Area Head - Battery & Charging

Published since: 10.02.2026
TRATON R&D is offering a role, starting as soon as possible, for the position of

Area Head – Battery & Charging (M/F/D)

TRATON R&D

TRATON Group R&D is the innovation and engineering backbone of the TRATON Group - driving research and development across the commercial vehicle industry, across our brands (International, MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus). We are a global organization of around 9,000 employees working together to accelerate innovation, improve speed and deliver scalable solutions across the Group.
Battery & Charging is at the center of electrification enablement. The area spans energy storage, charging experience and power transfer, thermal and software control layers and test operations/validation - built to work across brands and regions.

Position Details

What kind of position/job is this?
This is a full-time, permanent executive leadership role within TRATON Group R&D.

Where is the job located?

This is a global role. The role is intended to be based in one our TRATON Group R&D’s core hubs – Chicago area (USA), Munich/Nuremberg (Germany), São Paulo/Resende (Brazil) or Södertälje (Sweden). Depending on the candidate profile and business needs, other TRATON R&D locations may also be considered. We operate across four major core hubs and collaborate globally across time zones and cultures as a normal way of working.

Who will I be reporting to?

You will be part of the TRATON Group R&D management team, reporting directly to the Head of Group R&D.

About us

At TRATON, you are an important part of something bigger. Joining TRATON Group R&D means gaining access to the ins and outs of the entire transportation industry - working with colleagues across brands and regions to shape future technologies and solutions. As part of a global team of industry experts, you get to think bigger, experience more and reach further. Together, we have the collective power to transform transportation.
 

Your Tasks

As Area Head – Battery & Charging, you lead a global organization with end-to-end responsibility for key electrification building blocks across TRATON. Your mandate is to set direction, create alignment and ensure robust execution - so that the area delivers scalable solutions and measurable outcomes for the Group and our brands.

To ensure that you will:

Lead and develop a global leadership team spanning energy storage, charging & power distribution, thermal & software and test operations/validation - driving a “one team” mindset across sites and cultures.
Own and drive the area’s strategic direction and priorities, ensuring clear roadmaps and decision-making that enable speed, quality, and global reuse across brands.
Drive strong cross-functional and cross-brand collaboration to support consistent ways of working, transparency and effective governance in a complex matrix environment.
Ensure execution discipline and reliable delivery through clear steering, strong follow-up, and pragmatic problem-solving - turning plans into real results and continuous improvement.
Represent the area internally and externally when needed - building trusted partnerships and ensuring Battery & Charging remains strongly connected to real customer and business needs.

Your Qualifications

We believe there are multiple paths to success in this role and value diverse leadership backgrounds and perspectives. The successful candidate will likely demonstrate several of the following:

• Extensive senior leadership experience leading large, global engineering organizations (ideally 500+ employees) in a complex, international and matrix environment, combining direct line responsibility with strong leadership through influence.
• Demonstrated experience living and working abroad for a meaningful period, with the ability to lead effectively across cultures, understand regional differences, and build trust in globally distributed teams.
• Proven experience leading end-to-end product and technology development within electrification, batteries, charging systems, power electronics, energy systems, or closely related domains—where hardware, software, systems engineering, and validation must operate as one integrated system.
• Strong strategic capability, with a track record of setting long-term direction and translating strategy into execution through clear priorities, governance, operating models, and measurable outcomes.
• Proven senior stakeholder management skills, including engagement with executive leadership, customers, partners, and external stakeholders in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, in a global business environment. Additional languages are an advantage.
• Experience from heavy-duty vehicles, automotive, industrial, energy, or adjacent industries is highly desirable.

Cross-Brand Recruiting

By applying to this position, please be aware that we may share your application (e.g., CV) with relevant stakeholders across TRATON Group and its brands to enable a group-wide recruitment process.
Resume & Interview
Application and interview language is English. No cover letter needed.

Contacts

Patrik Neckman (Head of Recruitment, Group HR R&D)
Mobile: +46 737 26 94 09
Email: patrik.neckman@se.traton.com

Application period

Applications will be accepted until: 17.03.2026
We invite applications from leaders who meet the core leadership and experience requirements for this role. Success will depend on demonstrated ability to lead large, international organizations, navigate complexity, and translate strategy into sustained execution.

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