Principal Engineer – Engineering Transformation & Process Excellence (m/f/d)

Join the world leader in advanced energy storage solutions and be part of the success story of VARTA!
At Clarios, were powering today, into tomorrow.

Your contribution:

The Principal Engineer Engineering Transformation & Process Excellencewill act as a hands-on transformation anchor, helping drive the capability build-out across our engineering organization. Reporting directly to the Senior Technical Fellow, this role is designed to guide and mentor technical and functional teams in adopting and institutionalizing high-assurance engineering practices tailored to our evolving tiered business model.

This role is ideal for a seasoned engineering leader in the later stages of their career seeking to leave a lasting legacy shaping the organizational foundation and enabling the next generation of leaders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the operational deployment of a systems-focused engineering transformation strategy aligned to ASPICE, ISO26262, ISO21434, and related standards.

• Mentor and enable teams across disciplines (software, systems, safety, quality, validation) to adopt sustainable engineering and development behaviors.

• Drive the creation of scalable, domain-specific workflows and documentation standards to support quality, traceability, and reuse.

• Accelerate cultural and capability change in teams transitioning from legacy manufacturing practices to tiered automotive development.

• Operate across fragmented stakeholder ecosystems to identify, bridge, and stabilize execution gaps in engineering delivery.

• Serve as a trusted guide to junior and mid-level leaders, building structural scaffolding that outlives the role.

• Collaborate with Product Management, Platform Architecture, and Quality & Safety teams to align intent with technical execution.

• Provide immediate operational support in ongoing transformation activities, while shaping longer-term solutions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Masters degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering field (e.g., Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Science). PhD is a clear plus.

• 20+ years of industry experience in systems engineering and product development for embedded or software-intensive systems.

• Direct experience in automotive environments, technical compliance, and ASPICE (or comparable) process assessments.

• At least 10 years of leadership experience, including leading without formal authority in matrixed global settings.

• Deep experience in Systems Engineering, ASPICE (including process deployment), ISO26262, ISO21434, and relevant engineering V-model standards.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex strategic objectives into practical, scaled execution frameworks.

• Proven experience designing and implementing company-wide process frameworks and transformations, including piloting-roll-out and competence building.

• Solid understanding of systems requirements, architecture, and integration principles.

• High empathy and low ego; able to act as mentor, guide, and system stabilizer.

• Strong cross-domain literacy across systems engineering, software, safety, validation, manufacturing operations and supplier management & integration.

• Able to navigate the ambiguity of a growing organization, providing both clarity and calm under pressure.

• Comfortable in a legacy-building role.

• Excellent written and spoken English; German is a plus.

• Willingness to travel occasionally and support teams across global time zones.

How to stand out:

• Profound knowledge of ISO 15288 systems engineering processes.

• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) + SysML is a plus.

• Strong working knowledge of safety and cybersecurity frameworks (ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434).

• Experience with life-time aspects of a manufactured product beyond conceptualization and development (e.g., manufacturing, fielding/ transition, field operation/ maintenance/ updates, retirement)

• INCOSE or similar (e.g., GfSE) certification is a plus.

• ISTQB certification and/or experience in verification and validation processes is a plus.

• Demonstrated engagement with standardization and professional bodies (e.g., INCOSE, SAE) is a strong asset.

• Ability to confidently navigate both strategic (executive-level) and tactical (hands-on coaching) engagements with empathy and clarity, with a mindset oriented toward enabling others, mentorship, sustainable impact, and leaving a lasting organizational footprint.

Your benefits: What we offer you

As a technology leader with strong brands (i.e. VARTA and OPTIMA), Clarios notably lives on the creativity, capability and satisfaction of its employees. Therefore, we offer people with drive and power many good reasons to join us:

• Exciting professional tasks and challenges in a diverse international future-oriented environment with strong commitment to integrity, values, social engagement, and sustainability.

• Arrange your working hours and breaks flexible via our flexible working hours model and combine your professional and private life even better according to our above average number of vacation days, mobile work policy and company kindergarten.

• A competitive remuneration package, including annual bonus and a company car.

• Your well-being is very important to us: Take advantage of our preventive health care offers such as fitness center, physiotherapist, modern office environment, healthy canteen, team and company events or hobby clubs.

• Stay fit whilst at the same time positively contributing to our environment: Lease your company bike.

• Our well-advanced onboarding process and buddy program supports you to quickly grow into the position and team. By using the offering in our Learning Academy, LinkedIn Learning and EMEA Mentoring Program you will be able to further grow professionally and personally.

• Last, but not least we support you in relocating and finding an apartment in your work location, if applicable and depending on individual factors.

You want to learn more about the position and our EMEA region? Check out our regional page and get in touch with our recruiting team.

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About Clarios:

Clarios is the global leader in advanced, low-voltage battery technologies for mobility. Our batteries and smart solutions power nearly every type of vehicle and are found in 1 of 3 cars on the road today. With around 18,000 employees in over 100 countries, we bring deep expertise to our Aftermarket and OEM partners, and reliability, safety and comfort to everyday lives. We answer to the planet with a rigorous sustainability focus advancing best-in-class sustainability practices and advocating for them across our industry. We work to ensure 100% of our products sold are recyclable, and we recycle 8,000 batteries an hour in our network. You can find more information here (PDF).

To all recruitment agencies: Clarios does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to our careers email addresses, Clarios employees or any other company location. Clarios is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.
Clarios, LLC is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please view EEO is the Law, EEO is the Law (supplement), and Pay Transparency Non-discrimination. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please email Special.Accommodations@Clarios.com.

A Note to Job Applicants: please be aware of scams being perpetrated through the Internet and social media platforms. Clarios will never require a job applicant to pay money as part of the application or hiring process.