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Sr. Battery Design and Release Engineer

Troy, MI

ABOUT SLATE
At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them.

 

| WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

A highly skilled Battery Design Release Engineer to lead the development and release of high-voltage battery packs in collaboration with external suppliers. This position requires candidates with experience in clean-sheet battery pack design and launch. Responsibilities include evaluating supplier designs, contributing to technical decisions, and ensuring solutions aligning with program requirements.

In addition to program execution, this engineer will play an active role in shaping our future battery strategy, contributing lessons learned, technology insights, and architecture recommendations to guide the next generation of energy storage systems.

 

| WHAT YOU GET TO DO

  • Serve as the internal technical authority for HV battery pack design, guiding suppliers and ensuring alignment with program, safety, and regulatory requirements.
  • Critically evaluate supplier design proposals, material choices, and architecture decisions—providing independent engineering judgment to influence outcomes.
  • Lead and oversee technical decisions related to HV battery architecture (fusing strategy, busbar design, service disconnects, safety interlocks, grounding).
  • Guide material selection for pack enclosures, structures, seals, thermal interfaces, and insulation systems.
  • Collaborate with internal teams (systems, thermal, electrical, manufacturing, safety) to ensure seamless integration of the battery into the overall vehicle platform.
  • Drive DFMEA reviews, DVP&R planning, and validation with suppliers, ensuring complete coverage of safety-critical areas.
  • Represent the battery pack design in program-level reviews, clearly communicating risks, trade-offs, and status to leadership.
  • Support supplier and manufacturing site activities, including build support, issue resolution, and launch readiness.
  • Maintain ownership of the released design within PLM systems, ensuring traceability and configuration control.
  • Contribute to long-term battery strategy, including technology scouting, architecture trade-offs, and design standards for future platforms.

 

| WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM

 

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
  • 6+ years of HV battery design and release experience
  • Direct experience taking a battery from clean-sheet concept through production launch.
  • Strong technical background in HV battery pack architecture, subsystem design, and materials engineering.
  • Proven ability to independently assess, critique, and guide supplier-led designs.
  • Demonstrated success in delivering complex supplier-developed components or systems.
  • Experience with DFMEA, DVP&R, APQP, and release processes.
  • Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • Willingness to travel to supplier and manufacturing sites.

Preferred

  • Experience with next-generation pack concepts (cell-to-pack, structural batteries, advanced thermal integration).
  • Familiarity with BMS integration, HV distribution, and functional safety (ISO 26262).
  • Prior OEM or Tier-1 experience leading supplier-developed battery systems.
  • Strategic mindset with ability to translate program lessons into long-term product direction.

 

WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE? 

We’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. Slate’s start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness moves our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles. 

  • Safety First
  • Delight Customers
  • One Team
  • Relentless Improvement
  • Fast, Frugal and Scrappy
  • Respectful Collaboration
  • Positive Legacy

 

WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE:

  • Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
  • Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at recar-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.

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