About Oshkosh Defense, an Oshkosh company
Oshkosh Defense stands behind those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. As an industry-leading tactical vehicle manufacturer, every day we strive to meet or exceed our customers' ever-changing needs with next generation defense technologies and advanced systems. We operate with unparalleled commitment to those who depend on our products and services worldwide to perform their missions.
The Chief Engineer – xEV Powertrain Controls & Software provides technical and organizational leadership for the design, development, integration, validation, and lifecycle support of battery and hybrid electric vehicle (xEV) propulsion control systems. This role is accountable for the technical strategy and execution of embedded software, controls, systems engineering, calibration, and integration across electric drive units, high-voltage battery systems, charging, thermal management, and vehicle control architectures. The Chief Engineer establishes the technical vision for software-defined vehicle technologies while ensuring compliance with automotive functional safety, cybersecurity, and quality standards.
*This is a remote role with travel up to 25% for onsite collaboration as business needs arise. Candidates located in or near Detroit, MI; Oshkosh, WI; or Spartanburg, SC are strongly preferred, as proximity to these locations reduces travel requirements.
YOUR IMPACT
Own the technical roadmap for xEV propulsion controls, embedded software, calibration development, and E/E systems architecture.
Lead cross-functional development of E/E architecture, traction inverter controls, electric motor control, high-voltage battery management integration, along with drivability, charging, and thermal management strategies.
Drive software-defined vehicle initiatives including planned model year change readiness, diagnostics, and scalable software architectures.
Define system-level requirements, control strategies, software architecture, and interface specifications.
Lead the overall xEV E/E software and controls team efforts collaborating with Systems Engineering, Calibration, Integration, Validation, and platform teams.
Deliver planned software and ECUs with design reviews, configuration management, collaborative supplier relationships, and quality and cost improvement plans.
Lead technical decision making across vehicle systems including:
Vehicle Control Unit (VCU)
Battery Management System (BMS)
Electric Drive Unit (EDU)
DC-DC Converter (DCDC)
Onboard Charger (OBC)
Vehicle Drivability
Charging systems including EVSE compatibility
Thermal management
Ensure successful integration of xEV propulsion controls with chassis, braking, ADAS, body electronics, and telematics.
Represent xEV Powertrain Controls and Software in business and product strategy to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
Collaborate cross-domain with functional leaders to achieve strategic initiatives.
Present and defend technical engineering decisions to Engineering peers, leadership, and external customers.
Coach and develop junior engineers in the xEV domain.
Support the development and tracking of department budget(s), forecast operating costs, and direct preparation of project budget requests.
Identify and propose innovative solutions to complex technical issues.
Lead the xEV Powertrain transformation toward a more vertically integrated approach to development, integration, and validation.
Interface with customers and suppliers to resolve complex technical issues, delivering innovative, industry-leading solutions.
Research, study, and propose new technologies to be used in the development of new and improved products.
Maintain effective communication with suppliers, internal and external customers, and other stakeholders on technical and schedule issues.
Create and maintain project documentation for analysis, research, and historical records.
Perform engineering analysis to support the selection of parts, components, and…