Lead Development & Validation Engineer

The Lead Development & Validation Engineer – Electrical Systems is the senior technical lead for high-voltage and low-voltage propulsion electrical systems within the RESS Development & Validation organization. This role sets direction for electrical Design Validation (DV)/ Production Validation (PV) strategy, owns critical test/analysis plans, and ensures that outcomes are tightly linked to Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and program risk burn-down. The engineer leads cross-functional alignment with Global Virtual Engineering (GVE), safety, program, and supplier teams while mentoring other engineers and driving method and capability growth. Rough guideline: ~50% technical leadership/strategy and cross-functional coordination; ~50% high-impact technical work and oversight (rather than day-to-day execution on every test).

Electrical System Strategy, Planning & Technical Direction Define the development and validation strategy for RESS electrical systems across multiple programs. Develop testing strategies to support virtualization activities. Translate program requirements, safety standards, and DFMEA outputs into integrated electrical test and analysis plans, ensuring coverage across architectures and phases. Make risk-based trade-offs on scope, timing, and methods, escalating issues and recommendations to leadership with clear options and impacts. Provide technical direction to other engineers and lab personnel executing electrical tests and analyses; review and sign off on critical test plans and reports. DFMEA Ownership & Risk-Based Prioritization for Electrical Systems Serve as the senior electrical DFMEA owner for key domains: ensure failure modes, effects, causes, and controls are complete, current, and technically sound. Define and maintain the electrical detection strategy (test and analysis) for high-risk DFMEA items; ensure each has a credible and executable prevention/detection path. Lead regular DFMEA reviews with GVE, safety, and program teams to reprioritize tests/analyses as designs evolve, issues emerge, and new data arrives (e.g., field, warranty, read-across). Technical Execution Oversight & Problem Solving Oversee planning and execution of complex electrical tests (e.g., HV/LV functional safety, isolation/fault management, abuse/fault injections, support TRP evaluations). Step in directly on the most complex or high-risk investigations, providing hands-on guidance in test design, instrumentation, data review, and root-cause analysis. Integrate results from lab testing, simulation, and vehicle-level evaluations into cohesive technical narratives and recommendations for design and program leadership. Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration Represent electrical systems in cross-functional forums, design reviews, and workgroups, clearly articulating risks, mitigations, and readiness. Partner closely with GVE virtual teams so electrical DV/PV and modeling are aligned (assumptions, correlation targets, and capability gaps). Collaborate with safety, systems, software/controls, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure electrical system robustness from concept through launch. People Leadership, Mentoring & Method Development Mentor and coach engineers and lab staff on electrical system design, test methods, DFMEA usage, and sound engineering judgement. Lead continuous improvement of electrical test methods, fixtures, instrumentation, automation, and standard work; champion adoption across teams. Help shape capability roadmaps (tools, labs, training) for electrical systems within the RESS Development & Validation organization.

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field. 5+ years of experience in propulsion, battery/RESS, or vehicle electrical systems development and validation, with demonstrated technical leadership. Strong track record planning and leading complex electrical