Description
Workplace Classification:
Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the office - Warren, Michigan three times per week, at minimum.
The Role:
In this position you will be responsible for managing the Bill of Materials (BOM) for 12V/48V lead-acid batteries used in automotive applications, ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the product lifecycle. This role provides technical expertise in the design, development, and manufacturing of automotive battery systems, with a focus on optimizing battery performance, reducing weight, improving state of charge, and contributing to overall fuel economy improvements. The position also ensures all components meet safety, and regulatory standards while troubleshooting technical issues, optimizing BOM structure for cost efficiency, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to resolve discrepancies and ensure successful product and program launch.
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What You'll do:
• BOM Management for Lead-Acid Batteries:
- Own and maintain the Bill of Materials (BOM) for all 12V/48V lead-acid batteries, ensuring accuracy and consistency across product lifecycle stages.
- Collaborate with engineering and procurement teams to manage part substitutions, sourcing, and ensure timely availability of all battery-related materials.
- Update BOMs to reflect design changes, process improvements, or material substitutions, while optimizing BOM structure for cost efficiency and production timelines.
- Lead and set strategic direction of lead acid batteries and electric power systems for various features and applications across automotive subsystems.
- Jump Start Feature Owner
- Develop lead acid battery road maps and strategies.
- Run global Core PDT to support technical questions, discuss global issues, foster communication and close loop learnings between regions and manage global rollout file to understand battery use across all regions.
• Technical Expertise in Lead-Acid Batteries and low voltage (LV) systems:
- Provide technical leadership in the design, development, and manufacturing of 12V/48V lead-acid batteries, with a focus on weight reduction, improving battery chemistry for enhanced state of charge, and driving overall fuel economy improvements.
- Ensure that all components within the battery system meet required performance, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
- Troubleshoot and resolve any technical issues that arise during the design, testing, or manufacturing phases, ensuring high-quality output.
- Support engineers in selecting materials, determining specifications, and integrating battery systems into automotive platforms.
- Convert strategic direction into actionable tactical plans through planning, definition and development of deployable innovative 12V Power technology into various automotive subsystems.
- Lead and support cross-SMT DREs with execution of 12V power global strategies and engineering solutions in a technical advisory role
- Manage commodity related PRTS issues (Safety Tethers/PRDs)
- "Close the Loop" on learnings by updating and maintaining required information (Best Practices, GM Specifications, SOR Template, etc.)
• Battery Performance Optimization:
- Lead initiatives aimed at reducing battery weight while maintaining or improving performance, contributing to overall vehicle weight reduction and improved fuel economy.
- Work with cross functional engineering teams and the supply base to explore and implement improvements in battery chemistry to increase state of charge, enhance efficiency, and extend battery lifespan.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize battery systems for maximum energy density, efficiency, and sustainability.
- Develop upfront strategy for evaluating battery location and integration into electric power subsystems to ensure robust design and execution.
• Refinement of Requirements:
- Work closely with subsystem lead technical engineers to refine and clarify battery and power requirements, ensuring alignment with overall vehicle design and performance goals.
- Ensure that the refined requirements are properly integrated into the BOM and technical specifications to meet both functional and regulatory standards.
- Collaborate with subsystem engineers to address technical challenges and adjust requirements as necessary throughout the development cycle.
• DFMEA and Data Communications:
- Lead and contribute to Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) for battery systems to assess and mitigate potential risks related to performance and safety.
- Lead commodity-specific technical design reviews, sourcing activities, and baseline DFMEAs templates (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)
- Create and maintain Interface Control Design (ICD) strategy and ICD templates.
- Collaborate with teams to ensure that data communication protocols such as PWM signaling, CAN, GMLAN, and LIN are properly integrated into the battery system's design for seamless vehicle integration.
- Ensure that the battery is compatible with vehicle architectures, including global A/B, VIP, and SDV 2.0, to support advanced automotive connectivity and functionality.
• Power Requirements Testing and Validation:
- Conduct tests and analysis to ensure that the battery meets the power requirements for the vehicle's electrical system, including performance under various driving conditions and loads.
- Validate battery systems to ensure they deliver the necessary power output for critical vehicle functions, including propulsion, lighting, and other electrical components.
- Work with cross-functional teams to refine battery specifications to meet the vehicle's energy demands and ensure seamless integration of power systems.
Warranty Studies and Analysis:
- Conduct warranty studies and analyze field data to identify potential failure modes or performance issues related to lead-acid batteries.
- Collaborate with quality and service teams to analyze warranty claims and root causes, ensuring timely resolution and feedback into future battery designs and improvements.
- Utilize warranty data to improve design enhancements, reliability testing, and product lifecycle management, aiming to improve customer satisfaction and reduce warranty-related costs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, engineering, and manufacturing, to ensure seamless integration of battery components into the BOM and successful product launch.
- Global main point of contact for technical or BOM-related inquiries, helping resolve discrepancies or process challenges during the development lifecycle and postproduction launch.
- Monitor and ensure compliance with industry standards, including automotive safety and environmental regulations, throughout the development and manufacturing of the battery systems.
- Collaborate with systems, safety, and OBD teams to specify and balance system requirements through negotiation and balancing of interdisciplinary requirements.
Additional Description
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Automotive, or related field) or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 5+ years of industry experience.
- Strong experience with Bill of Materials management, preferably in automotive or battery manufacturing.
- Technical knowledge in lead-acid battery design, performance, and manufacturing processes.
- Good knowledge of product design and development cycles - GVDP (Global Vehicle Development Process).
- Familiarity with CAD systems, PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) tools, and BOM management software.
- Proven experience in battery optimization, including weight reduction, state of charge improvements, and fuel economy enhancements.
- Experience working with subsystem lead technical engineers to refine and clarify requirements.
- Knowledge of DFMEA, GMLAN, LIN, and vehicle architectures such as global A/B, VIP, and SDV 2.0.
- Knowledge of power requirements and testing methodologies for automotive battery systems.
- Experience with warranty studies, failure analysis, and working with quality teams to address warranty-related issues.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate with diverse teams.
- Knowledge of automotive industry standards, safety regulations, and quality assurance processes specific to battery systems.
What Will Give a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related field.
- 8+ years of industry experience.
- Experience in managing or contributing to the development of 12V/48V lead-acid batteries for automotive applications.
- Expertise in powertrain and electrical system integration in vehicles.
- Familiarity with ISO 26262 and GMW3092 or other battery and functional safety standards.
- Understanding of automotive battery management systems (BMS) and their role in battery performance and safety.
- Experience in working with battery suppliers and managing supplier relationships for quality and cost optimization.
- Proficiency in simulation and modeling tools for battery performance and energy management.
- Knowledge of future automotive trends, including electrification, autonomous vehicles, and Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV).
- Proficient in using MS Office Suite and advanced tools for project management (e.g., Jira, MS Project).
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