Principal Battery Design Engineer

Matchtech Group; Coventry; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Permanent role

Prototype exposure

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Matchtech Group is seeking a Principal Battery Design Engineer to lead the development of battery modules and packs across automotive, marine, defence, and energy storage sectors. The role emphasizes safe, cost-effective mechanical designs and close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and manufacturing partners.

The successful candidate will drive enclosure and interconnect designs, produce advanced 3D models and drawings, and manage thermal interfaces and BOMs to ensure manufacturability

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical, automotive or electrical engineering or an equivalent qualification.
• Significant battery design experience in packaging and modelling of modules and packs.
• Advanced CAD capability with SolidWorks, CATIA or NX.
• Experience producing 2D component drawings and manufacturing assembly drawings.
• Experience maintaining 3D electrical component databases or catalogues.
• Understanding of battery thermal management, including liquid cooling.
• Knowledge of tolerancing, materials science and manufacturing processes.
• Understanding of Design for Manufacture and Assembly, corrosion resistance, strength and durability.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and packaging of battery modules and packs, including cells, connectors, and high-voltage interconnects.
• Develop enclosure designs, fixings, and structural components using folded sheet metal, machined parts and 3D-printed plastics.
• Produce 3D models and manufacturing drawings using CAD tools (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX).
• Develop wiring harness models and manage electrical component databases for packaging.
• Design thermal interfaces including cooling fins and liquid cooling for battery packs.
• Support DFA/DFM reviews with suppliers to improve cost, quality and manufacturability.
• Manage BOMs, assemblies, and engineering changes per change control processes.
• Collaborate with systems, thermal, electronics and other teams to meet project milestones.

Skills

Battery design

CAD software

2D drawings

BOM management

DFA/DFM

Education

Mechanical/Electrical Eng Degree

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA|NX

Job description

Our client is seeking a Principal Battery Design Engineer to lead the development of battery modules and packs for permanent work across automotive and related sectors, including marine, defence, energy storage and industrial applications. The role will involve creating safe, cost-effective and manufacturable mechanical designs while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams, suppliers and manufacturing partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and packaging of battery modules and packs, including cells, electrical and electronic components, connectors, low-voltage harnesses and high-voltage interconnects
• Develop enclosure designs, mechanical fixings, solid components and support structures using folded sheet metal, machined materials and 3D-printed plastics
• Produce 3D models, 2D component drawings and manufacturing assembly drawings using advanced CAD tools such as SolidWorks, CATIA or NX
• Develop three-dimensional wiring harness models and manage electrical component databases for packaging activities
• Design and manage thermal interfaces, including cooling fins, liquid flow-through cold plates and vapour chambers
• Support Design for Manufacture and Assembly reviews, working with suppliers and manufacturing partners to improve cost, quality and manufacturability
• Manage assembly structures, bills of materials and engineering changes in line with established change control processes
• Work with systems, thermal, electronics, EDS and other engineering teams to deliver effective solutions in line with project milestones

Job Requirements

• Degree or equivalent qualification in mechanical, automotive or electrical and electronic engineering
• Significant battery design experience covering the packaging and modelling of battery modules and packs in prototype and production environments
• Advanced capability in CAD software, such as SolidWorks, CATIA V5 or V6, or NX
• Experience producing 2D component drawings and manufacturing assembly drawings
• Experience creating and maintaining three-dimensional electrical component databases or catalogues
• Practical understanding of battery thermal management techniques, including liquid cooling
• Knowledge of geometric tolerancing and dimensioning, tolerance analysis, material science and relevant manufacturing processes
• Understanding of Design for Manufacture and Assembly, including corrosion resistance, galvanic corrosion, strength and durability considerations

Desirable Skills

• Experience in automotive, rail, marine, aerospace or energy storage industries
• Knowledge of electrical assemblies, low-voltage and high-voltage wiring harnesses, busbars and power distribution units
• Understanding of high-voltage creepage and clearance requirements
• Experience with structural, stress or finite element analysis
• Advanced knowledge of the SolidWorks CAD suite

Personal Attributes

• Quality-focused with excellent attention to detail
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills
• Effective communication, report writing and presentation abilities
• Flexible, enthusiastic and self-motivated approach
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary engineering environment
• Willingness to accept responsibility, embrace challenges and support continuous improvement
• Commitment to professional development and continuous learning

Benefits

• Opportunity to lead innovative battery design projects across multiple industry sectors
• Permanent position within a collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment
• Exposure to prototype and production engineering activities
• Opportunities for professional development and technical growth