Principal AME Equipment Engineer, Battery
$170k - $190k USD
About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.
Position Overview
We're looking for an experienced Principal Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Equipment Engineer to lead the design concept, specifications, development, project management, installation and capability of the battery and module manufacturing equipment. This role is critical for establishing and scaling our in-house battery production, improving safety, efficiency, quality, and innovation from concept to high volume mass production. If you have a deep understanding of battery manufacturing processes and a history of delivering complex high volume equipment solutions in a fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you.
What You'll Do:
- Strategic Equipment Leadership: Define and implement the long-term equipment strategy for battery cell and pack manufacturing, aligning with product roadmaps, production targets, and cost goals of the company.
- Full Lifecycle Management: Lead the entire equipment lifecycle: concept, specification, vendor selection, design review, installation, commissioning, ramp-up, and continuous improvement.
- New Facility and Line Setup: Lead the planning, layout, and installation of new battery manufacturing lines within existing or new facilities. This includes space optimization, utility requirements, and ensuring seamless integration of equipment.
- Technical Expertise: Act as the technical expert for battery manufacturing equipment, including:
- Vendor Management & Collaboration: Partner with equipment suppliers, leading technical discussions, negotiating specifications, and ensuring on-time delivery and performance.
- DFM/DFA Integration: Collaborate with battery design and product engineering teams to optimize designs for manufacturability (DFM) and assembly (DFA) on automated equipment.
- Process Optimization: Drive continuous improvement for equipment performance, uptime, yield, and cycle time through data analysis, root cause analysis, and robust solutions.
- Safety & Compliance: Ensure all equipment designs and installations meet safety standards, environmental compliance, and relevant industry regulations.
- Team Development: Mentor and guide less experienced engineers, fostering technical excellence and continuous learning.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Work with R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Facilities teams for successful project execution and integration of new equipment.
Who You Are:
- 13+ years of experience in advanced manufacturing engineering, with at least 8+ years focused on battery manufacturing equipment in automotive EV or a related high-volume manufacturing industry (e.g., consumer electronics, energy storage).
- Proven experience with factory layout planning, utility integration, and scaling manufacturing lines within new or expanding facilities.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Deep expertise in various cell, module & battery manufacturing processes (e.g., cell testing, assembly, welding, laser cleaning, foaming and module/pack assembly).
- Proven history of bringing new, complex manufacturing equipment online from concept to high-volume production.
- Strong understanding of automation principles, robotics, machine vision, and control systems in manufacturing.
- Experience with equipment specification, procurement, vendor qualification, and contract negotiation.
- Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, 3DX, AutoCAD) for reviewing equipment designs and layouts.
- Ability to perform root cause analysis and implement effective corrective actions for equipment issues.
- Self-starter with a sense of urgency and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.
- Team and result oriented.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required for vendor visits, installations, and support. This role requires up to 25% travel.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with large-scale battery production.
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies.
- Project management certification (e.g., PMP).
- Experience with battery cell chemistry and electrochemical principles.
- Previous experience working in a startup environment.
Key Benefits & Perks:
- Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision (HDV) – 100% employee covered
- Early-stage Stock Options
- Robust Retirement Savings (401k, HSA, FSA)
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Parental Leave
- Annual Vacation Bonus
- Wellness & Fertility Benefits
- Cell Phone Stipend
- Complimentary Meals & Stocked Kitchens
California Pay Range
$170,000—$190,000 USD
Equal Opportunity
Harbinger is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Harbinger is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at info@harbingermotors.com.
Candidate Data Privacy
Harbinger may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Harbinger may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Harbinger may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our HR, legal, and finance teams, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Harbinger affiliates; and (iii) Harbinger’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Harbinger may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Harbinger and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Harbinger unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting.