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Senior Engineer - Body Engineering

Overview

Lightship is the first American all-electric recreational vehicle manufacturer currently developing an aerodynamic, battery-powered trailer for the electric age. As the macro transition to an all-electric transportation ecosystem accelerates, Lightship is bringing the increased convenience and superior performance that electrification offers to a pastime enjoyed by over 11 million American families.


Honoring Diverse Perspectives

Lightship is committed to hiring and developing top talent from diverse backgrounds. We believe representing and supporting diverse groups is key to the success of our team members, customers, shareholders and the achievement of our mission and vision. We operate in a collaborative environment with a flat organizational structure and expect a high degree of integrity, autonomy and creativity from all members of the team.


About the Role

Lightship is seeking a highly experienced Body Engineer who will design and engineer innovative body solutions for Lightship products. You will use your extensive technical knowledge and experience of body metallic and non-metallic structure engineering to meet the commercial, structural, functional and cosmetic needs for Lightship’s groundbreaking Aero-Electric RVs.


Responsibilities
  • Design a body support structure and exterior body panels for a unique electric RV to meet aggressive cost and mass targets
  • Collaborate with aerodynamics engineering through multiple iterations of the design
  • Collaborate with closures engineering to ensure proper mechanical integration of windows, entrance doors, and exterior access panels
  • Review process and material options and recommend solutions for exterior cosmetic panels appropriate for Lightship’s volume and cost targets
  • Work with internal and external engineering service suppliers to complete FEA simulations reflecting structural performance under various load cases
  • Perform tolerance stack-up / GD&T analyses where necessary
  • Select and work closely with suppliers to manage part quality and delivery timing
  • Develop and perform component and system-level testing
  • Aid technicians in the assembly of your subsystems for prototype and pre-production builds


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent practical experience
  • 8+ years of experience with production-level vehicle body design
  • 2+ years in a technical leadership position
  • 5+ years of experience with aluminum extrusion design and die development
  • 5+ years utilizing CATIA
  • 3+ years of experience collaborating closely with Industrial Design teams to deliver cosmetically correct vehicle body designs
  • Collaborative mindset, dedication to excellence and completeness, clear communication style


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience within a startup or other small company environment
  • Strong CATIA 3DX user 
  • Significant automotive body design experience, including dimensional control, sealing, fit & finish
  • Experience applying light-weighting techniques, materials, and processes to vehicle structures
  • Experience with achieving aggressive aerodynamic targets on vehicle structures


Equity
  • Lightship compensation consists of the yearly salary above plus equity, which gives you a stake in the company.


$120,000 - $150,000 a year

Employee Benefits & Philosophy - Applies to Full Time Employees only

- Healthcare, Dental, Vision

- 401k

- Flexible Paid Time Off - that we actually want you to use!

- 12 weeks paid parental leave

- $2,000 per year towards an RV trip of your own &/or professional development opportunities - we call this a LightTrip


Lightship offers all of its full time employees and their dependents full benefits including health, dental and vision insurance and covers 100% of the insurance premium. We are on a mission to create a more healthful all-electric experience for a pastime that millions of families enjoy and believe strongly that our team should not have to worry about quality healthcare for themselves or their loved ones along the way.

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CEO of Lightship
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David MacMurchy
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Average salary estimate

$135000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$120000K
$150000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Senior Engineer - Body Engineering, Lightship

Lightship, the pioneering American all-electric recreational vehicle manufacturer, is searching for a talented Senior Engineer - Body Engineering to join our innovative team in South San Francisco, CA. As we gear up to revolutionize the recreational vehicle industry with our aerodynamic, battery-powered trailers, your role will be essential in crafting groundbreaking body solutions for our products. You'll leverage your extensive experience in design and engineering, particularly in metallic and non-metallic structures, to ensure our Aero-Electric RVs not only meet but exceed our ambitious cost and mass targets. Collaborating closely with aerodynamics and closures engineering, you’ll have the opportunity to shape every iteration of our designs while ensuring optimal mechanical integration of windows and doors. With a commitment to diversity, a collaborative environment, and a flat organizational structure, Lightship encourages creativity and autonomy. Your mission will include performing complex simulations, managing supplier relationships for quality control, and conducting rigorous component testing. If you’re passionate about cutting-edge electric vehicles and want to be part of a transformative journey for outdoor enthusiasts, we invite you to bring your skills to Lightship.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Senior Engineer - Body Engineering Role at Lightship
What are the main responsibilities of a Senior Engineer - Body Engineering at Lightship?

