Sr Staff Engineer, Battery

Seeking a highly experienced Sr Staff Engineer – EV Battery System to set the technical strategy and architecture for Aptera's battery systems and to serve as the organization's senior-most technical authority on battery design, integration, and performance, overseeing the full program lifecycle from concept to series production.

• → Define and own the technical strategy, architecture, and roadmap for Aptera's battery systems, driving cell selection, pack topology, and thermal management strategy across current and future vehicle programs
• →Lead the design and integration of battery systems and components, including enclosures, modules, busbars, and thermal management systems, from concept through series production
• →Serve as the senior technical authority for battery engineering, providing final review and sign-off on complex design decisions and resolving cross-functional technical escalations
• →Set technical standards, design practices, and best practices for the vehicle battery system; mentor engineers to grow the team's design and release capabilities
• →Lead FMEAs and other risk assessment and mitigation efforts to identify and address potential design risks at the system and component level
• →Direct and coordinate work with internal engineers/designers and external service providers to create, develop, validate, and release battery components for prototyping and series production
• →Control design revision governance for parts and assemblies, ensuring tight traceability between design and part across the battery organization
• →Use 3DExperience (or Catia V6) to perform 3D modeling, 2D drawings, 3D part design, and 3D assembly design studies, and review the work of other engineers for design integrity
• →Design components and systems for function, performance, durability, and quality in compliance with appropriate industry standards
• →Own the creation and execution of design validation plans (DVP&Rs) and process validation plans across the battery system portfolio
• →Guide sourcing decisions with purchasing and quality, ensuring components come from reputable suppliers and integrate with the manufacturing plan
• →Devise or collaborate with suppliers to devise testing that verifies battery components, including safety and abuse testing
• →Participate directly on battery frame and structure design and development. Drive the battery system module design, engineering and development
• →Work closely with other departments, including manufacturing, quality, simulation, project management, and the vehicle integration team, to align battery design with vehicle-level requirements
• →Ensure battery components and suppliers fulfill PPAP and comply with IATF 16949
• →Coordinate test activities, equipment, and facilities with third parties to achieve program goals
• →Document processes and procedures in knowledge sharing tools such as Confluence
• →Plan and execute work breakdown, and help prioritize the battery engineering team's workload, in task management tools such as Jira

• Hands-on technical leader on battery systems for EV, with a demonstrated ability to set technical direction and rally teams toward our collective objectives
• Extensive, hands-on experience with automotive high-voltage battery systems, including cell chemistry, module and pack design, and thermal management
• Deep experience with automotive systems and component design, analysis, and validation across multiple vehicle programs
• Strong command of mechanical and electrical schematics
• Expert-level proficiency with 3D CATIA V6 (3DX) software and generating 2D drawings
• Extensive experience with PLM/PDM tools
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and outcomes across teams without formal authority
• Track record of mentoring and developing other engineers
• Self-motivation and desire for continuous improvement
• Excellent technical and interpersonal communication, including the ability to convey complex tradeoffs to engineering leadership
• Evidence of being a self-starter and bringing complex, ambiguous projects to completion
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced and resource-constrained environments
• Extensive experience testing and validating high-voltage battery systems

• Proficient with 3DExperience/CATIA V6
• Demonstrated experience performing or interpreting FEA/FEM is a plus
• Proficiency with task management tools (Jira is a plus)
• Experience with cell development, cell selection, or supplier qualification for EV, aerospace, or energy storage platforms
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant engineering discipline
• Familiarity with SAE, FMVSS, UN 38.3, or other regulatory standards governing traction batteries
• Experience developing thermal runaway or propagation mitigation strategies

• Bachelor's degree in automotive, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or equivalent experience; Master's degree preferred

Salary + Benefits 

• Market competitive compensation package
• Stock option grants 
• Fully funded benefits package for employee + dependents
• Generous Flexible Time Away policy 

• 12+ years of experience in electric vehicle or automotive battery systems engineering, spanning multiple successful production programs
• 6+ years of experience as a design and release engineer or equivalent, including leading component- or system-level programs from concept to series production