R&D Engineer :

New Technology Validation for next generation Consumer Tire Products

About the Role

Job Purpose

You will work in CFT to verify the marketability of New Technologies for consumer products, to ensure that all potential aspects of product durability linked with the New Technologies are addressed and validate.

In this position, you will closely work with R&D and manufacturing researchers, technicians and management as well as with relevant Corporate functions in  Europe, Japan and America technical centres.

Responsibilities:

• Lead DRBFM activities on new technologies within a Cross-functional-team environment.
• Plan project activities, defining schedule and milestones; monitor and track progress.
• Arrange prototype tires’ building in production plants and organize relevant testing campaigns.
• Investigate tire failure mode, understand mechanisms, identify and validate countermeasures.
• Prepare tire virtual models and perform finite elements analysis, including identification of ad-hoc metrics and editing of scripts/codes for data post-processing.
• Organize and manage periodical Design review meetings/presentations with stakeholders and management.
• Design and validate new testing methods, tailored to replicate specific tires failure modes.
• Support research teams in the scouting, design, development and implementation of new technologies for Consumer tires.
• Work and interact with Bridgestone external partners, such as equipment’s, materials and service suppliers.

Qualifications & Experience Required 

Education, Master, other certification:

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Materials Engineering and similar.

Experience (years):

• Previous experience in technical roles within tire and materials design appreciated.

Technical Skills:

• Knowledge in automotive, appreciated if tire/road contact related.
• Experience/ know-how on DRBFM / FMEA methodologies.
• Experience in operation and troubleshooting with FEM simulation software, preferably Abaqus and Hypermesh.
• Digital mindset : solid of knowledge of MS Office suite and programming languages (Matlab and Python appreciated plus)

Languages Skills:

Fluency in written and spoken English

Soft/Behavioral Skills:

• Ownership and End-to-End vision to investigate risks and  engage all the necessary functions.
• Robust planning and adaptability to adjust the approach to the assigned programs
• Analytical skill, Logic Thinking, Problem solving and strong mechanism understanding mindset.
• Willingness to perform accurate analysis on worn-out tire, either after indoor/outdoor test or after market exposure
• Curiosity, think-out-of-the-box mindset, willingness to learn from new and unprecedented technical challenges.