As a Senior Engineer - Body Engineering at Lightship, your main responsibilities include designing and engineering body support structures and exterior panels for our electric RVs. You'll collaborate across teams, ensuring mechanical integrations and conducting simulations for structural performance, while also overseeing testing and assembly processes.

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What qualifications are necessary for the Senior Engineer - Body Engineering position at Lightship?

To qualify for the Senior Engineer - Body Engineering role at Lightship, candidates should hold a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or have equivalent practical experience, along with at least 8 years of body design experience, 2 years in a technical leadership role, and extensive familiarity with CATIA. A collaborative mindset and dedication to excellence are also essential.

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What does the typical career path look like for a Senior Engineer - Body Engineering at Lightship?

A typical career path for a Senior Engineer - Body Engineering at Lightship could lead to higher technical leadership roles or managerial positions. With our commitment to professional development and diverse perspectives, you might also find opportunities to influence cross-functional projects or transition into related areas like aerodynamics engineering.

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How does Lightship ensure quality and performance in its designs for electric RVs?

At Lightship, quality and performance assurance involve rigorous design processes where Senior Engineers - Body Engineering use simulations to evaluate structural performance and engage closely with suppliers. You'll implement tolerance analyses and collaborate with external engineering services to maximize our innovative designs.

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What does the team culture look like for a Senior Engineer - Body Engineering at Lightship?

The team culture at Lightship is highly collaborative, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering creativity. As a Senior Engineer - Body Engineering, you will work in a flat organizational structure that encourages communication and offers a supportive environment for feedback and innovation.

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Common Interview Questions for Senior Engineer - Body Engineering
Can you describe your experience with vehicle body design?

When answering this question, highlight your specific experiences in body engineering, including types of vehicles you've worked on, key projects, and your role in those projects. Focus on your use of materials and frameworks as well as any metrics of success related to your designs.

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How do you prioritize tasks during a complex project?

To answer effectively, explain your approach to breaking down tasks, setting deadlines, and collaborating with teams. Mention tools you've used for project management and examples from past experiences where this has led to successful project outcomes.

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What strategies have you used in collaborating with industrial design teams?

Discuss the importance of communication and shared goals when working with industrial design teams. Provide examples of projects where your collaboration resulted in aesthetically pleasing yet functional designs while emphasizing joint problem-solving.

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How do you stay updated with the latest trends in vehicle body engineering?

Mention resources like industry newsletters, conferences, or networking groups. Discuss how you apply new trends or technologies to your work, underlining your commitment to continuous learning in the area of vehicle body designs.

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What challenges have you faced in your past engineering projects and how did you overcome them?

Be prepared to share specific examples of challenges related to material choices, design limits, or regulatory standards. Explain your analytical process in addressing the challenge and any collaborative efforts you undertook to resolve it.

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Describe your experience with CATIA and how it has benefited your projects.

Talk about how you've used CATIA in previous roles to create engineering drawings, perform simulations, or enhance product designs. Detail any specific project outcomes that were positively impacted by your use of this software.

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What is your approach to conducting failure analysis?

Discuss your analytical methods for performing failure analysis, including how you gather data and assess performance under various scenarios. Share examples that demonstrate your capacity to derive actionable insights from these analyses.

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How do you select materials for vehicle body structures?

Explain your decision-making process when selecting materials, emphasizing considerations such as strength, weight, cost, and the intended function of the vehicle. Provide specific examples where your material choices significantly improved vehicle performance.

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What do you think is the most important aspect of body engineering in electric RVs?

Articulate your viewpoint on how weight reduction, aerodynamics, and structural integrity are critical to electric RV design. Discuss how these aspects contribute to performance, sustainability, and user experience.

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Can you provide an example of how you've met aggressive design targets?

Share a specific example that showcases your strategic planning, collaboration with teams, and innovative thinking. Highlight the metrics you aimed for and the results achieved, underscoring your ability to deliver under pressure.

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BENEFITS & PERKS
Dental Insurance
Disability Insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Vision Insurance
Performance Bonus
Family Medical Leave
Paid Holidays
FUNDING
DEPARTMENTS
SENIORITY LEVEL REQUIREMENT
TEAM SIZE
EMPLOYMENT TYPE
Full-time, on-site
DATE POSTED
March 10, 2025

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