Dennis Berner
Technical Project Manager / Founder
Experience
Technical Project Manager / Founder
digitLabs Holding GmbH & Co. KG / digitLabs Battery Consulting GmbH / digitLabs Battery Consulting Middle East FZ-LLC
- Daimler Buses (EVO Platform – eCitaro, eCitaro G, eCitaro K): Led the battery management system (BMS) program from concept to production launch (SOP Nov 2025). Coordinated hardware/software integration, validation testing, requirements management and supplier deliverables to ensure safety, performance, and homologation compliance.
- BMZ Poland (111 kWh Battery System): Managed platform BMS software development, defined DVP&R, monitored industrialization progress, and ensured system integration between design, testing, and manufacturing teams.
- BMZ Germany (Wacker Neuson Agriculture & Construction Vehicles): Directed full battery system development for off-highway vehicles, managing requirements flow-down, prototype build planning, and supplier coordination. Supported functional-safety assessments (ISO 26262) and manufacturing readiness.
- Lightyear (Solar Vehicle Program – Lightyear 0): Led end-to-end battery pack development for a solar electric vehicle, from concept and simulation through prototype and validation. Coordinated mechanical, electrical, and thermal teams to achieve ultra-efficient, lightweight energy storage.
- TestForge X – Validation Intelligence Platform: Founder and Product Owner of a data-driven platform that connects testing institutes, OEMs, and suppliers through digitalized validation workflows. Designed the system architecture using a microservice backend (Rust + Django) with AI-driven report generation, predictive risk analysis, and resource scheduling.
Component Responsible – Cell Modules / Concept Manager
Volkswagen AG
- Owned end-to-end delivery of HV battery cell modules within VW’s MEB electric vehicle platform, managing design, validation, and industrialization phases.
- Led cross-functional teams (mechanical, electrical, testing, procurement, and suppliers) to achieve cost, quality, and timing objectives.
- Defined and maintained technical requirements, DVP&R, and DFMEA for module design and verification.
- Coordinated design reviews, supplier alignment, and risk management, ensuring technical readiness across development gates.
- Planned and executed program milestones from concept through prototype builds to series production launch.
- Interfaced with global stakeholders to track progress, resolve engineering bottlenecks, and ensure on-time delivery of validated modules.
- Supported continuous improvement in battery performance, manufacturability, and reliability, aligned with VW’s platform strategy and quality standards.
Project Engineer – Project Management Cell Modules
IAV GmbH Gifhorn
- Supported engineering change management for HV battery cell modules in collaboration with OEM clients.
- Prepared and evaluated change requests related to design, testing, and supplier documentation to ensure compliance with program requirements.
- Defined and maintained technical requirements, DVP&R, and DFMEA for module design and verification.
- Coordinated updates to BOMs, CAD models, and technical specifications, ensuring traceability across design revisions.
- Assisted in DFMEA reviews, test result assessments, and release documentation to maintain design integrity through project milestones.
- Worked cross-functionally with design, quality, and purchasing teams to ensure smooth implementation of technical changes within program timelines.
Development Engineer – Project Management Cell Modules
Bertrandt GmbH Tappenbeck
- Supported development and prototype build activities for high-voltage (HV) battery systems in collaboration with OEM engineering teams.
- Created and maintained system documentation, including wiring diagrams, 3D models, and interface control drawings.
- Facilitated component procurement, supplier tracking, and build validation during prototype assembly phases.
- Assisted in test planning and data collection for thermal, vibration, and electrical performance validation.
- Contributed to DFMEA reviews and concept maturity assessments, supporting the transition from prototype to pre-series design.
- Collaborated with mechanical, electrical, and software teams to ensure compatibility and integration of harness and module components within complete battery systems.
Car Expert / Vehicle Appraisal
KFZ-Sachverständigen Büro Berner GmbH
- Performed material damage and vehicle valuation.
- Conducted compatibility and plausibility checks.
- Provided project support to the nationwide car-expert network SV-net.
- Supported IT software SV-net projects.
PMO / Office Administration
Berner Vehicle Appraisal Office GmbH
- Performed PMO and office administration tasks.
- Handled material damage cases.
- Conducted vehicle valuation.
Junior Sales Representative
CarUnion Frye Car Dealership
- Worked as a sales trainee.
- Supported dealership and after-sales operations.
- Managed warehousing.
- Conducted vehicle valuations.
Summary
Senior Technical Project Lead and Entrepreneur of digitLabs Group with 20 years of experience in automotive, e-mobility, and energy systems, and over 6+ years in Data Science and AI-based analytics. Proven record in managing cross-functional teams across Europe and the Middle East, delivering complex hardware-software programs from concept, validation, and industrialisation. Combination of strong system-engineering with modern data and AI practices. The work includes workflow automation, Bayesian analytics, and applied AI development to delivering complex technical programs in fast-paced environments. Strong hands-on mentality.
Skills
Lithium-ion Cell, Module, And Pack Development (Nmc, Lfp Chemistries).
Battery Management Systems (Bms) Architecture, Diagnostics, And Calibration.
High-voltage (Hv) System And Functional/safety Design, Robustness And Durability
Applied Data-driven Calibration And Predictive Modelling To Optimize System Performance And Reliability.
Dvp&r Planning And Dfmea Execution With Automated Traceability And Ai-assisted Documentation.
Environmental, Electrical, And Abuse Testing Coordination (Iso 16750, Lv124, Proprietary Standards).
Test Data Analysis, Anomaly Detection, And Bayesian Fault Prediction, Incl. Data Pipelines And Dashboards
End-of-line Testing, Traceability Systems, And Prototype Build Support Using Digitalized Workflows.
Rust (Axum, Leptos, Tokio, Sqlx, Polars, Wasm), Python (Data Pipelines, Analytics, Web Apps)
Microservice Architecture, Api Design (Rest/graphql), High-performance Backend Systems
Data Engineering Workflows: Etl, Time-series Analytics, Model Execution In Production
Devops: Docker, Ci/cd, Linux Systems, Nginx, Observability (Grafana)
Apqp, Ppap, And Production Readiness Planning Across Distributed Teams.
Bom Management, Design Release, And Engineering Change Control (Ecr/eco).
Supplier Qualification, Rfq Support, And Cost Tracking
Full Product Lifecycle Management (Concept → Validation → Sop) With V-model As Well As Agile
Project Scheduling, Milestone Tracking, And Risk Management (Gantt, Rasi).
Jira, Confluence, Ms Project, Excel (Advanced), Power Bi, Graphana
Cross-functional And International Teams In Engineering, Data Science, And Sw Expertise; Across De, Uae, Tun.
Technical Documentation, Requirement Traceability (Doors, Jama).
Supplier And Customer Interface, Dfmea, P-fmea Workshops.
Intercultural Knowledge: Europe, Middle East, Asia
Languages
Education
University of Edinburgh
Master of Science · Data Science, Technology & Innovation · Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Ostfalia University
Master of Science · Automotive Systems Technologies · Germany
Ostfalia University
Master of Engineering · Alternative Powertrains · Germany
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