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DeepDrive is expanding its customer business in China and preparing series production of electric motors for central and in-wheel drive applications. As Technical Project Lead for Customer Applications, you will own customer projects from initial RFQ through to start of production (SOP), serving as the primary technical interface between customers and internal engineering teams.
You will translate vehicle and customer requirements into clear technical specifications for engineering teams in Shanghai and Garching. Working closely with system and mechanical engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners, you will ensure projects stay on track technically and are ready for successful industrialization.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead technical customer projects from RFQ to SOP, managing timelines, technical risks, and open issues
- Act as the main technical contact for OEM customers and lead technical discussions, workshops, and design reviews
- Translate customer requirements, duty cycles, load cases, and environmental conditions into clear technical specifications
- Support customer acquisition activities in China through technical input, feasibility studies, and risk assessments
- Support vehicle integration activities including packaging, structural loads, thermal performance, and NVH (noise, vibration, harshness)
- Define and align mechanical, electrical, and thermal interfaces between electric drive systems and vehicles
- Collaborate with engineering teams to define system architectures for specific customer applications
- Drive DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) activities, validation plans, and prototype testing
- Ensure designs are ready for series production in China (DFM/DFA) and work closely with suppliers and manufacturing through SOP
- Coordinate closely with engineering and project teams in Garching and support cross-functional collaboration across international teams
As part of the growing China team, you will have the opportunity to shape how customer projects are managed and support the development of the local organization.
Requirements:
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of experience developing electric drive systems (electric axle, electric motor, or powertrain), ideally at an OEM or Tier 1 supplier
- Experience as a Technical Project Lead or primary technical customer interface in automotive development projects
- Strong understanding of vehicle integration, including NVH, thermal performance, structural loads, and packaging constraints
- Experience with automotive development processes through SOP, including DFMEA, validation, and industrialization
- Proven ability to manage customer-facing development projects in a cross-functional and international environment
- Structured and pragmatic way of working, with ability to operate effectively in a growing organization where processes are still being established
- Fluent Mandarin and very good English; experience working with German teams is a strong advantage
