Mechanical Systems Integration Lead

The relentless consumer shift to online retail and rapid fulfilment, a changing urban landscape prioritising pedestrians and cyclists and the growth of zero emission zones is causing the logistics industry to evolve quickly.
ELM’s small, lightweight and configurable commercial vehicle platform supported by integrated telematics and fleet data analysis right-sizes the logistics solution for the city and delivers a step change in efficiency for urban environments.
The next phase of ELM’s evolution focuses upon developing the production vehicles and supporting technologies to enable certification.

Dynamic startup setting with a flat structure and high ownership and close collaboration across all functions, partners and suppliers.
Lean structure 
Office based with hands-on engagement during builds, testing, and supplier activities.
Travel as required to build and maintain strong relationships with Partners and Suppliers.

Role Overview:
The Mechanical Systems Lead is accountable for delivering a robust, manufacturable, and durable mechanical platform for ELM’s production vehicles. You will own the mechanical system architecture across chassis, body, interior, mounting systems, structures, and packaging. You will lead mechanical integration through prototype builds, validation, and certification readiness.
Working cross functionally, you will coordinate internal engineering, design, manufacturing, and external development partners to ensure mechanical systems integrate cleanly with electrical, powertrain, and software domains.

Key Responsibilities:
Mechanical Architecture & Integration
•Own the mechanical system architecture across chassis, body, interior, structures, mounting systems, and packaging.
•Define and maintain mechanical interface control documents (ICDs), packaging envelopes, and system baselines.
•Ensure mechanical systems integrate coherently with electrical, powertrain, and software domains.

Prototype Build & Mechanical Bring Up
•Lead mechanical activities during prototype builds, including assembly, fit up, alignment, and subsystem installation.
•Diagnose and resolve mechanical integration issues (packaging conflicts, tolerance stack ups, structural clashes, thermal or NVH concerns).
•Support rapid iteration loops: diagnose ? test ? validate ? release.

Durability, Safety & Manufacturing Readiness
•Lead mechanical DFMEA, structural reviews, and durability assessments.
•Ensure designs meet manufacturability, serviceability, and assembly requirements.
•Support tooling, fixture definition, and manufacturing engineering inputs.

Technical Coordination & Issue Resolution
•Coordinate mechanical delivery across internal teams and external development partners.
•Manage cross functional reviews, issue resolution, and structured escalation.
•Maintain clear documentation, decision logs, and change control.

Qualifications and Experience:
•Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).
•Strong experience delivering mechanical systems for automotive, mobility, or lightweight vehicle platforms.
•Deep understanding of chassis systems, body structures, interior systems, packaging, and mechanical integration.
•Hands on experience with prototype builds, mechanical debugging, and subsystem activation.
•Experience with CAD (Catia V5/V6 advantageous) and mechanical documentation.
•Comfortable working from incomplete information and creating clarity through structured engineering judgement.
•Familiarity with L category vehicles, lightweight structures, or EV platforms (advantageous).
•Comfortable operating in a fast moving, early stage environment.

Key Competencies:
•Delivery focused, structured and action oriented.
•Strong organiser able to turn complex inputs into clear plans and priorities.
•Systems thinking — understands how mechanical, electrical, and powertrain subsystems interact.
•Diagnostic mindset — structured, methodical, calm under pressure during builds.
•Clear communicator who aligns teams, partners and senior stakeholders.
•Pragmatic, data informed and comfortable making decisions under uncertainty.
•High ownership mentality with hands on follow through and escalation discipline.