Lead Engineer Electrical

The Lead Engineer Electrical EV Development serves as the technical authority responsible for driving Unitrans transition from a predominantly internal combustion engine (ICE) fleet to a high-efficiency reliable and scalable electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. The role blends deep technical expertise in automotive electrical systems with strategic infrastructure planning to ensure fleet electrification delivers sustainable operational performance and long-term cost competitiveness.

The role leads the end-to-end electrical engineering lifecycle of EV platformsincluding powertrains energy management systems and charging infrastructureensuring solutions are safe compliant commercially viable and operationally fit for heavy-duty logistics applications. The incumbent partners closely with fleet operations infrastructure and technology teams to enable large-scale electrification across the logistics network.

Strategic EV Fleet Integration

• Develop and execute the technical roadmap for the electrification of logistics assets defining vehicle specifications powertrain architectures and supplier selection criteria that support phased fleet transition targets.
• Conduct technical feasibility assessments and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analyses comparing EV platforms to legacy ICE fleets ensuring fleet electrification decisions deliver measurable lifecycle cost savings and performance improvements.
• Establish and enforce EV engineering and modification standards ensuring all vehicle acquisitions and conversions comply with international safety standards (ISO IEC) local grid codes and internal governance requirements.

Electrical Systems & Powertrain Design

• Lead the design integration and validation of high-voltage (HV) electrical systems including battery packs battery management systems (BMS) inverters motor controllers and auxiliary power systems.
• Develop and refine control strategies and energy management algorithms that optimise vehicle range battery health and power efficiency under demanding heavy-duty logistics duty cycles.
• Oversee prototype build testing and validation programmes including thermal management performance electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and safety testing ensuring designs are production-ready and reliable.

Charging Infrastructure & Energy Solutions

• Design and implement depot- and site-specific EV charging infrastructure solutions incorporating load balancing redundancy and scalability to support expanding EV fleets.
• Integrate charging systems with onsite energy solutions and renewable energy sources where feasible contributing to reductions in peak demand energy costs and carbon intensity.
• Liaise with distribution network operators (DNOs) and energy providers to secure power capacity and approvals required for large-scale depot electrification programmes.

Operational Performance & Cost Optimisation

• Ensure EV systems and infrastructure deliver required fleet availability reliability and uptime reducing vehicle downtime and electrical-related failures.
• Drive engineering solutions that reduce total cost of ownership through improved energy efficiency optimised charging strategies and extended component and battery life.
• Support operations teams with fault diagnostics root-cause analysis and scalable corrective actions for complex high-voltage system issues encountered in the field.

Leadership Project Delivery & Stakeholder Management

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians fostering a first-time-right and safety-critical engineering culture.
• Act as the primary technical interface with EV OEMs power electronics suppliers and infrastructure vendors ensuring solutions meet Unitrans operational safety and durability requirements.
• Lead EV engineering projects from concept through deployment ensuring delivery within agreed timelines and budgets while meeting performance and compliance objectives.

Engineering Governance Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure all EV systems charging infrastructure and electrical modifications comply with applicable safety grid and engineering standards supporting strong audit and regulatory outcomes.
• Identify and mitigate electrical operational and safety risks associated with high-voltage systems and large-scale fleet electrification contributing to reduced incident and safety exposure rates.
• Develop and maintain EV engineering guidelines specifications and best practices to standardise electrification solutions across regions and operating environments.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelors or Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline (Mechatronics Automotive Electronics)
• Chartered Engineer or Professional Engineer ( / PE)
• 710 years experience in electrical engineering with at least 35 years in a senior or lead
• Proven experience in EV development high-voltage systems power electronics or large-scale fleet electrification programmes
• Demonstrated ability to deliver complex electrical systems from design through to operational deployment

Core Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Advanced understanding of power electronics electric machines DC motors and lithium-ion battery systems
• Expertise in high-voltage system safety EMC thermal management and energy
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical MATLAB/Simulink and power system analysis tools (e.g. ETAP DIgSILENT PVSyst)

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic Engineering Leadership: Ability to translate electrification strategy into scalable engineering solutions.
• Problem-Solving & Diagnostic Capability: Rapid fault identification and resolution in high-risk HV environments.
• Executive & Stakeholder Communication: Clearly articulates complex electrical and EV roadmaps to non-technical and executive audiences.
• Collaboration & Influence: Works effectively across fleet operations infrastructure and supplier environments.