--- title: 'Staff Powertrain Engineer (Advanced Engineering) at Harbinger Motors Inc.' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-powertrain-engineer-advanced-engineering-harbinger-motors-inc-garden-grove-cp21ed46ccs7' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-19' --- # Staff Powertrain Engineer (Advanced Engineering) at Harbinger Motors Inc. - **Company:** Harbinger Motors Inc. - **Location:** Garden Grove, CA - **Compensation:** $170k–$200k - **Posted:** 2026-10-13 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-19 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/harbingermotors/jobs/5265174007 ## Job description ## 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. Job Overview Based out of our Garden Grove headquarters, the Staff Powertrain Engineer serves as a domain leader and technical authority responsible for driving powertrain development from advanced concepts through production launch and full product life. They will have deep knowledge in Electric Drive Units (EDUs) and Internal Combustion (IC) engines. This role requires complete mastery of powertrain engineering disciplines (design, analysis, and validation) alongside broad working knowledge of low-voltage/high-voltage electrical systems, controls, thermal management, packaging, and manufacturing processes. As a technical lead, you will break down broad, ambiguous powertrain challenges into implementable strategies, define functional standards and project timelines, and guide cross-functional teams to deliver high-performing powertrain solutions. What You’ll Do: - Lead the design and development of key Powertrain systems such as Electric Drive Units (EDUs) or Generator Sets (Gen-sets), and Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) - Break down complex technical challenges into smaller components and support junior engineers in delivering solutions. - Set standards and create best practices for others to follow in technical tasks (FEA, design guidelines, hand calculations etc) - Support developing clean-sheet projects, creating novel solutions from first principals, academic research, and industry benchmarking - Work closely with technicians and suppliers to create prototypes for validations - Take in, process, and communicate complex technical information to a wide audience. Who You Are: - Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (or similar) with a minimum of 10 years of relevant industry experience with emphasis on mechanical design. - Curiosity for engineering and eagerness to make a positive impact. - Strong project discipline without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. - Foundational knowledge of HV motor/generator design and manufacturing processes. - A design engineer who has owned multiple powertrain systems from concept through full life in an automotive environment. - Demonstrated experience working with Electric Drive Units (EDUs), Internal Combustion (IC) engines, or Power Generation units (Gen-sets). - Deep understanding of powertrain manufacturing processes. - Proficiency in 3D CAD systems (CATIA 3DX preferred), FEA (stress analysis, thermal simulations, etc.) and the design of rotating components. - A clear communicator, who has a proven record of delivering complex projects with multi-disciplinary teams under tight deadline pressure. 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 $170,000—$200,000 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 info@harbingermotors.com. 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. ## About Harbinger Motors Inc. ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Harbinger Motors designs and manufactures purpose-built electric and plug-in hybrid stripped chassis for the medium-duty commercial vehicle market, targeting step vans, delivery trucks, RVs, and other vocational applications. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series C - II) - **Headquarters**: Garden Grove, California, United States - **Founded**: 2021 - **Founders**: John Harris (CEO & Co-Founder), Phillip Weicker (CTO & Co-Founder) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Electric Vehicle (EV) Manufacturing, Commercial Automotive, Clean Technology - **Target customers**: B2B — commercial fleets, delivery companies, RV manufacturers, and upfitters operating medium-duty vehicles (Class 4-6). - **Mission or purpose statement**: To modernize the medium-duty vehicle industry by delivering an EV platform with best-in-class performance and durability at a zero cost acquisition premium, enabling cleaner transportation and improved performance at a viable price point. ## Products & Services For each major offering: - **[Electric Stripped Chassis]**: A purpose-built, ground-up electric platform (including batteries, drive unit, junction box, thermal unit, suspension, and steering) designed for integration with medium-duty body types like step vans, trolleys, and RVs. Engineered for a 450,000-mile service life. - **[Plug-In Hybrid Chassis]**: A hybrid variant of the stripped chassis, offering range flexibility for fleets transitioning to electrification. - **[Proprietary Battery Packs]**: Scalable battery solutions available in 35 kWh increments, allowing fleets to purchase only the energy they need. - **[Auxiliary Power System]**: An integrated platform for powering auxiliary systems on commercial vehicles. - **[Sevna Cab Chassis & HC Series Cab]**: Additional cab and chassis variants for specific commercial applications. - **[Harbinger Step Van]**: A fully integrated electric step van, engineered for maximum uptime and lower total cost of ownership (TCO). ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed. - **Key Metric**: Raised a total of **$333M** in funding (latest round: Series C - II). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not fully detailed in search results, but the company has raised significant venture capital. Key leadership includes veterans from major automotive and tech firms. - **Growth Signals**: Founded in 2021 and has rapidly progressed to Series C funding. Product is being proven in real-world conditions. Active hiring across engineering, manufacturing, and software. Award-winning workplace recognized in the industry. 23 patents filed, covering battery electric vehicle technologies, automotive suspension, and pickup truck innovations. ## Competitive Advantages - **Purpose-built platform**: Unlike retrofits or converted platforms, Harbinger’s chassis is engineered from the ground up for commercial electric use, targeting a 450,000-mile service life. - **Zero cost acquisition premium**: The company claims its EV platform is priced to eliminate the upfront cost premium typically associated with EVs vs. diesel/gas, lowering barriers for fleets. - **Modular battery system**: Proprietary 35 kWh battery increments allow fleets to right-size their energy needs, optimizing cost. - **End-to-end design & manufacturing**: Vehicles are designed, engineered, and made in America (Garden Grove, CA), giving Harbinger control over quality and supply chain. - **Plug-in hybrid option**: Provides a unique alternative in the market for fleets not yet ready for full electrification, offering flexibility. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling production**: Growing manufacturing capabilities and team in Garden Grove to meet fleet demand. - **Product expansion**: Developing and releasing new chassis variants (Sevna Cab, HC Series) and the fully integrated Step Van. - **Technology development**: Continued investment in proprietary battery, powertrain, and software (including ADAS and firmware) to improve performance and TCO. - **Market penetration**: Targeting the large and underserved medium-duty commercial vehicle market with a compelling value proposition for fleets. ## Why Work Here - **Impact**: Employees work on vehicles that are seen on roads every day, with a mission to decarbonize a critical segment of transportation. Every role is described as having real impact. - **Culture**: Values-driven culture emphasizing ownership mindset, accountability, speed, and craftsmanship. The company states it values honesty, boldness, and leading by doing. - **Work Environment**: Described as a "place where you're valued" with flexibility as a key principle. The culture supports learning from mistakes and adapting quickly. An "award-winning workplace" recognized in the industry. - **Growth Opportunities**: A high-growth company actively hiring for roles across software (Firmware, ADAS, Computer Vision, Embedded), electrical (Power Electronics, Design Release), manufacturing (Production Supervisor, Equipment Engineer), and more. - **Location & Policy**: Based in Garden Grove, CA (Orange County). Some roles are designated for specific locations (e.g., Mountain View, CA for Computer Vision), indicating a hybrid or office-based expectation for many engineering positions. - **Perks**: Not explicitly detailed, but the culture emphasizes that performance is recognized and supported, and individual contributions matter. ## Sources 1. [harbingermotors.com](https://harbingermotors.com/) 2. [harbingermotors.com/our-company](https://harbingermotors.com/our-company/) 3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/harbingermotors](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/harbingermotors) 4. 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