What are the responsibilities and job description for the Systems Chief Engineer position at Ricardo?
Overview
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 plc 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 the technical delivery of our US led programs including Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and Complex Thermal Systems for different applications. Managing the integration of complex systems such as thermal management, electrified auxiliaries, and component packaging. This position requires a hands-on leader with extensive engineering expertise and proven project management skills to promote innovation and ensure successful execution from concept to commissioning.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as technical authority for projects (Fuel Cell EVs, thermal systems, subsystem integration).
- Ensure design integrity, compliance, and alignment with customer requirements.
- Lead engineering tasks from concept to commissioning.
- Translate customer needs into deliverables, manage risks, and ensure on-time milestones.
- Oversee design calculations, simulations, testing, and reporting.
- Prepare technical documentation, specs, and project updates.
- Partner with internal teams (design, validation, manufacturing) and external stakeholders.
- Represent engineering in customer meetings and technical reviews.
- Drive alignment across disciplines.
- Apply engineering theory to deliver scalable, practical solutions.
- Promote continuous improvement and innovative approaches.
- Guide and mentor junior engineers.
- Provide technical reviews, validation oversight, and knowledge sharing.
- Ensure designs meet regulatory, safety, and customer standards.
- Supervise engineering documentation (BOMs, FMEAs, DVP&Rs, test specs).
- Maintain high quality assurance standards.
- Act as a trusted technical advisor.
- Anticipate client needs and deliver on quality, timing, and budget.
Key Competencies and Experience
- Bachelor’s in Engineering (Master’s preferred).
- Experience across design, validation, manufacturing, and product release.
- Strong background in hybrid/EV systems; Class 8 truck experience a plus.
- Skilled in developing test specs, validation planning, and data analysis.
- Proficient in DOE, 8D, and structured problem-solving.
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
- Familiarity with FCEV/BEV architectures.
- Heavy-duty vehicle (Class 8/commercial) experience.
- Knowledge of systems engineering tools and validation methods.
- Experience with Agile/Lean practices.
- Strategic and innovative mindset.
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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