Test Engineer, LFP Cell

Description

We are seeking a motivated and hands-on Engineer to join our Energy Production Engineering team. This role focuses on delivering high-quality firmware and optimizing ultra-high-volume testing equipment for the formation process of next-generation battery cells. You will tackle challenging technical issues on production lines and in the field, enhancing mechanical, electrical, software, and control systems for maximum reliability and performance. Collaborating with equipment, process, and quality engineering teams, you will design and refine automation solutions to ensure seamless equipment commissioning and operational success. 

Responsibilities

• Support testing equipment commissioning, process qualification, and delivery to production  

• Perform hardware and firmware integration of current formation and testing processes for Battery Cell products 

• Develop, integrate, and debug features at the system level and release the changes to production via a documented control process 

• Troubleshoot manufacturing test equipment implementing engineering RCA (5 whys, Ishikawa, etc.) which include high-power electrical panels, automated fixtures, pneumatic operations, and fluid systems, to improve OEE 

• Support troubleshooting and RCA of excursions observed in cell health metrics during mass production operations 

• Train and mentor various personnel (operators, technicians, engineers), providing technical leadership for the team. You will make critical decisions and lead from the front with support from experienced engineers 

• Characterize, validate, and control equipment and test procedures using data-driven statistical approaches such as Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility, Process Capability, Limits of Detection, Confidence Intervals, Control Limits, Specification Limits, SPC 

• Participate in design reviews for manufacturing test equipment, engaging in technical conversation with design and manufacturing engineers 

• Validation and update of testing procedures on the line to ensure proper measurement of cell health metrics 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Materials Science or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of experience in cell development, cell test methods, and/or cell health metrics

• Exceptional analytical problem-solving skills, able to identify links between equipment operation and effects on cell health metrics 

• Must have experience troubleshooting cell test equipment and results to identify root cause of cell health metric excursions 

• Must have experience with improving test reliability, repeatability, and/or cycle time via execution of DOEs, MSA, and SPC Rules

• Experience with electronic/electrical circuits, for medium and high voltage environments is preferred but not required. Shows a keen understanding of physics and follows first principles in design and troubleshooting 

• Experience commissioning industrial test equipment, for battery cell formation processes and exposure to data analytics and databases querying using the following: MES, SCADA, SQL, Python, Minitab, JMP, or other equivalents 

• Proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical, E-PLAN, C, C++ is a plus 

• Experience working with and debugging common communication protocols (CAN, Ethernet, GPIB, etc.) is a plus