Job Title: CAE Analyst – Interior Trim
Job Description
This role focuses on computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis for automotive interior trim components, supporting product development and design release. The CAE Analyst evaluates standard and non-standard durability and safety load cases for hard trim, soft trim, door trim, and instrument panel trim, using advanced simulation tools and scripting to improve analysis efficiency and quality.
Responsibilities
- Provide interiors analysis support for day-to-day CAE requests across all interior trim commodities, including hard trim, soft trim, door trim, and instrument panel trim.
- Set up detailed interiors CAE models to meet specific analysis requirements and project objectives.
- Perform and support interior safety analyses; leverage any prior interiors safety analysis experience to improve simulation quality.
- Apply expert plastic modelling techniques and define appropriate connections for interior trim components.
- Select and define plastic material cards, applying fundamental material terminologies and concepts correctly.
- Handle both standard and non-standard load cases on interior trims based on customer inputs and project specifications.
- Use Ls-Dyna and Nastran solvers effectively, applying all necessary pre-requisites and best practices for accurate simulations.
- Debug analysis models across different solvers, identify root causes of issues, and implement robust corrective actions.
- Simulate non-standard load cases using realistic and physically meaningful approaches.
- Identify potential design or analysis issues early, and actively brainstorm and propose solutions.
- Correlate simulation results with expected physical behavior and present findings in a clear, realistic, and professional manner.
- Continuously enhance CAE capabilities by adhering to and improving existing methods and processes.
- Develop new scripts or enhance existing tools in Java, TCL, or Python to improve CAE efficiency and automation.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams involved in automotive interior development and OEM vehicle development processes.
- Utilize CAD systems to interpret and work with interior trim geometry for CAE model preparation.
Essential Skills
- ME, MS, BE, B.Tech, or an equivalent engineering degree.
- 4 to 7 years of experience in CAE analysis, preferably focused on automotive interiors.
- Strong experience in applying CAE processes and using pre-processing and post-processing tools.
- Expertise with Ls-Dyna and Nastran solvers for structural and durability analysis.
- Proficiency in plastic modelling techniques and defining appropriate connections for interior trim components.
- Ability to select and define plastic material cards and apply basic material science terminology.
- Experience evaluating durability and safety load cases for interior trim components.
- Exposure to automotive interiors and interior trim product development.
- Exposure to OEM vehicle development processes and associated CAE workflows.
- Experience working with CAD systems to support CAE model setup.
- Ability to debug CAE models and identify root causes of analysis issues across different solvers.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify potential issues and develop effective solutions.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Knowledge of Radioss and Abaqus is an added advantage.
- Experience with interiors safety analysis is an added advantage.
- Additional scripting knowledge in Java, TCL, or Python is highly beneficial for tool development and process automation.
- Ability to script new tools or enhance existing tools to improve CAE efficiency.
- Domain knowledge in interior trim analysis, covering hard trim, soft trim, door trim, and instrument panel trim.
- Strong communication skills to present and correlate analysis results in a clear and professional manner.
- Continuous improvement mindset, with a focus on enhancing existing CAE methods and processes.
Work Environment
The role operates in a technically focused engineering environment centered on automotive interior development. You will work extensively with CAE pre- and post-processing tools, solvers such as Ls-Dyna and Nastran, and may also use Radioss and Abaqus where applicable. Daily activities involve close interaction with CAD systems, simulation tools, and scripting languages such as Java, TCL, and Python to support automation and process improvement. The position typically follows standard full-time engineering working hours, with collaboration across design, development, and CAE teams to support OEM vehicle development processes. The environment encourages continuous learning, method development, and the use of advanced simulation techniques to improve product performance and development efficiency. Dress expectations are generally aligned with a professional office and technical engineering setting.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, Diversity And Inclusion Are a Bridge Towards The Equity And Success Of Our People. DE&I Is Embedded Into Our Culture Through
- Hiring diverse talent
- Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
- Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
- Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
