Engineer, Lead, Simulation/CAE

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

Job Summary

This individual will help develop and lead the company’s simulation strategy by collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners. Key responsibilities include driving current and future product development design cycles, aligning simulation with DVP&R and physical correlation activities, and leveraging CAE expertise to optimize product quality, reliability, cost, and timing. Additionally, they will model field issues to accelerate root-cause analysis and execute robust design improvements.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead simulation-driven design strategies from concept through product launch, utilizing predictive analytics to optimize physical prototype iterations
• Drive simulation and correlation to validate models against physical test data, ensuring thorough and timely completion of Design Verification Plan & Report milestones
• Develop scalable CAE methodologies, automation workflows, and process scripts to reduce analysis cycle times and accelerate time-to-market
• Investigate and diagnose complex field issues using root-cause CAE analysis, developing countermeasures for empirical validation
• Partner with multidisciplinary teams (Design, Test, and Manufacturing) to ensure designs meet conflicting attribute targets (e.g., mass, cost, structural integrity) while ensuring Design for Manufacturing and Design for Assembly feasibility
• Relentlessly pursue optimization in methodologies, technologies, and workflows, and product to improve safety, quality, reliability, cost, and timing

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities For Success

• Technical proficiency of structural, electrical, software, thermal, or fluid CAE and their specific applications to transportation industry standards (e.g., FMVSS, ISO, SAE)
• Proven track record of developing automated workflows, scripting macros deploying advanced simulation methods to shorten product development cycles
• Excel in written and spoken communication with the ability to distill complex technical data into inspiring design recommendations, actively fostering team morale, stakeholder buy-in, and a shared sense of optimism
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring, managing complex simulation projects independently, and driving collaborative engineering consensus under tight deadlines
• Passionate about creating products that excite internal and external customers
• Desire to remain current with the continuous evolution of simulation technologies

Basic Education And Experience Required

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an accredited university
• Minimum of 5+ years of professional computer aided engineering experience
• Proficiency in engineering software/tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, MATLAB, SolidWorks, and Python scripting)

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with state, federal, and Canadian regulations affecting school buses
• Experience with validation, Advanced Programming Interface (API), Python scripting, and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) or similar tools
• Currently valid commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Master’s degree in an engineering field

Work Conditions

• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day

Includes

• Continued Professional Development
• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching

WORK CONDITIONS

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day