Principal BMS Engineer

Actalent
Ann Arbor, MI, United States
2 days ago
Apply on www.careerbuilder.com
Prepare application

Role details

Contract type
Permanent contract
Employment type
Full-time (> 32 hours)
Experience level
Expert
Experience required
7 years minimum
Compensation
$62,400.0 - $72,800.0
Working hours
Regular working hours

Tech stack

Artificial Intelligence CANopen Software Documentation Communications Protocols Computer Engineering Software Design Patterns Firmware Failure Mode Effects Analysis Systems Analysis Reliability Engineering Software Engineering Systems Architecture
+4 more
Systems Integration Strategies of Testing Real Time Systems Information Technology

Job description

The Principal BMS Engineer defines technical direction, owns system-level architecture decisions, ensures regulatory and functional safety compliance, and serves as the subject-matter expert across firmware, electronics, algorithms, and system integration.

In this role, you will own and steward multi-generation BMS platforms, define system-level technical direction, and guide cross-functional architectural decisions to ensure BMS solutions are robust, scalable, and aligned with current and future product roadmaps.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as technical authority for BMS architecture, including firmware, electronics, sensing, controls, and system integration.
  • Define and maintain system-level BMS architecture, design patterns, and technical standards across multiple product lines.
  • Lead technical trade studies for safety, performance, cost, manufacturability, and long-term maintainability.
  • Establish best practices for embedded firmware architecture, hardware abstraction, diagnostics, and fault handling.
  • Provide expert-level guidance on embedded firmware design, real-time systems, and safety-critical software.
  • Lead development and review of core BMS algorithms, including SOC, SOH, SOE, cell balancing, protection, diagnostics, and degradation monitoring.
  • Own interpretation and application of relevant safety and compliance standards (e.g., UL, IEC, ISO, functional safety guidance) as they relate to BMS design.
  • Drive system-level requirements decomposition, traceability, and verification strategy.
  • Lead DFMEA, FTA, and system-level risk assessments; ensure mitigation strategies are implemented and verified.
  • Guide development of end-of-line test strategies, diagnostic coverage, and service tools.
  • Ensure BMS designs are manufacturable, testable, and serviceable at scale.
  • Support long-term sustainment, reliability improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Other duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering preferred; or Bachelor’s degree in a related field with relevant certifications or graduate-level coursework.
  • 15+ years of embedded systems work experience.
  • 7+ years of experience working with battery or relevant energy systems preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Recognized expert in BMS firmware, electronics, and system-level design.
  • Deep understanding of lithium-ion battery behavior, protection strategies, and safety mechanisms.
  • Proven ability to define and evolve system architectures across multiple product generations.
  • Advanced proficiency with embedded communication protocols (SPI, I2C, CAN, CANOpen, J1939, UDS).
  • Strong experience with verification, validation, and compliance in regulated or safety-critical environments.
  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, including root-cause analysis of complex system issues., Algorithms, Analysis Skills, Architectural Design, Architectural Services, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Best Practices, Candidate Screening, Communications Protocols, Computer Engineering, Computer Firmware, Computer Science, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Design Patterns Programming Methodologies, Design Services, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Embedded Systems, Genetics, Hardware Architecture, I2C, ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC), Lithium Battery, Problem Solving Skills, Product Planning, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Reliability Engineering, Risk Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, Safety Compliance, Safety Standards, System Architecture, System Integration (SI), Systems Analysis, Systems Maintenance, Technical Leadership, Technical/Engineering Design, Test Strategy, Traceability, Trade Studies, User Documentation, Validation Testing

Benefits & conditions

This is a Permanent position based out of Ann Arbor, MI. Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: * Medical, dental & vision * Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital * 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available * Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) * Short and long-term disability * Health Spending Account (HSA) * Transportation benefits * Employee Assistance Program * Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type

About the company

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

Apply for this position

This job is hosted externally. Click below to view the full posting and apply.

Apply on www.careerbuilder.com
Prepare application

Good distractions

Talks and stories from around this role — technically off-topic, practically not.

5:24 min

Engineering domains and technology innovation initiatives at Bosch Vienna

Georg Kühberger +1 · LIVE

2:19 min

Orchestrating over-the-air firmware updates for vehicle modules

Denis Grahovac · World Congress 2021

3:06 min

System thinking and the necessity of architectural synthesis

Mourjo Sen Mourjo Sen · World Congress 2026 Europe

2:22 min

Leveraging unique cultural backgrounds in engineering design

Ixchel Ruiz · LIVE

2:20 min

Utilizing custom firmware for variable torque manipulation

Daniel Meilak Daniel Meilak +1 · World Congress 2026 Europe

2:10 min

Analyzing logic and performance metrics via developer profiling tools

Paul Graham Paul Graham · LIVE

Videos

See all

Related articles

See all