Main image of article Chrysler May Need Engineers for Electric Vehicles
Chrysler may be getting back into the electric vehicle business – at least that’s what some recent job postings hint at. Based on those job postings, the website PluginCars.com speculates that Chrysler’s electric vehicles program, stalled since 2009, is back.
At least, that’s what we can infer from Chrysler’s corporate recruitment site, which is currently looking for engineers in the fields of electrified power development and battery management systems at its headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Indeed, I found more than a dozen job postings on Chrysler’s site, most of them posted over the summer, that contained the keywords “electrified” and “battery.” However, at least one of the posts dated back to February. Chrysler-ThumbnailThat doesn’t mean the posting is invalid, though. If the job listings are current, Chrysler may be getting back into electric vehicles, though the company seems to be in no hurry to fill the requisitions. Or, it could be the jobs are so specialized that candidates are difficult to find. That would make these positions good opportunities for people whose resumes align with the requirements for a “Battery Management Systems Engineer.” Its preferred qualifications include:
  • Master's or advanced degree in the [appropriate] educational disciplines
  • Experience with development and testing of battery systems in hybrid and/or electric vehicles.
  • Lithium ion battery experience.
  • Prior innovative patents and publications relevant to the field.
Chrysler’s renewed interest in electrics comes as the company continues to mend and may even have an IPO in the works. It’s talked about electric vehicles in the past, but plans were scrapped in 2009 when Fiat rode into Detroit with a bailout plan for the ailing automaker. With Chrysler’s fortunes now buoyant, it appears interest has reappeared. According to Plugincar:
At the moment however, Chrysler isn’t keen on talking specifics, making it unlikely that we’ll see a plug-in car from Chrysler anytime soon… For Chrysler, the tough job now is not building a plug-in car, but catching up with the last five years of plug-in in evolution and market leadership from rival companies like General Motors, Ford, Nissan and Tesla.
Playing catch-up, however, may require the talent Chrysler now seeks.