehicle programs (ICE, EV, hybrid).

• Lead innovation and advanced engineering in areas like lightweighting, crash structures, thermal systems, and NVH.

• Ensure robust alignment between mechanical system strategy and overall vehicle architecture and business goals.

2. Vehicle Systems Development & Integration

• Oversee design, analysis, and integration of mechanical subsystems including chassis, body structures, closures, cooling, suspension, and mounting systems.

• Ensure mechanical systems meet or exceed functional targets for durability, safety, handling, and comfort.

• Direct system-level trade-offs, simulations, packaging studies, and performance validation.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with electrical, controls, software, and manufacturing teams to enable full vehicle integration.

• Support industrialization by aligning mechanical engineering with tooling, production processes, and plant readiness.

• Partner with procurement and supplier quality teams on component sourcing, development, and validation.

4. Global Team Leadership

• Build and mentor a world-class mechanical engineering organization across multiple regions.

• Drive talent development, succession planning, and a culture of innovation and technical excellence.

• Implement best practices in systems engineering, model-based development, and continuous improvement.

5. Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all mechanical designs comply with global vehicle safety, environmental, and quality regulations (FMVSS, UNECE, GTR, etc.).

• Lead problem-solving for warranty and field issues with root-cause-driven corrective actions.

Key Focus Areas:

• Vehicle Mechanical Systems Design & Integration
  (Body-in-white, closures, thermal systems, chassis, mounts)

• Lightweight Structures & Material Innovation
  (Aluminum, composites, mixed-material design)

• System Engineering & Vehicle Attribute Management
  (Durability, NVH, crashworthiness, ride & handling)

• Manufacturing Alignment & DFM Principles
  (Process compatibility, tooling readiness, dimensional control)

• Leadership of Global Engineering Teams & Programs
  (Cross-functional management, talent development, regional execution)

• Regulatory Compliance, Safety, and Quality
  (Crash performance, emissions packaging, structural validation)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering or Automotive Engineering.

• 18+ years of progressive experience in vehicle mechanical systems development, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles.

• Proven success in leading vehicle programs from concept to launch, including mass production execution.

• Deep knowledge of vehicle development processes, CAE tools, testing, and system integration.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and decision-making skills across technical and business domains.

Preferred Experience:

• OEM or Tier-1 leadership in mechanical systems engineering

• Background in both ICE and EV platforms

• Experience with global teams and multi-site product development

• Proficiency in tools like CATIA, NX, Teamcenter, and PLM systems