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R&D Tire Mechanics Engineer
Bridgestone Europe NV/SA
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
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About this role
About the Role Job Purpose Join the Engineering Applied Contact Technologies Team within West Tire Research and Digital Transformation as an Applied Tire Researcher, developing advanced tire-design solutions and methods through physical understanding, simulation and testing. Location: Rome, Italy | Scope: BSEMEA | Reports to: Contact Technologies Head Compensation: Salary tailored to the candidate’s profile. Team: Researchers in contact mechanics, tire mechanics, noise and vibration, combining engineering fundamentals with advanced simulation and experimental methods to enable future products and design processes. Internal interfaces: Gen2/GenX Pre-Development; REP and OE Development; Digital Engineering and Simulation; Testing; Pattern and Mold Engineering; Construction Engineering; Tread Compound Development; Material Laboratories; Intellectual Property; Standards and Regulations. External interfaces: Universities, research centers, engineering partners, and relevant tire and rim technical organizations, according to project needs. Responsibilities • Support Gen2/GenX Pre-Development using advanced dry, wet and wear simulations to guide design decisions and develop wear and friction technologies. • Evolve design criteria for Wear/Wet/Dry (REP), Wear/Dry/PBN/RRc (OE) and Wear/RRc (TBR), addressing braking and handling trade-offs. • Strengthen the synergy between tread compounds and tire design—pattern, cavity and construction—to improve overall performance. • Develop low-rolling-resistance (RRc) design guidelines that preserve wet/dry performance and improve wear without reducing skid depth, supporting Wear Grading readiness. • Drive ideation and proof of concept (PoC) for GenX wear-energy technologies across pattern elements, cavity and construction, closing gaps in the Wear Technology Roadmap (Mission #3). • Validate simulation predictions through testing, document findings and transfer know-how to Pre-Development and Development teams. • Introduce and support advanced testing, simulation and prediction methods in tire mechanics. Deliverables & Success Measures Validated design criteria and guidelines, Scale of new Design Tools and Methods; PoC-validated design concepts for wear/dry/wet/RRc and simulation and experimental methods. Success is measured through agreed project gates and milestones, documented know-how and technical reports, patent applications, and completed training and knowledge transfer. Qualifications & Experience required Education Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline: Aeronautical, Aerospace, Automotive or Materials Engineering. Preferred background: A PhD and/or a master’s thesis in automotive or tire engineering, contact mechanics, tribology or applied simulation; strong fundamentals in contact, tire and structural mechanics; knowledge of wear, wet/dry grip and rolling-resistance trade-offs. Experience (years) More than two years in the tire or automotive industry, or university research on automotive topics, is highly valued. Technical Skills • Tire design and development knowledge and/or experience, preferably in tread patterns and wear; ability to translate contact pressure, friction, wear energy and drainage mechanisms into practical design guidelines. • Strong experimental-design, measurement, data-acquisition and validation skills; sound knowledge of statistics, Design of Experiments and robust-design methods. • Proficiency in data processing and technical reporting using MATLAB and Python. • CAD (Creo or equivalent) and meshing (HyperMesh or equivalent) are advantages; FEM proficiency (Abaqus, Nastran or equivalent) for contact, wear and wet/drainage simulations is a strong advantage. • Project-management and cross-functional coordination capabilities. Language Skills Fluent written and spoken English. Soft/Behavioral Skills Goal orientation and ownership; clear communication and technical influencing; structured problem solving; adaptability and proactivity; teamwork and cross-functional collaboration; creativity, curiosity and open-mindedness; thoroughness and lean thinking; willingness to learn and share knowledge. Salary range: € 37601.10 - 46500 The salary range is based on gender-neutral criteria: applicable CCNL requirements, responsibilities, working conditions and market benchmarks for the role and location. Final compensation will be determined based on gender-neutral criteria: experience, skills, and internal equity.