Chassis Design Principal Engineer II at Honda Racing Corporation USA

Job Purpose

Lead and provide design engineering expertise for racecar vehicle design projects supporting HRC’s pinnacle and grassroots motorsports programs. This role is responsible for creating and analyzing design concepts, CAD models, and drawings, interpreting test results, planning and completing assigned engineering projects, and mentoring engineers.

Key Accountabilities

Technical Direction & Mentorship: Develop team capabilities, promote collaboration, manage conflict, provide feedback, and optimize resources.

Design Leadership: Lead design activities for subsystem prototype validation.

Strategic Planning & Team Development: Implement mid- to long-term plans, set priorities, mentor associates, evaluate performance, prepare business plans and budgets, and coordinate cross-functional activities

Administration: Ensure timely reporting of design faults, manage vendors, and oversee project timelines.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering

Experience:

15+ years in motorsport vehicle design

10+ years in chassis design for professional motorsports

Technical project management experience

Extensive CAD modeling expertise (parametric modeling preferred)

Comprehensive knowledge of race car chassis and mechanical systems

Technical Skills:

Strong engineering principles and analytical skills

Knowledge of raw materials, machining, casting, and treatment processes

Proficient in CAD software and design documentation

Project management and problem-solving skills

Interpersonal Skills: Active listening, leadership, teamwork, flexibility

Physical Requirement: Ability to lift up to 30 lbs of vehicle components

Job Dimensions

Decisions Expected

• Mentor junior engineers and recommend design countermeasures
• Prioritize and delegate project assignments
• Analyze failures and determine root causes
• Approve prototype design revisions and weekly status reports
• Recommend cost-effective design concepts

Working Conditions

Physical Demands Requirements:

Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist while working.

Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees to work on close to the groundwork.

Crawling.

Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet to work underneath suspended vehicles/engines/equipment to diagnosis problems and or remove replace parts.

Standing for sustained periods during work or events.

Sitting. Extensive travel and long travels.

Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks (particularly walking long distances at the track to pit lane and around shop) 

Lifting. Raising objects of 25 pounds from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position.

Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers while servicing / maintaining a race engine, vehicles and equipment.

The worker is subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, exposure to high heat and exposure to chemicals.

Emotional Requirements:

Make quick decisions

Hazard awareness, aware of surroundings

Planning and problem-solving

Coping with change and other people