Principal CAE Engineer

Our client, based in Coventry, is searching for a Principal CAE Engineer to join the company on a permanent basis.

Role overview:

The Principal CAE Engineer will serve as the company's subject matter expert in Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), leading the application of advanced simulation methodologies to support vehicle development. The role requires deep technical expertise in structures, durability, crash, NVH, and thermo-fluid analysis, along with the ability to influence design direction and mentor engineering teams.

Working closely with Design, Vehicle Dynamics, Body Engineering, Powertrain, Manufacturing, and external suppliers, you will be responsible for developing simulation processes that enable rapid and efficient product development while minimising physical prototype dependency.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership:

• Define and deploy the company's CAE strategy, methods, standards, and best practices.
• Act as the senior technical authority for simulation-led vehicle development.
• Provide expert guidance on structural, durability, crashworthiness, fatigue, stiffness, NVH, thermal, and multi-physics analyses.
• Drive data-based engineering recommendations and support key programme decisions.
• Lead root cause investigations and technical problem-solving activities.

Vehicle Development:

• Support complete vehicle programmes from concept through production.
• Lead virtual validation activities for body, chassis, closures, powertrain installations and vehicle architectures.
• Establish performance targets, simulation plans, and validation gateways.
• Work with design teams to optimise components and systems for performance, weight, cost, manufacturability, and durability.
• Support prototype, test, and correlation activities to continuously improve simulation accuracy.

Analysis & Simulation:

• Perform and oversee:

• Linear and nonlinear FEA.
• Durability and fatigue analysis.
• Crash and occupant protection simulations.
• Modal, frequency response, and NVH studies.
• Thermal and CFD analyses.
• Composite and lightweight structure analysis.
• Multi-body dynamic simulations.
• Develop advanced models and automation tools to improve simulation efficiency and capability.
• Drive model correlation against physical test data.

Process Improvement:

• Establish and maintain CAE workflows, standards, and quality procedures.
• Introduce innovative simulation technologies, methodologies, and automation techniques.
• Support digital engineering initiatives and model-based development approaches.
• Reduce development risk and cost through increased virtual validation capability.

Stakeholder Management:

• Collaborate with internal engineering teams and senior programme stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with external engineering consultancies, suppliers, and technical partners.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to engineering leadership and executive management.
• Represent the CAE function during programme reviews and technical audits.

Team Development:

• Mentor and develop CAE engineers and other engineering staff.
• Support recruitment and technical capability growth within the engineering organisation.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.

Essential Skills, Experience and Education Required:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or similar technical discipline.
• 10+ years of CAE experience within automotive, motorsport, aerospace, defence, or advanced engineering sectors.
• Proven experience delivering simulation-led development on complete vehicle programmes.
• Strong expertise in finite element analysis and structural simulation methodologies.
• Experience with one or more major CAE platforms such as:

• Abaqus.
• Ansys.
• LS-DYNA/RADIOSS.
• Nastran.
• OptiStruct.
• HyperWorks.

• Strong understanding of vehicle structures, materials, manufacturing processes, and validation methods.
• Excellent technical communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and leading technical activities.

Desirable Skills, Experience and Education Requested:

• Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or working towards chartership.
• Knowledge of composites, lightweight structures, and advanced materials.
• Experience in low-volume, niche, luxury, performance, motorsport, or specialist vehicle environments.
• Programming and automation experience using Python, MATLAB, Tcl, or similar tools.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements and vehicle homologation processes.
• In-depth knowledge of Hyperworks.

Key Competencies:

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strategic technical leadership.
• Commercial awareness and engineering judgement.
• Capable of delivering both technical leadership and hands-on execution.
• Strong collaboration and influencing capability.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile development environment.
• High attention to detail coupled with an understanding of programme-level priorities.

What Success Looks Like:

In this role you will:

• Establish CAE as a core enabler of product development.
• Deliver highly correlated simulation models that reduce development risk and prototype costs.
• Influence vehicle architecture and design decisions from the earliest concept stages.
• Improve engineering efficiency through robust simulation processes and automation.
• Develop technical capability across the wider engineering organisation.
• Help deliver world-class specialist vehicles that exceed customer expectations.