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Research and Development Engineer I

Titan International Inc.
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Research and Development Engineer I    (5.85)

Titan International, Inc., a global leading wheel and tire assembly manufacturer for the agriculture, construction, forestry, and mining markets, is seeking a Research and Development Engineer to join our team in Bryan, OH.
 

REPORTS TO: 

Engineering Manager (R&D) [direct] 

Director of Engineering (R&D) [indirect]

 

DEPARTMENT: 

Research and Development (R&D)

North American Tire Division

Bryan, OH

 

QUALIFICATIONS / EDUCATION / SKILLS:

  1. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering preferred and/or equivalent technical degree with related experience.
  2. New Graduate or up to 5 years of product development / engineering experience
  3. Experience with Computer Aided Design/Drafting for both 2-D drawings (AutoCAD) and 3-D modeling (Creo)
  4. Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Software (Abaqus) preferred.
  5. Highly organized individual with attention to detail 
  6. Must be able to interface with plant manufacturing, sales, customers, contractors, vendors, suppliers, etc.
  7. Good communication skills, both verbal and written.

 

JOB SUMMARY:

The R&D Engineer position is to design and/or redevelop Off-the-Road (OTR) or Farm (Agriculture) tires as needed to meet customer requirements. Uses independent judgement and exercises discretion in executing their duties. This position requires a high degree of confidentiality.  Will be assigned to one of the following four stems (or a combination there of): DESIGN, MOLD & TOOLING, TESTING, MATERIALS, and/or FEA SIMULATION as described below. 

