Job Title : Design Release Engineer / Tire & wheel specialist

Experience: 6–8 Years

Location: Pune, Chennai

Notice Period: Immediate Joiners Preferred

Employment Type: Full-Time

We are looking for an experienced Design Release Engineer / Tire & Wheel Specialist to join the Chassis Engineering team and take ownership of the design, development, validation, supplier coordination and release of Tires, Wheels and Wheel & Tire Assemblies for current and upcoming passenger vehicle programs. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience in Tire and Wheel Design & Development, preferably within an automotive OEM or leading tire/wheel manufacturer, with a solid understanding of vehicle integration, testing, homologation, supplier development and automotive product development processes. This role requires an engineer who can work effectively across Design, CAE, Testing, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Materials, Service, Warranty and Supplier teams and drive engineering deliverables from concept through validation, production builds and field support.

Key Responsibilities

Tire, Wheel & Chassis Component Development

- Lead/support the engineering design and development of:
- Steel Wheels
- Aluminum/Alloy Wheels
- Tires
- Wheel Bolts
- Wheel & Tire Assemblies
- Wheel Covers
- Wheel Center Caps
- Develop components in line with vehicle-level functional, durability, packaging and performance requirements.
- Understand component interfaces and ensure compatibility with other chassis systems.
- Support new product and current-product development programs.
- Prepare and maintain engineering source packages, specifications and design documentation.
- Define functional and durability objectives for structural components.

Product Development & Design Release
- Follow established automotive product development and engineering release processes.
- Support design reviews, technical reviews and engineering change activities.
- Manage engineering deliverables such as:
- ECR
- CCD
- CN
- BOM
- MBOM
- PLM updates
- Part number creation/release
- Ensure design and release activities are completed according to project timelines and quality gates.
- Coordinate with project and design teams to resolve technical issues and maintain program milestones.

Tire & Wheel Testing and Validation
- Develop and support DV/PV test plans for tires, wheels and wheel/tire assemblies.
- Understand wheel and tire durability, fatigue and performance testing requirements.
- Support testing activities and analyze test results against engineering specifications.
- Ensure components meet applicable regulatory and homologation requirements.
- Apply relevant industry standards and guidelines including:
- ETRTO
- T&RA;
- SAE
- Support prototype, validation and production builds.
- Ensure successful completion of engineering and vehicle-level validation activities.





Supplier Development & Technical Management
- Work closely with suppliers and Supplier Quality Engineers (SQE) throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Evaluate supplier technical capability and readiness.
- Conduct technical reviews and support supplier selection/development.
- Review tooling, process development, manufacturing feasibility and timing.
- Visit supplier facilities for:
- Process reviews
- Sample preparation
- T0 and VP sample reviews
- Testing
- Manufacturing readiness
- Quality assessments
- Resolve supplier-related design, manufacturing and assembly issues.
- Ensure supplier deliverables meet agreed cost, quality and timing targets.
- Support development of new/local suppliers to achieve functional requirements and cost targets.

Quality, DFMEA & Problem Solving
- Participate in and drive engineering quality activities including:
- DFMEA
- DVP&R;
- PFMEA
- Control Plan
- PPAP
- Perform proactive and reactive root cause analysis for component and assembly issues.
- Investigate development failures, production issues and field/warranty concerns.
- Apply structured problem-solving methodologies such as:
- DFSS
- DOE
- Shainin
- Root Cause Analysis
- Work with Quality, Service and Warranty teams to address early-life and field issues.
- Ensure corrective and preventive actions are technically robust and implemented within program timelines.

Vehicle Integration & Chassis Functional Understanding
- Understand vehicle-level and subsystem-level functional requirements.
- Evaluate the impact of tire and wheel design on:
- Vehicle dynamics
- Handling
- Ride comfort
- NVH
- Fatigue
- Structural stiffness
- Durability
- Study component packaging, serviceability, assembly and cost implications.
- Identify interdependencies between wheel/tire assemblies and other chassis systems.
- Support vehicle build activities and resolve assembly-related issues.

Manufacturing & Process Knowledge
- Understand manufacturing processes relevant to wheels and chassis components.
- Work with manufacturing and supplier teams to resolve process-related engineering issues.
- Demonstrate knowledge of:
- Casting
- Sheet metal forming
- Forging
- Tooling
- Coating processes
- Material properties
- Assembly processes
- Understand manufacturing process flow and its impact on component quality and performance.
- Support manufacturing feasibility and process improvement activities.




- Knowledge of sheet-metal forming simulation or casting/mold-fill simulation will be an added advantage.

Field, Warranty & Production Support
- Support engineering and production builds with plant teams.
- Investigate component, assembly and vehicle-level issues identified during builds.
- Address early warranty and field-return issues in collaboration with Quality, Service and Warranty teams.
- Conduct root cause investigations and implement design/process improvements.
- Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into current and future programs.

Cost Optimization & Innovation
- Identify opportunities for value engineering and cost optimization.
- Drive initiatives to achieve target cost and engineering cost savings.
- Evaluate alternative materials, designs, processes and suppliers.
- Conduct competitive benchmarking.
- Support innovation projects related to Tires, Wheels and Chassis systems.

Required Experience & Qualifications

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automobile Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- 6–8 years of overall automotive engineering experience.
- Minimum 3 years of hands-on Tire Design & Development experience with a tire manufacturer or passenger-car OEM.
- Strong experience in Wheels, Tires and Wheel & Tire Assemblies Design & Development.
- Experience in an automotive OEM, tire manufacturer or equivalent automotive engineering workplace.
- Strong understanding of tire construction, tire building processes and tire development stages.
- Good knowledge of wheel development and wheel durability.
- Experience with wheel and tire testing, validation and homologation.
- Working knowledge of ETRTO, T&RA; and SAE standards/guidelines.
- Strong understanding of automotive product development processes.
- Practical experience with DFMEA, DVP&R;, PFMEA, Control Plan and PPAP.
- Experience in supplier evaluation, supplier development and technical reviews.
- Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
- Basic experience with UG/NX or CATIA V5.
- Working knowledge of PLM and Teamcenter.
- Understanding of chassis functional areas including fatigue, NVH, handling and stiffness.
- Good written, verbal and cross-functional communication skills.

Preferred Skills
- Passenger vehicle development experience.
- Vehicle assembly process knowledge.
- Tooling and manufacturing process experience.
- Knowledge of casting, sheet metal forming and forging.
- Experience with manufacturing process simulations.
- Understanding of vehicle dynamics.
- Tire mathematical modeling and simulation experience.
- Experience with ride comfort and vehicle functional objectives.
- Experience handling field warranty and production issues.
- Experience with value engineering and cost optimization.
- Experience developing local or alternate suppliers.

📌 Design Release Engineer / Tire & wheel specialist (Pune)
🏢 RapidBrains
📍 Pune