Staff Battery Engineer

Staff Battery Engineer- Automotive Programs

Lead efforts to deploy next generation lithium-ion batteries by successfully integrating our material into automotive cells. 

WHO YOU ARE

You are an experienced hands-on, team-oriented engineer with an aptitude for learning new things and a desire to help deploy the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. In your work at Sila, you will lead efforts to optimize the integration of our material into automotive cells through both internal development experiments and prototype cell builds. You will collaborate with technical and business teams at Sila and with external partners and customers.  You have expertise in designing experiments, analyzing data, and creating robust plans to meet our goals and support our customer programs. You enjoy setting and reaching ambitious, realistic goals by building innovative battery solutions and enabling their deployment with key customers.  You seek to proactively coach and mentor others in the areas of cell and battery engineering.

Preference for abuse testing experience at the cell level and familiarity with safety testing standards such as UL 1642 and UN 38.3. You have a good understanding of abusive thermal, electrical, and mechanical testing of individual cells, and potentially propagation and short circuiting.  You have demonstrated the ability to provide input on battery safety to meet customer requirements as well as being responsible for testing analysis of cell safety work performed at third parties.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Play a leading role in building competency in our technology, particularly around novel material integration into cell manufacturing
• Embrace battery engineering opportunities and work towards resolution of challenges associated with the deployment of new battery technologies
• Collaboratively interact with battery and research teams, as well as with product and customer-facing functions with an eye towards products commercialization
• Design, carry out, and analyze experiments to advance our understanding of Sila material and improve cell performance in automotive-scale cells

• Propose and deploy new systems for build, test and characterization of cells
• Be a go-to mentor and supports the technical and professional growth of engineers/scientists/research associates
• Invest in our company values and vision and champion them as we grow

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Well-organized approach to problem solving and experimental design, driven by curiosity and attention to detail
• Exceptional leadership and communication abilities with both internal groups and external partners
• Comfortable with ambiguity; you enjoy figuring out what needs to be done—and then doing it
• Considered a subject matter expert in the area of cell/battery integration
• Understanding of materials for energy storage; experience with lithium-ion batteries build and test is a MUST; proven skills in extracting information and proposing next steps based on electrochemical and other experimental data
• Experience leading customer or partner-facing relationships
• Understanding of lab safety best practices
• Experience taking products out of the lab and into the market is a plus
• At least a B.S. in engineering or science and 5-8 years of industry experience (fewer for candidates with an advanced degree)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on certain tasks
• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
• Move items up to 50 lbs with the assistance of lift equipment and carts
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location