Mechanical Engineer II

UNAVAILABLE; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Full health coverage

Retirement plan with company match

Paid holidays & PTO

Employee assistance program

Fitness discounts

Promotional opportunities

Job summary

Navitas Systems LLC / East Penn Manufacturing seeks a Mechanical Engineer II to lead mechanical design and analysis for lithium‑ion battery modules and packs used in commercial, industrial, and automotive applications.

You will own complex mechanical workstreams, develop CAD models and GD&T specifications, perform FEA, and collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, test, and suppliers to deliver robust, cost‑effective products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 3–7 years of relevant mechanical engineering or product development experience.
• Experience developing complex mechanical or electro‑mechanical products from concept through production.
• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, materials, thermal behavior, and mechanical design principles.
• Experience with CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and analysis activities for battery modules and packs from concept through production.
• Develop and review 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, layouts, BOMs, and mechanical specs.
• Own complex structural calculations, tolerance studies, and mechanical analyses.
• Lead FEA and simulation activities for structural, thermal, vibration, and related requirements.
• Translate simulation results into design recommendations and product improvements.
• Develop and resolve interfaces between cells, modules, pack structures, cooling, and enclosures.
• Lead prototype builds, design verification, validation testing, and correlation to tests.

Skills

FEA

CAD

GD&T

Thermal analysis

Structural analysis

Python

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Abaqus

ANSYS

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Get to know East Penn!

Navitas Systems LLC, a leader in comprehensive energy storage solutions, was formed in 2011 with the merger of MicroSun Innovative Energy Storage Solutions and MicroSun Electronics, and the acquisition of lithium battery company A123 Systems’ Government Services Group. In 2019, East Penn Manufacturing, one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers, acquired majority interest in Navitas Systems. In SEVEN remarkable decades, East Penn has grown from a one-room shop with a product line of five automotive batteries to one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers with over 10,500 full-time employees, 515 product designs, operations around the world, and hundreds of awards for industry excellence.

At our Navitas facilities we engage in the research, design, development, and manufacture of advanced lithium cells and energy storage products and systems for both Commercial and Industrial customers . We invest in our people, they are and always will be the heart of this company. Are you ready to join a family-owned enterprise committed to honoring the contributions of everyone? Then Navitas is the right place for you.

Overview

The Mechanical Engineer II independently leads mechanical analysis and design activities for lithium-ion battery modules and packs used in commercial, industrial, and automotive applications. This role owns complex mechanical engineering workstreams, develops and reviews structural and thermal solutions, and translates analysis results into design recommendations. The engineer works across engineering, manufacturing, quality, test, and supplier teams to resolve technical issues and deliver robust products that meet performance, cost, quality, manufacturability, reliability, and safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and analysis activities for battery modules and packs from concept through production.
• Develop and review 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, layouts, bills of material, and mechanical specifications.
• Own complex structural calculations, tolerance studies, and mechanical engineering analyses.
• Lead FEA and simulation activities for structural, thermal, vibration, shock, and related mechanical performance requirements.
• Translate simulation and analysis results into design recommendations, tradeoffs, and product improvements.
• Develop and resolve mechanical interfaces between cells, modules, pack structures, cooling systems, electrical assemblies, and enclosures.
• Lead mechanical prototype builds, design verification, validation testing, and simulation-to-test correlation.
• Lead mechanical root‑cause investigations and develop corrective actions for test, manufacturing, supplier, and field issues.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance analysis, and design‑for‑manufacturing and assembly principles to product designs.
• Lead mechanical engineering changes through review, validation, and release processes.
• Provide technical support for supplier component development, qualification, and resolution of mechanical issues.
• Present mechanical analyses, technical risks, design decisions, and recommendations during design reviews.
• Drive improvements in product performance, cost, quality, reliability, serviceability, and manufacturability.
• Develop and improve engineering methods, analysis standards, and reusable technical tools.
• Mentor Mechanical Engineer I team members and provide technical guidance on mechanical engineering activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 3–7 years of relevant mechanical engineering or product development experience.
• Experience developing complex mechanical or electro‑mechanical products from concept through production.
• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, materials, thermal behavior, and mechanical design principles.
• Experience with FEA, engineering calculations, simulation, and correlation to test data.
• Experience with CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and engineering documentation.
• Experience with validation testing, root‑cause analysis, and technical problem resolution.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and technical communication skills.
• Ability to independently lead complex mechanical engineering activities and make sound technical decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with battery packs, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, or other complex electro‑mechanical products.
• Experience with high‑voltage battery pack mechanical, thermal, structural, and safety requirements.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks, Abaqus, ANSYS, MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
• Experience with vibration, shock, thermal, fatigue, or durability analysis.
• Experience with design for manufacturing and assembly and serviceability.
• Experience working with suppliers on mechanical component development and qualification.
• Familiarity with automotive, industrial, or commercial product development standards.
• Experience leading cross‑functional technical workstreams.
• Experience developing engineering methods, analysis standards, or automation tools.

Core Competencies

• Mechanical design and analysis
• Structural and thermal simulation
• Engineering judgment
• Technical problem solving
• Root‑cause analysis
• Simulation‑to‑test correlation
• GD&T and tolerance analysis
• Design for manufacturing and assembly
• Product quality and reliability
• Technical communication
• Cross‑functional leadership
• Continuous improvement
• Mentoring and knowledge sharing

Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice

East Penn Benefits

Navitas/East Penn offers excellent benefits:

• Competitive compensation
• Group health insurance that includes high quality medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage with a low employee premium
• Retirement Savings Plan with company match and a 3% employer contribution
• Paid company holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Employee assistance program
• Fitness Discounts
• Promotional opportunities

At Navitas/East Penn, our employees are our culture; our employees will always be the heart of the company. We are a private, family‑owned enterprise committed to cultivating an atmosphere that honors the contributions of everyone. We want our employees to have long‑term careers, and many do. More than 38% of our workforce has over a decade of service. Our open‑door management policy, comprehensive benefits package, employee appreciation and recognition events, and career advancement opportunities are just some of the ways we show our employees how incredibly valued they are.

EOE/VEVRAA