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  1. DESIGN stem:
    1. Incorporate tire design/specifications that are cost effective and material efficient.
    2. Assist with the development of new sizes in present tire product lines (from calculations to technical drawings) as required including: 
      1. Off-the-Road: (Earthmover, Loader, Grader, Industrial, Forestry, Specialty)
        1. Radial Off-the-Road Tires (including Ultra-Class) 
        2. Bias Off-the-Road Tires
        3. Low-Sidewall (LSW) Technology
      2. Agriculture: 
        1. Radial Farm Tires
        2. Bias Farm Tires 
        3. Low-Sidewall (LSW) Technology
        4. Assist Process Engineers with prototype product/material certifications and builds in the following areas:
          1. Southside Tire Assembly Room
          2. Northside Tire Assembly Room
          3. Curing (Presses, Extruders, tooling, bladders, specs) 
          4. Bladder Press (tooling, equipment, specs)
          5. R&D Band Saw
    3. Collect and report warranty and manufacturing anomaly data to help find root causes and provide solutions to technical teams and to the production floor level alike as necessary to support Process/Product Engineering
    4. Assist in the implementation of new products and processes and resolve product performance issues by executing/carrying-out technical action plans as directed.
    5. Assist with the continuous improvement of current product lines (Performance, Cost Reduction, Process, etc.) by submitting ideas for Engineering Change Requests (ECR's) & Engineering Change Notifications (ECN's) alike.
    6. Represent R&D, warranty, and sales via field engineering site visits to review product performance and report back accordingly (up to 15% travel)
    7. Working knowledge of Drafting requirements for all tire related designs (2-D drawing & 3-D modeling, mold, and support equipment design)
    8. Support Tire and Rim Association Standards Committee and other sub-committees/organizations as required (i.e., SAE/ETRTO/IND/Military)
    9. Help review all marketing materials and training course content (i.e., Titan University, Databooks, Flyers, etc.)
    10. Perform and create Tire Section Analysis reports (Tire Sectioning w/ bandsaw)
    11. Update test methods for internal and field evaluations at managers direction
    12. Research and provide reports on new materials that could improve cost, performance, and/or warranty.
    13. Help provide written technical support for  customers, sales, and end-users.
    14. Work together with the FEA stem regarding new FEA projects and become familiar with simulation results and how they affect product performance.
  2. MOLD & TOOLING stem:
    1. Working knowledge of mold and tooling/hardware design.
    2. Helps establish all design parameters for new tires while working with the mold drafters/designers.
    3. Communicate timelines for design and hardware procurement that meet the customer and Titan’s demands.
    4. Assist in getting in-house repairs of hardware and molds such as identifying what can be repaired on-site and promptly arranging repair schedule.
    5. Responsible for obtaining quotes and placing orders for repairs, new molds, tire building drums, and accessories.
    6. Manage shipping of molds to/from repair shop.
    7. Provide Technical Department with molds and hardware delivery schedules.
    8. Coordinate the building of tooling in mold (tool and die) shop.
    9. Responsible for the procurement of new and the repair/maintenance of bladder molds and related hardware (BRY)
    10. Order and design spring plates (stamping plates).
    11. Troubleshoot off standard conditions in manufacturing such as off-register, fitment of/damaged bead rings, drum sections, etc. as related to tooling/hardware/molds.
    12. Assist press/curing setup personnel with problems they encounter in press set-up of new and existing hardware.
    13. Stay informed concerning new manufacturing technology and equipment and investigate their potential applications. Recommend incorporation of new technology for company applications where feasible and practical.
    14. Update procedures for the operation of new or existing tooling.
    15. Update current inventory on curing and tire assembly hardware in database.
    16. Aid vendors with any questions concerning mold or hardware drawings. 
    17. Help with designing tools, jigs, fixtures, and dies of varying types for use in the manufacture of company products.
    18. Assist drafters when they assist the FEA Simulation group with modeling and meshing and as necessary.
  3. TESTING stem:
    1. Working knowledge of engineering mechanics to understand how testing requirements are performed.
    2. Issue Test Plans for field test tire builds/evaluation.
    3. Issue Work Orders for internal test tire builds/evaluation.
    4. Assist in developing test methods for bullwheel, durability drums, soil bins (load-deflection), field evaluation, and bench test equipment, including type of testing, equipment required, and staffing.
    5. Must have good understanding of design failure criteria.
    6. Collect test data and make calculations related to measurement needs.
    7. Help prepare final reports of test data for evaluations; take note of product performance, malfunctions, failures, and breakdowns.
    8. Participate in customer contact relating to the testing of the products, servicing, etc.
    9. Provides feedback to the Sales/Engineering group on equipment performance for incorporation into future work orders/test plans. Will advise of delays, problems, or changes.
    10. Help prepare layout drawings and schematics of mechanical and electrical test devices and fixtures.
    11. Monitor the fabrication of fixtures and standard equipment for testing.
    12. Working knowledge of the electronic test instrumentation available.
    13. Assist warranty and sales via field engineering site visits to review product performance and report back accordingly (up to 15% travel)
    14. Help provide written technical support for customers, sales, and end-users as related to testing.
  4. FEA SIMULATION stem:
    1. Working knowledge of FEA systems and user interfaces.
    2. Will update solid models and FEA analysis of current and new products, materials, equipment, curing, and engineering practices to assist with both new development and existing products alike.
    3. Carries out FEA projects as prioritized by the manager through to completion.
    4. Assists in the control of engineering documentation as related to the modeling work. 
    5. Responsible for the drafting, modeling, and meshing for FEA simulations.
    6. Provides input on test requirements to verify and confirm results of the FEA model as related to the application or test requirement and vendors.
    7. Good understanding of stress analysis results and strong ability to communicate it through concise reports and visualizations.
    8. Maintains contact with related vendors regarding new modeling, FEA, and analysis techniques to be trained to and apply.
    9. Suggests ideas for new FEA projects as related to continuous improvement, warranty, and prototype designs.
    10. Work closely with all other R&D stems to understand changes to product designs for future FEA projects 
    11. Become familiar with simulation results and how they affect product performance.
  5. MATERIALS stem:
    1. Manages reinforcement material procurement projects in conjunction with the corporate purchasing group.
    2. Schedules and evaluates associated lab testing for the qualification of new suppliers and/or new materials.
    3. Collaborates with R&D and Manufacturing Engineering groups across all tire plants to ensure projects are completed in a timely fashion to improve material sourcing options/availability, tire performance, and or product cost.
    4. Coordinates both internal and external field prototype testing  
    5. Researches and facilitates new suppliers and new material ideas for all areas of the tire as related to product warranty, new development, or manufacturability improvements.
    6. Reports/presents all results and findings clearly to suppliers and upper management
    7. Creates/Revises Standard Practices, Work Instructions, and Specifications related to reinforcement material procurement process, testing procedures, and tire selection.

OTHER ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  1. Work together as a team to accomplish company specific goals and have cross-functional relationship with all technical departments/stems across all plants.
  2. Provide and maintain active project list and status.
  3. Maintain quality record keeping. 
  4. Work with Plant Engineering on developing tire building equipment.
  5. Update technical information for publications.
  6. Assist in developing new product designs and concepts.
  7. Update historical files on all tire specifications, ISO documentation, and related technical documents as related to appropriate stem. 
  8. Customer support by providing appropriate specifications/drawings to suppliers, vendors, sales, and production floor as required on time.
  9. Establish good relationship with our technical consultants to gain tire experience in all aspects. 
  10. Will perform other duties as assigned.