CAD Software Engineer

Ford Motor CompanyChennai, Tamil NaduHybridFull-timeMid level, 2–5 yearsListed 1 hour ago

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About this role

This role is for a CAD/CAM Engineering Developer responsible for designing, developing, customizing, testing, and maintaining engineering software solutions on proprietary/OEM CAD, PLM, or CAE platforms (e.g., CATIA V5, 3DEXPERIENCE or similar in-house/proprietary CAD systems). The developer will work with C, C++, vendor-specific SDKs/APIs and frameworks (such as CAA, RADE or equivalent), and other OEM proprietary applications in related engineering domains. Key responsibilities include building CAD and Engineering automation solutions, Customization, geometry and topology operations, feature modeler extensions, custom data structures, and PLM-integrated engineering applications.

Must-haves

- Around 5+ years of experience in CAD/CAM Engineering development work.
- Strong C++ proficiency, including object-oriented design, design patterns, memory management, pointers, and lifecycle handling.
- Solid hands-on experience with C++ data structures and their handling — arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, hash maps/sets, and custom containers — along with the ability to choose and implement the right data structure for performance-critical CAD operations.
- Understanding of algorithm complexity (time/space), and ability to write efficient, maintainable C++ code for large-scale engineering applications.
- Prior experience developing on any proprietary/OEM CAD, software platform (e.g., CATIA, NX, Creo, SolidWorks, or an internal/proprietary CAD system) - deep expertise in a specific tool is not mandatory, but demonstrated experience building customizations, plugins, or extensions on a proprietary CAD platform is required.
- Understanding of object-modeler / interface-based programming concepts, including interfaces, implementation classes, and base object/query-interface style patterns (e.g., TIE macros, CATBaseUnknown, QueryInterface, or platform equivalents).
- Hands-on knowledge of core CAD framework concepts, especially:

Object Modeler / Data Model concepts
- Feature Modeler
- Geometric and Topological Modeler (CAD kernel ACIS or Parasolid)

- Experience with CAD document structures such as parts, assemblies, drawings, containers, and spec-tree/feature-tree objects.
- Familiarity with proprietary CAD SDK/toolkit development environments, including workspaces, frameworks, modules, build/dependency management tools (MS Visual Studio or platform equivalents).
- Ability to debug native applications by attaching debuggers to the platform's runtime executable (e.g., CNEXT.exe, 3DEXPERIENCE.exe, or equivalent).
- Experience with VBA, scripting languages (e.g., CATScript or platform equivalents) for automation and batch processing.
- Knowledge of CAD Kernels and Solid Modelers.
- Ability to diagnose memory leaks, dangling pointers, crashes, and custom DLL issues.
- Understanding of CAD / geometry concepts, including B-Rep, bodies, faces, edges, wires, transformations, and geometric operators.
- Strong foundation in linear algebra, trigonometry, vectors, rotations, transformations, and interpolation.

Nice-to-haves

- Exposure to Java / JavaScript for backend or dashboard-related extensions on PLM platforms.
- Knowledge of knowledge-based engineering concepts: rules, checks, parameters, catalog management, and UDFs.
- Experience with drafting APIs, drawing generation, 2D views, dimensions, and annotation automation.
- Familiarity with PLM Core APIs (e.g., ENOVIA, Teamcenter, Windchill, or equivalent), including open/save operations, lifecycle, session management, and versioning.
- Experience with regression testing tools/frameworks for CAD platforms (e.g., ODTT / mkodt or equivalent).
- Knowledge of CI/CD automation using Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions.
- Experience with static code analysis tools (e.g., mkCheckSource or equivalent).
- Familiarity with CMake or additional build automation tools.
- Domain exposure in automotive or aerospace engineering, such as BIW, powertrain, harness, or related CAD standards.