The Role
Lead 3D CAD modeling, packaging, and integration of frame structures; manage suppliers and DFM for stampings, forgings, and weldments; own ECO/ECR and PLM/BOM lifecycle; support CAE/FEA and physical durability testing and root-cause fixes; drive tooling schedules and mitigate lead-time risks; lead cross-functional design reviews for chassis integration.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.
Garden Grove, CA
About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to bring a first-of-its-kind EV platform to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs and Hybrids. Harbinger: Familiar Form, Revolutionary Foundation.
Design Release Engineer, FrameWhat You'll Do- Structural Design & Packaging Ownership: Lead the 3D CAD modeling, packaging, and integration of frame structures (frame rails, crossmembers, mounting brackets, subframes, and bumper assemblies). Ensure optimal structural stiffness, mass efficiency, and packaging clearance for high-voltage battery packs, e-axles, and commercial payloads.
- Supplier & Manufacturing Management: Act as the primary technical point of contact for frame component, stamping, forgings, and weldment suppliers. Evaluate supplier manufacturing capabilities, guide them through DFM (Design for Manufacturing) challenges, and ensure all chassis hardware meets strict automotive quality, structural, and corrosion standards.
- Engineering Release Ownership: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of frame hardware. Responsible for creating, tracking, and executing Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), while maintaining complex mechanical Bills of Materials (BOM) within our PLM system.
- Validation & Durability Support: Work closely with CAE/FEA and physical validation teams to review structural analysis and support chassis durability testing (rig testing, track testing, and safety evaluations). Proactively address field or test failures with root-cause analysis and quick design updates.
- Project Timeline Execution: Develop and drive aggressive, realistic project schedules for long-lead structural tooling (stamping dies, extrusions, weld fixtures). Identify critical path risks, mitigate lead-time delays, and ensure hardware delivers on time to support prototype builds, mule testing, and start of production (SOP).
- Internal Design Collaboration: Lead cross-functional design reviews with High/Low Voltage Systems, Powertrain, Thermal, and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure seamless chassis integration and optimized assembly ergonomics.
What You'll Need (Qualifications)
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Experience: 3+ years of experience in structural, chassis, or frame engineering design within the automotive, commercial vehicle, or aerospace industries.
- Software Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of CATIA V5/V6 and PLM/BOM management tools (e.g., Teamcenter, Enovia, Arena, or similar).
- Technical Acumen: Solid understanding of structural mechanics, materials (high-strength steel, aluminum), GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and automotive manufacturing processes (stampings, extrusions, castings, MIG/laser welding, structural riveting, and e-coat/paint processes).
- Project Management Skills: Proven ability to manage complex Tier-1 and Tier-2 supplier relationships simultaneously, with a track record of holding vendors accountable to tight prototype and tooling timelines.
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of translating technical trade-offs between cross-functional engineering teams, executive leadership, and shop-floor technicians.
- Prior experience with commercial vehicles (Class 3–6 truck chassis), cab-chassis platforms, or body-on-frame architectures.
- Prior experience working in a fast-paced, early-stage electric vehicle or mobility startup environment.
- Prior experience engineering tactical, defense, or specialized off-highway ground vehicles (e.g., JLTV, FMTV, UGVs, or military prototype platforms).
- Experience with electro-mechanical actuators, power-assisted hinges/ramps, or quick-disconnect mounting systems.
Key Benefits & Perks:
- Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision (HDV) – 100% employee covered
- Early-stage Stock Options
- Robust Retirement Savings (401k, HSA, FSA)
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Parental Leave
- Annual Vacation Bonus
- Wellness & Fertility Benefits
- Cell Phone Stipend
- Complimentary Meals & Stocked Kitchens
California Pay Range
$140,000—$160,000 USD
Equal Opportunity
Harbinger is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Harbinger is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [email protected].
Candidate Data Privacy
Harbinger may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Harbinger may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.
Harbinger may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our HR, legal, and finance teams, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Harbinger affiliates; and (iii) Harbinger’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.
Harbinger may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.
Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services. Any unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted in response to our job posting shall be considered the property of Harbinger and are not subject to payment of referral or placement fees if any such candidate is later hired by Harbinger unless you have a signed written agreement in place with us which covers the applicable job posting.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Structural Engineering, or related technical field
- 3+ years experience in structural, chassis, or frame engineering design within automotive, commercial vehicle, or aerospace industries
- Strong working knowledge of CATIA V5/V6
- Experience with PLM/BOM management tools (Teamcenter, Enovia, Arena, or similar)
- Solid understanding of structural mechanics, materials (high-strength steel, aluminum), and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
- Familiarity with automotive manufacturing processes (stampings, extrusions, castings, MIG/laser welding, structural riveting, e-coat/paint)
- Proven ability to manage Tier-1 and Tier-2 supplier relationships and hold vendors accountable to prototype and tooling timelines
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional technical translation
- Prior experience with commercial vehicles (Class 3-6), cab-chassis platforms, or body-on-frame architectures
- Prior experience in early-stage electric vehicle or mobility startup environments
- Experience engineering tactical, defense, or specialized off-highway ground vehicles (e.g., JLTV, FMTV, UGVs)
- Experience with electro-mechanical actuators, power-assisted hinges/ramps, or quick-disconnect mounting systems
Harbinger Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Harbinger and has not been reviewed or approved by Harbinger.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive for its market and stage, and feedback suggests ranges are posted and compensation is communicated clearly in listings.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is highlighted as 100% employer‑paid for employees across postings, indicating strong medical, dental, and vision support.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is described as generous, with parental leave and an annual vacation bonus appearing alongside core PTO.
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The Company
What We Do
Harbinger is a commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger's best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs. Leveraging a foundation of proprietary, in-house developed vehicle technologies designed specifically for commercial vehicles, Harbinger is bringing a first-of-its-kind EV platform to market, priced for zero acquisition premium. Harbinger: familiar form, revolutionary foundation.
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