Role:Systems Chief Engineer

Location: Van Buren, Michigan US - Hybrid

Role ID: 2025-3075

Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world.

Ricardo, member of WSP, is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world.

The Role

The Systems Chief Engineer will lead technical delivery for US-led programs, focusing on Complex Thermal Systems across multiple applications. Responsibilities include integrating advanced systems such as thermal management, electrified auxiliaries, and component packaging. This role demands a hands-on leader with deep engineering expertise and strong project management skills to drive innovation and ensure successful execution from concept through commissioning. 

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for thermal systems and subsystem integration.
• Ensure design integrity, regulatory compliance, and alignment with customer requirements.
• Lead engineering activities from concept through commissioning, managing risks and milestones.
• Translate customer needs into actionable deliverables while maintaining quality, timing, and budget.
• Oversee design calculations, simulations, testing, and validation processes.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, specifications, and project reports.
• Collaborate with internal teams (design, validation, manufacturing) and external stakeholders.
• Represent engineering in customer meetings and technical reviews.
• Drive cross-disciplinary alignment and apply engineering theory to deliver scalable solutions.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement across projects.
• Mentor junior engineers and facilitate knowledge sharing.
• Conduct technical reviews and ensure adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
• Supervise documentation such as BOMs, FMEAs, DVP&Rs, and test specifications.
• Maintain high standards of quality assurance and act as a trusted technical advisor.

Key Competencies and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• Broad experience across design, validation, manufacturing, and product release.
• Expertise in developing test specifications, validation plans, and performing data analysis.
• Proficient in DOE, 8D methodology, and structured problem-solving techniques.

Skills & Behaviours

• Vehicle/complex systems integration (thermal, electrified auxiliaries, HV components).
• Strong engineering fundamentals; CAD (CATIA, Pro/E, AutoCAD), GD&T, FMEA, DVP&R.
• Product lifecycle management from concept to release.
• Software proficiency (data acquisition tools, requirements management, MS Office).
• Lead cross-functional teams, manage budgets/timelines.
• Sign-off authority on technical decisions.
• Coordinate with suppliers and stakeholders; manage financial targets.
• Clear communicator across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experienced mentor and team builder.
• Strong customer orientation.

Desirable Competencies and Experience

• Knowledge of systems engineering tools and validation methods.
• Experience with Agile/Lean practices.
• Strategic and innovative mindset.
• Familiarity with thermal systems, cooling technologies, and CDU (Coolant Distribution Units).

Working here

You will be warmly welcomed into our workplace where every voice matters. We are diverse thinkers and doers, coming together to create a culture of inclusion. We will support you to find your place.

We will encourage you to use your passion and expertise to make a positive impact through the projects you work on.  Your knowledge and desire to bring about change will be invaluable in helping deliver innovative solutions that support communities across the globe in becoming safer and more sustainable.

Work life balance 

We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that is working from home, being in the office, or as a hybrid worker. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. Wellbeing is at the core to our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential.

Benefits

We want you to know how much you are valued. Your remuneration and benefits package will reflect that. You will receive a range of benefits which include support for your physical and mental health. 

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion statement

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, creed, gender identity. sexual orientation, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, marital or parental status (IL only), height, weight, national origin, citizenship status, age, domestic violence victim status, arrest record  or conviction record (MI only), genetic information, military or veteran status or disability, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or municipal law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Next steps

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.

Ricardo is a Disability confident employer please advise the recruitment team via recruit@ricardo.com if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.

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