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.
Industries Experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.
Experienced in Automotive (22.5 years), Agriculture (5 years), Construction (5 years), and Information Technology (5 years).
Business Areas Experience
The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.
Experienced in Project Management (21.5 years), Information Technology (15 years), Product Development (13 years), Operations (7.5 years), Procurement (7 years), and Logistics (3 years).
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
Profile
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