Mechanical Engineering Lead

With over a century of experience in battery research and manufacturing, Leclanché is well placed to tackle the challenges of the transition to a carbon-free society. As the only European manufacturer of both power and energy lithium-ion battery cells, Leclanché provides the most effective energy storage solutions for electric vehicles, industrial, marine, grid and microgrid applications.

Our world leading in-house technologies and ownership of the full value chain from electrochemistry to energy management software, make us unique and a partner of choice for customers who require smarter and faster energy storage solutions.

To support our organisation we are looking for our offices in Yverdon-les-Bains for a:

Mechanical Engineering Lead

Purpose

The Mechanical Engineering Lead is a senior technical expert and team coordinator responsible for guiding the mechanical engineering team in the design, analysis, and validation of innovative and robust mechanical systems for battery energy storage systems, sub-systems and modules. This role ensures design excellence, manufacturability, safety, and compliance with stringent industry standards for marine, railway, and automotive applications, while fostering a collaborative and technically proficient environment within the mechanical design team.

Role & Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Design Excellence:
• Lead the conceptualization, detailed design, analysis, and validation of complex mechanical components and assemblies for battery packs, racks and modules (e.g., structural elements, enclosures, thermal management systems, busbars, mounting brackets, sealing solutions).
• Provide expert-level technical guidance and oversight to the mechanical engineering team, reviewing designs, drawings, and analyses to ensure technical accuracy, manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and adherence to performance specifications and safety standards.
• Drive the selection of appropriate materials and manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, sheet metal, welding, injection molding) based on performance requirements, cost, and manufacturability tailored for high-reliability, low-voltage battery applications.
• Champion best practices in mechanical engineering, including DFM (Design for Manufacturability), DFA (Design for Assembly), DFR (Design for Reliability), DFR (Design for Recycling), FMEA.
• Analyze/approve engineering change request (ECR) and supervised implementation of engineering change orders (ECO).
Team Coordination & Mentorship:
• Assign and manage tasks for a team of mechanical engineers, ensuring effective workload distribution and resource utilization.
• Mentor, coach, and support the professional growth of individual mechanical engineers, fostering their technical skills and professional development.
• Lead regular team meetings, design reviews, and technical discussions to ensure alignment and proactive problem-solving within the mechanical team.
• Provide input on performance reviews for team members to the Engineering Manager.
Analysis & Simulation:
• Oversee and, where necessary perform analyses and calculations to validate design concepts, analyze mechanical loads, evaluate thermal performance, and structural integrity, and to correctly size components.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Integration:
• Act as the primary technical interface for mechanical engineering with Technical Leaders, Electrical Design, BMS R&D, Functional Safety, Prototyping, Manufacturing, and Quality teams.
• Ensure seamless mechanical integration with electrical, electronic, and thermal components, anticipating and resolving interface challenges (e.g., creepage/clearance, vibration isolation, sealing, thermal pathways).
• Participate actively in cross-functional design reviews and system-level problem-solving sessions.
• Support manufacturing in troubleshooting production issues related to mechanical design and assembly.
Prototyping, Testing & Validation Support:
• Collaborate closely with the Prototype Workshop Lead and Electrical Design Lead to ensure designs are optimized for rapid prototyping and subsequent validation.
• Supervise troubleshooting and debugging mechanical issues identified during prototyping and testing.
• Participate in the development and execution of robust test plans to verify mechanical design performance, durability, safety, and compliance with relevant industry standards (e.g., vibration, shock, thermal cycling, IP ratings, fire safety).
Documentation & Standards:
• Ensure the creation and maintenance of comprehensive engineering documentation, including 3D CAD models, detailed 2D drawings, Bill of Materials in PDM (eBOM), technical specifications, manuals, and test reports.
• Ensure designs and documentation comply with relevant international standards and customer requirements for marine, railway, and automotive applications.
• Guides PDM administration, optimizes the workflows and procedures.
Others:
• Responsible for performing other duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Skills & Experience:

• Master's degree (M.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in mechanical product design and development, preferably for battery systems, EVs, or similar complex industrial products.
• At least 2-3 years of proven experience in a technical leadership or senior engineering role, guiding and mentoring other mechanical engineers.
• Demonstrated experience with the full product development lifecycle from concept to production launch in a regulated industry.
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, testing, and validation of mechanical systems, especially in harsh environments.
• Direct experience with marine, railway, or automotive battery system applications is highly advantageous.
• Expert proficiency in 3D + 2D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) with large assembly management and complex mechanism design capabilities.
• Strong understanding and/or practical experience with advanced FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for stress, thermal, vibration, fatigue, and impact analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of various manufacturing processes relevant to battery enclosures and components, including stamping, extrusion, sheet metal, welding, injection molding, and sealing technologies.
• Expertise in material science, with in-depth knowledge of metals (aluminum, stainless steel), engineering plastics, and composites for structural, thermal, and electrical insulation applications.
• Profound understanding of thermal management principles, including heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), fluid dynamics, and cooling system design for battery packs (liquid cooling, air cooling, phase change materials).
• Familiarity with electrical safety principles, creepage and clearance distances, EMC/EMI shielding concepts as applied to mechanical design.
• Proficiency with PDM/PLM systems for data management and revision control.
• Knowledge of relevant international standards for safety and performance in target applications (e.g., IP ratings, fire safety, vibration/shock).

Key Competencies:

• Technical Expertise: Possesses deep and broad technical knowledge in mechanical engineering, with the ability to solve complex technical challenges and provide authoritative guidance.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to inspire, guide, and develop a team of engineers; fosters a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.
• Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking: Exceptional analytical skills, capable of dissecting complex problems, identifying root causes, and devising innovative, practical, and robust solutions.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of clearly articulating technical concepts to diverse audiences (engineers, managers, cross-functional teams). Strong ability to influence and negotiate.
• Attention to Detail & Quality Orientation: Meticulous attention to design details, ensuring high-quality outputs, compliance with specifications, and robust product performance.
• Proactivity & Initiative: Takes initiative to identify opportunities for improvement, anticipates challenges, and drives solutions without constant supervision.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Highly collaborative, able to build strong relationships and work effectively with other engineering disciplines and departments.
• Project Mindset: Ability to manage multiple technical tasks within a project context, adhering to schedules and budgets.

Languages:

• English - fluent spoken and writing.
• French - good spoken and writing.
• German or another European language would be a plus.

Other:

• Availability for occasional business travel (up to 10%).
• The position is based in Switzerland.

We offer an interesting job in an international growing company, dynamic and collaborative working environment, possibility to work on innovative projects and continuous professional growth.

Passion for work, initiative and adaptability, impact and influence, innovation and decisiveness are the key attributes we are looking for.

If you are Swiss or EU citizen, or hold a valid work permit, please apply and send your full application only in English.