R&D Tire Mechanics Engineer

R&D Tire Mechanics Engineer Bridgestone Rome, Italy 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. 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. Apply Now