Lead Engineer (110349-0325)

Li-ion batteries have experienced a continuum of growing energy needs with power and capacity demands now at an all-time high, particularly those needed to power vehicles. High impact safety issues around batteries have also been semi-frequent within the media, and so a better understanding of battery failure mechanisms and components helps us to design and manufacture safer energy storage devices. This is a central function of the Battery Forensic team – working with companies to understand field failures and autopsy methodologies - for which this position will play a leading role.

Recently, the forensic laboratory has been extended to include a bespoke prismatic cell facility at Wellesbourne, and growing our capabilities with this format will also be a responsibility of the Lead Engineer. The FAB approach is based in forensic research and diagnostics across multiple length-scales from the materials to the battery (cell-level). This will enable a comprehensive understanding of the spectrum of issues that continue to dominate battery performance as we continue to develop new materials and higher energy storage possibilities.

The role is based on both overseeing and involvement in laboratory work and will involve the use of chemicals, handling of battery materials, performing diagnostics and characterisation of batteries. Activities will be supported by access to materials characterisation equipment, including SEM, X-Ray Tomography, XRD and other X-ray analytical techniques. The group typically carries out investigations with companies wanting to characterise their devices and batteries using cutting-edge forensic techniques, and also to be involved in the development of new operando approaches to understand real-time failure mechanisms.

We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.

This is an exciting opportunity for a creative, ambitious and flexible scientist/engineer looking to join the growing area of battery research into forensic investigations into energy storage devices. For this role we ideally would like someone who has extensive knowledge of battery testing and characterisation, with significant experience of disassembling cells for reverse engineering and post-mortem analysis. The candidate should have good experience of working with industry but also demonstrated evidence of academic rigour in the aforementioned specialist areas. Any experience of supervision and training is also required by the candidate.

For further information regarding the skills required for this role please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

CLOSING DATE: Monday 24th March 2025 at 11.55pm

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the 'Apply' button.

£46,735 to £55,755 per annum