Battery Systems Engineer

The Battery Systems Engineer II is responsible for collaborating with mechanical and electrical product engineers during design, development, and validation stages of the new product development (NPD) process to better define cell/battery packs and their system-level requirements based on use case. The position will communicate externally with new or existing cell/battery suppliers, develop cell-, pack-, and product-level test plans, validate test procedures, and make recommendations for improvement through complex problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of battery systems following the Klein Tools process, ensuring all activities and plans from multiple simultaneous projects are formulated and followed, targeting aggressive timelines.
• Demonstrate thorough understanding of relevant globally recognized regulatory and certification standards, and can demonstrate application and background, advising cross-functional team members accordingly.
• Demonstrate capability of creating prototype pack plans, adhering to design and safety best practices, to expedite development processes, highlighting recommended pack arrays, form factors, cell type(s) and showcasing potential effect on overall product design.
• Develop relevant and thorough characterization and qualification test plans at cell-, pack-, and product-level in support of higher product development objectives.
• Evaluate complex test results, coordinate execution of detailed and digestible reports, and make educated recommendations for improvement, complete with risk v. benefit assessment.
• Root cause analysis and corrective action proposal ideation.
• Cataloging competitive benchmarks.
• Technical liaison between internal and external representatives, ensuring adherence to design and system specifications to the end user’s needs and requirements.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills; capable of hosting efficient design reviews and heavy technical discussions, with minimal support from peers, for both internal and external audiences.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with team leaders from across the organization.
• Independent decision making on engineering problems and methods (as it relates to battery systems) and represent the organization in supplier discussions to resolve important questions and topics.
• Plan, schedule, conduct and coordinate detailed phases of engineering work (as it relates to battery systems) in a total program or project.
• Perform work which includes complex features such as resolution of conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of standard materials, and difficult coordination requirements.
• Ability to own/drive many concurrent activities simultaneously with on-time delivery.
• Visit battery/cell manufacturers and suppliers as needed to evaluate design and manufacturing capabilities.
• Regularly solicit voice of customers to understand use case, pain points, other opportunities to improve product portfolio.
• Attend relevant technical-related battery topic trainings, seminars, and conferences to stay up to date on battery systems technologies, market trends, and compliance/regulatory trends.
• Demonstrate applied analytical skills regarding material stress analysis, thermal management, and material selection as it pertains to battery systems product-level use case.
• Provide directional guidance on battery systems requirements, best practices, applicable certification/regulatory requirements to product engineering and management as needed/directed.
• Routine maintenance and continuous improvement of engineering documentation, as it pertains to battery systems, to record critical-to-quality manufacturing requirements, design constraints, testing data, and product integration methodology.
• Minimise negative financial impact within the various facilities during system integration.
• Development and communication of should-cost models to core team, supporting overall target cost objectives.
• Perform other duties as required within the nature and level of work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in mechanical, electrical, or other related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of direct work experience in the area.
• Advanced understanding of Li-ion battery management and charging strategies and circuits.
• Must have exceptional technical, analytical, planning, and organisation skills.
• Must have demonstrated experience facilitating complex projects and solutions with multiple interactions.
• Ability to function in an environment of constantly changing priorities, goals and direction often amid stressful conditions and under time constraints.

Physical Demands

• Occasionally required to stand, walk or sit; use hands to grasp, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; use fingers to touch, pick or pinch objects; reach with hands and arms; push or pull; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; use foot or leg controls; talk or hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. For all jobs no one should lift over 50 lbs on their own.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, colour vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.