Chief Electrical Engineer

Paradigm Nat'l; Greer (SC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Paradigm Nat'l is seeking a Chief Engineer, Battery Systems to lead end-to-end battery engineering from concept through production launch and ongoing support.

You will establish system architecture, align mechanical, electrical, thermal, BMS, and safety disciplines, and guide cross-functional teams to meet performance and cost targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical or related discipline; 15+ years or Master’s with 12+ years in engineering leadership.
• Deep knowledge of battery system architecture across cells, modules, packs, BMS, thermal, HV distribution.
• Experience taking battery products from concept to production with architecture ownership.
• Strong reliability, safety and quality methodologies (DFMEA, PFMEA, FTA) at system level.
• Excellent systems engineering practice: requirements management, interface control, V-model DV/PV.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program management.

Responsibilities

• Drive cross-domain integration of mechanical, electrical, thermal, BMS, and controls subsystems; balance performance, safety, cost and manufacturability.
• Define technical milestones, gate criteria, and release plans across the V-cycle; present to executives and customers.
• Lead system-level DFMEA, hazard analysis, and design reviews; act as final technical signing authority on architecture decisions.
• Govern requirements cascade with traceability; ensure verification & validation strategy and regulatory compliance.
• Champion transition from prototype to high-volume manufacturing; ensure DFM/DFA and supplier development alignment.
• Mentor engineers across disciplines and act as principal technical thought leader for battery systems.

Skills

Battery systems

System architecture

DFMEA

PFMEA

V-model

Requirements mgmt

Executive leadership

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

As the Chief Engineer, Battery Systems, you will serve as the primary technical leader for the overall battery system, providing end-to-end engineering ownership from early concept development through production launch and ongoing product support. You will establish the system architecture and long-term technical strategy while ensuring alignment across mechanical, electrical, thermal, battery management systems (BMS), and functional safety disciplines.

Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, validation, supplier quality, controls, and program leadership teams, you will drive technical decision-making, resolve complex cross-functional challenges, and maintain alignment on critical product objectives. This position requires extensive experience in battery systems engineering, exceptional systems-level thinking, and the ability to provide technical leadership across multiple disciplines without direct organizational authority.

As the technical owner of the battery product, you will be responsible for ensuring the system delivers targeted levels of performance, reliability, safety, manufacturability, and cost efficiency. Success in this role requires evaluating competing engineering priorities, making informed architectural decisions, and guiding the development of robust, production-ready battery systems.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive cross-domain integration of mechanical, electrical, thermal, BMS, and controls subsystems, resolving interface conflicts and making system-level trade-offs that balance performance, safety, cost, weight, and manufacturability
• Drive the technical vision, system architecture, and engineering road map for the engineering team, translating customer requirements, regulatory standards, and business strategy into a coherent technical plan
• Lead system-level DFMEA, hazard analysis, and abuse tolerance reviews; chair design reviews and serve as the final technical signing authority on architecture decisions, requirement waivers, and engineering change at the program level
• Define and govern the requirements cascade from system to subsystem to component, ensuring traceability, robust verification & validation strategy(DV/PV), and compliance with applicable standards
• Champion the transition from prototype through pilot to high-volume manufacturing, ensuring design intent is preserved across DFM/DFA, supplier development, and quality control; lead technical resolution of complex field and production issues that span multiple subsystems
• Partner with program management and engineering leadership to define technical milestones, gate criteria, and release plans across the V-cycle; provide technical leadership at gate reviews and represent battery engineering to executives, customers, and certification bodies
• Mentor and develop engineers across multiple disciplines, raising the technical bar of the organization; act as the principal technical thought leader for battery systems internally and externally, including in technology scouting, IP, and customer-facing technical engagements

Required Experience

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical or related discipline; Bachelor’s with 15+ years OR Master’s with 12+ years of progressive engineering experience, including significant time in technical leadership roles (lead engineer, principal, staff, or chief engineer)
• Deep working knowledge of battery system architecture spanning cells, modules, packs, BMS/BMB, thermal management, HV distribution, contactors, and enclosure design, with the ability to engage substantively with specialists in each domain
• Demonstrated track record of taking complex electromechanical or battery products from concept through production launch as the responsible technical lead, including ownership of architecture decisions and technical risk management
• Strong background leading system-level reliability, safety, and quality methodologies (DFMEA, PFMEA, FTA, hazard analysis, tolerance stack-ups, 8D problem solving) on programs of meaningful scope and complexity
• Strong systems engineering practice, including requirements management, interface control, V-model verification & validation, and the ability to interpret and direct analysis work across structural, thermal, electrical, and controls domains (FEA, CFD, electrical/thermal modeling)
• Excellent technical communication, executive presence, and the proven ability to lead, influence, and align cross-functional teams without direct authority — including engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and program management

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with battery-specific manufacturing processes such as laser welding, potting, sealing, and module-to-pack assembly
• Working knowledge of mulitple cell chemistries (NMC, LFP, and emerging chemistries), cell-level failure modes, thermal runawaypropagation, and BMS state estimation, balancing, and protection strategies
• Prior experience as a Chief, Principal, or Lead Engineer on high-voltage battery, energy storage, or EV powertrain programs that have shipped to production

Travel:<15%

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. There is no immigration sponsorship available for this role (ex: H1-B, OPT, CPT, TN or any other employment sponsorship).