Product Engineer

Actalent is seeking a Lead Product Engineer to join our engineering team, focusing on the design, development, release, and validation of battery packs for customized industrial and low-voltage automotive applications.

About the role

The Lead Product Engineer evaluates user requirements, translates them into detailed product specifications and validation goals, and ensures safety and quality standards are met. This role involves leading safety analyses, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and maintaining product design documentation throughout the lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Review customer requirements and translate them into clear, detailed technical system specifications.
• Apply systems engineering methodologies to design and develop battery packs for customized industrial and low-voltage automotive applications.
• Lead safety analyses for projects, including Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA), Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), and Failure Modes, Effects and Diagnostic Analysis (FMEDA).
• Participate in the development and continuous improvement of safety processes to meet relevant certification requirements.
• Perform technical assessments and prepare documentation to demonstrate compliance with applicable specifications and standards, including UL and other industry requirements.
• Partner with test and simulation teams to define and implement a Design Verification Plan (DVP) that ensures thorough verification and validation of product engineering goals.
• Engage with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partner engineering teams to ensure proper processes, alignment, and seamless integration of battery pack solutions.
• Handle tasks of significant complexity with minimal supervision, demonstrating a high degree of technical competence, precision, and attention to detail.
• Follow established engineering processes and contribute to their improvement to ensure strong cross-functional coordination and high-quality work products.
• Report project progress regularly, identify and communicate risks in a timely manner, and propose effective mitigation strategies.
• Own and maintain product design documentation, safety analyses, and design quality documents throughout the product lifecycle.
• Collaborate with internal engineering, sales, and customer-facing teams to align technical solutions with customer needs and business objectives.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Mechanical Engineering (ME).
• At least 7 years of relevant product engineering experience in the electronics, battery, or mobility industries (experience in these sectors is preferred).
• Strong experience in mechanical and safety aspects of product engineering, particularly for battery systems.
• Experience with battery testing and validation activities for industrial or automotive applications.
• Working knowledge of electrical hardware, including wire harnesses, and an understanding of electrical circuit theory applicable to the mobility industry.
• Proficiency in writing clear, structured, and testable requirements based on user and system needs.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems engineering methodologies to complex electro-mechanical products.
• Proven capability to lead safety analyses such as HARA, DFMEA, and FMEDA for complex systems.
• Ability to manage complex tasks independently with minimal supervision while maintaining high technical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills for collaborating with internal teams and OEM partners and for reporting project status and risks.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Integrity, or ViSure.
• Familiarity with systems engineering standards and best practices, including those promoted by organizations such as INCOSE.
• Experience working with certification bodies and preparing documentation for standards such as UL.
• Exposure to industrial and low-voltage automotive applications and their specific safety and compliance requirements.
• Ability to contribute to the development and improvement of safety processes and engineering workflows.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to propose effective risk mitigations in complex engineering projects.

Work Environment

The Lead Product Engineer works in a collaborative, cross-functional engineering environment focused on battery pack development for industrial and low-voltage automotive applications. The role involves close interaction with engineering, test and simulation, sales, and customer-facing teams, as well as regular engagement with OEM partner engineering organizations. Work is primarily office and lab-based, with a strong emphasis on process discipline, safety, and high-quality deliverables.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $62.00 per hour. Individual compensation within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent factors.

Benefits

If eligible, benefits for this temporary role may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available)
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation, or Sick Leave)

Schedule

This is a Contract to Hire, fully onsite position based in Ann Arbor, MI.