About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.
JOB SUMMARY
The Vehicle Development Engineer in Engineering leads the physical integration, validation, and optimization of complete vehicle systems for Blue Bird's commercial and school bus platforms. This role drives the physical development lifecycle of traditional, low-emission, and electric vehicle (EV) platforms from early prototype stages through to production line sign-off. The Vehicle Development Engineer acts as the bridge between virtual engineering design and physical reality, ensuring that complete vehicles meet performance, durability, safety, and ride-and-handling targets.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Vehicle Integration & Build: Oversee the physical assembly and functional integration of complex vehicle subsystems, including powertrain, chassis, thermal management, and high-voltage EV networks onto prototype platforms.
- Test Planning & Execution: Author comprehensive vehicle validation plans (DVP&R) and conduct physical vehicle testing on test tracks and laboratory environments (e.g., structural durability, thermal performance, and vehicle dynamics).
- Data Acquisition & Analysis: Instrument prototype vehicles with sensors (accelerometers, thermocouples, strain gauges) and utilize data acquisition tools to capture, analyze, and interpret real-world engineering metrics.
- Issue Resolution & Tuning: Identify system-level conflicts, design defects, or performance shortfalls during physical testing, and lead root cause analysis (RCA) to implement corrective design modifications.
- Regulatory & Safety Validation: Manage vehicle-level compliance testing to satisfy Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), environmental mandates, and internal safety protocols.
- Subjective & Objective Evaluation: Conduct vehicle ride, handling, braking, and NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) evaluations, translating subjective test-driver feedback into quantitative engineering targets.
- Cross-Functional Optimization: Collaborate directly with Component Design Engineers, Simulation teams (FEA/CFD), and Plant Manufacturing Operations to refine vehicle designs for optimal assembly and performance.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR SUCCESS
- Vehicle Systems Expertise: Holistic understanding of complete automotive architectures, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, and electronic control unit (ECU) networks.
- Data Acquisition Proficiency: Hands-on experience with automotive instrumentation tools and data analysis software (e.g., Vector CANalyzer, CANape, Dewesoft, or Somat eDAQ).
- Problem-Solving Mastery: Expert diagnostic skills to troubleshoot complex, interacting system faults across mechanical, high-voltage electrical, and software domains.
- Testing Methodologies: Deep knowledge of vehicle dynamics testing, accelerated structural durability protocols, and thermal management evaluation techniques.
- Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to effectively convey vehicle-level test findings and engineering recommendations to cross-functional design and executive teams.
BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in vehicle development, vehicle integration, or experimental validation within an automotive or heavy truck OEM environment.
- All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Direct experience validating high-voltage Electric Vehicle (EV) systems, battery pack integration, or electric drivetrain calibrations.
- Possession of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with a passenger endorsement, or the ability to obtain one for test-track operations.
- Familiarity with automotive communication protocols such as J1939, CAN, and LIN bus systems.
- Advanced engineering degree, such as a Master of Science in Automotive or Mechanical Engineering.
WE VALUE
- Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
- Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
- Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
- Ability to influence stakeholders
- Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
- Flexible workspaces and work hours to help you unleash the best you.
- Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.
INCLUDES
- Continued Professional Development
- Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching
WORK CONDITIONS
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Office environment and production environment
- Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
- Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
- Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
- You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
- Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
- Frequent communication with people throughout the day
*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
Blue Bird® is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.
All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
#Li-Onsite
Qualifications Education Required High School or better. Bachelors or better. Experience Required Experience in vehicle development, vehicle integration, or experimental validation within an automotive or heavy truck OEM environment. Equal Opportunity EmployerThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Automotive, or Electrical Engineering
- 3 to 5 years vehicle development, integration, or experimental validation experience at an automotive or heavy truck OEM
- Authorized to work in the United States; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Hands-on experience with automotive instrumentation and data acquisition tools (e.g., Vector CANalyzer, CANape, Dewesoft, Somat eDAQ)
- Experience planning/executing vehicle dynamics, structural durability, and thermal management tests
- Strong diagnostic/problem-solving skills across mechanical, high-voltage electrical, and software domains
- Ability to work in manufacturing/production environments and follow PPE and safety protocols
- Direct experience validating high-voltage EV systems, battery pack integration, or electric drivetrain calibrations
- Possession of or ability to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with passenger endorsement
- Familiarity with automotive communication protocols (J1939, CAN, LIN)
- Advanced engineering degree (Master's) in Automotive or Mechanical Engineering
Blue Bird Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Blue Bird and has not been reviewed or approved by Blue Bird.
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Pay Growth & Progression — The 2024 collective bargaining agreement delivered meaningful wage increases for covered hourly employees, with larger boosts at the lowest pay bands. Subsequent contractual provisions point to a structurally improved earnings path for many production roles.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Overtime availability and profit sharing lift overall earnings potential, particularly in production settings. The contract formalized profit sharing and added financial provisions that enhance variable pay.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with Roth option and an employer match is offered, and the union agreement introduced a defined‑contribution retirement plan for covered workers. Company materials indicate employer contributions are part of the total rewards package.
Blue Bird Insights
What We Do
About Us Blue Bird offers a complete line of Type A, C and D school buses in a variety of options and configurations. Since 1927, Blue Bird Corporation has continued to set industry standards with its innovative design and manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, Blue Bird provides comprehensive financial solutions through Blue Bird Capital Services. Today, Blue Bird has more than 1,600 employees, Georgia-based manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of Dealers and Parts & Service facilities throughout North America. Its global presence can be seen in more than 60 countries through sales into Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Our Promise We are singularly focused on building and selling school buses that customers want and value. The safety of schoolchildren is at the center of all that we do and we will strive every day, just as we have since our beginning in 1927, to provide an unparalleled and affordable product in terms of safety, quality, durability, and serviceability. We will be easy to do business with, responsive to our customers' wants and needs, and provide prompt after-sale support in parts and service through a professional, high-qualified distribution network. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. What We Stand For We come to work every day with one common goal, to design, build, sell and service the world's finest school bus. That's what we do - no distractions, no competing priorities. We are heirs to a rich legacy, one of listening to our customers, embracing their needs, and delivering innovations that lead the market. We commit ourselves to four driving priorities - safety, quality, durability, and serviceability. We embody the interests of every child that rides us, every driver that drives us, every service technician that services us and every district that buys us. More than a business, this work is our heritage, and we have been at it since 1927 - that's purpose driven.
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