Senior Engineer - Battery Design

About River

River is a design company building personal transportation for livelihood.

We focus on creating multi-utility products for those independently carving their own path. We’re building from the ground up, bringing together design, engineering and technology to solve real, everyday problems. Our signature two-wheeler, Indie – The SUV of Scooters, is built to be a dependable companion for getting things done.

Today, we’re 1,500+ people strong, headquartered in Bengaluru, and have raised our Series C.

River is backed by leading global automotive OEMs, international tech investors, and top institutional asset managers, including Yamaha Motor, Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, Toyota Ventures, Mitsui & Co., Marubeni Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Maniv Mobility, Elev8 Venture Partners, Claypond Capital, Trucks Venture Capital, 360 ONE Asset, HDFC AMC, Singularity AMC, Anicut Capital, and JIF Capital.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the complete 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) architecture of the battery pack, including enclosure, module/cell-to-pack layout, busbars, interconnects, structural and mounting interfaces, and thermal management hardware
• Develop and maintain master assemblies, detailed component drawings, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Drive packaging optimization to meet two-wheeler (2W) design constraints, including weight, centre of gravity, volumetric efficiency, IP rating, and vibration and shock durability
• Maintain design documentation, Bill of Materials (BOM), and configuration and version control throughout the product lifecycle
• Apply Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles from concept development to minimize part count, simplify assembly, reduce cycle time, and eliminate potential failure modes
• Lead Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) reviews, incorporating error-proofing (poka-yoke), tolerance robustness, and serviceability into battery pack architecture
• Optimize joining and interconnection strategies, including laser and ultrasonic welding, wire bonding, mechanical fasteners, and adhesives, to enhance manufacturability and reliability
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams to ensure product designs meet production volume, quality, cost, and manufacturability requirements
• Identify and select suitable materials for enclosures, structural components, thermal interfaces, insulation, potting compounds, adhesives, gaskets, and fire and thermal propagation barriers
• Evaluate mechanical performance, thermal behaviour, flame retardancy, weight, cost, and recyclability to achieve an optimal balance in material and design selection
• Establish material specifications, qualify suppliers, and support material validation and durability testing
• Translate battery pack architecture into manufacturing processes, including process flows, work instructions, fixtures, tooling, and station-level requirements
• Define process parameters, operating windows, and critical-to-quality (CTQ) requirements for welding, assembly, sealing, and testing operations
• Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production yield, reduce cycle time and scrap, and improve overall product quality
• Provide architectural and engineering support for the design, development, and commissioning of battery assembly lines
• Define technical and operational requirements for critical manufacturing stations, including cell sorting and grading, stacking, welding, Building Management System (BMS), enclosure assembly, sealing and leak testing, and end-of-line (EOL) testing
• Support equipment selection, production line layout, capacity planning, and production ramp-up in coordination with manufacturing and automation teams
• Drive alignment between product design and manufacturing processes to ensure seamless integration and coordinated development throughout the product lifecycle
• Coordinate with cell, BMS, thermal, electrical, and vehicle integration teams to align technical requirements and interface specifications
• Ensure battery pack designs comply with applicable safety, regulatory, and homologation standards, including AIS-156, IEC 62133, UN 38.3, and relevant ISO/IEC standards
• Mentor junior engineers by providing technical guidance, design expertise, and engineering support

Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline
• Overall 10–11 years of relevant experience in battery pack or Energy Storage System (ESS) design, with a strong understanding of lithium-ion battery technologies
• Proficiency in 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools and mechanical design methodologies
• Proven expertise in resolving complex structural, thermal, and packaging challenges
• Strong knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
• Hands-on experience in battery pack architecture, component integration, material selection, and manufacturing process development
• Strong problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and technical leadership capabilities