PhD Research Scholar - Battery Thermal Simulation Engineer

AB Volvo; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

AB Volvo is seeking a PhD Research Scholar to join its battery thermal simulation team in Bangalore. The role focuses on high-fidelity thermal design, modelling, and simulation for next-generation Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), bridging academic research with industrial applications.

The candidate will develop multi-scale thermal models, perform CFD analyses, and contribute to experimental correlations to ensure safety and efficiency in commercial transport electrification.

Qualifications

• Current PhD Candidate within 1 year of graduation or recent PhD in Battery Materials Engineering or Materials Science.
• Dissertation work tied to battery thermal management, electrochemical-thermal modelling.
• Expert-level proficiency with CFD tools such as ANSYS, GT Suite, Fluent, Star-CCM+, COMSOL.
• Experience building 1D lumped-parameter networks in MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, or Python.
• Deep understanding of Li-ion heat generation, overpotential losses, and entropic heating.

Responsibilities

• Multi-Scale Modelling: Develop physics-based thermal models bridging micro-scale cell behaviour to macro-scale rack and container installations.
• CFD & FEA Analysis: Run 3D CFD to optimize air/liquid flow and eliminate hotspots.
• Thermal Runaway Simulation: Model abusive cell conditions and simulate propagation pathways for containment boundaries.
• Model Order Reduction: Convert complex 3D thermal physics into fast-running 1D networks for real-time control.
• Experimental Correlation: Design test protocols to characterize cell thermal properties and validate boundary conditions.
• Literature Translation: Infuse academic methodologies in heat transfer and battery degradation into product development.

Skills

CFD packages

ANSYS

GT Suite

Fluent

Star-CCM+

COMSOL Multiphysics

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Lumped-parameter models

Li-ion heat generation

Education

Battery Materials Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

GT-SUITE

Python

Job description

PhD Research Scholar - Battery Thermal Simulation Engineer

Location: Bangalore, IN, 562122

Position Type: Professional

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match.

Position Overview

We are seeking an innovative Battery Thermal Simulation Engineer to join our advanced engineering team. This position is tailored for a current PhD candidate (ongoing) or a recent PhD graduate specialisingin electrochemical, thermal, or fluid sciences.

You willwork withthe high-fidelity thermal design,modelling, and simulation of our next-generation Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This role bridges academic research and industrial application. You will scale thermal architectures fromcore-cell chemistry to multi-megawatt containerisedmodule andrack systems to ensure ultimate safety and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Multi-ScaleModelling: Develop physics-based thermal models bridging micro-scale cellbehaviourto macro-scale rack and container installations.
• CFD & FEA Analysis: Run 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tooptimiseair/liquid flow distribution andeliminatelocalisedhot spots.
• Thermal Runaway Simulation: Model abusive cell conditions and simulate multi-row propagation pathways to engineer robust containment boundaries.
• Model Order Reduction: Convert complex 3D thermal physics into fast-running 1D networks for real-time BESS control algorithms.
• Experimental Correlation: Design test protocols tocharacterisecell thermal properties andvalidatesimulation boundary conditions.
• Literature Translation: Infusecutting-edgeacademic methodologies in heat transfer and battery degradation into commercial product development.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Current PhD Candidate (within 1 year of graduation) or recent PhD graduate inBattery MaterialEngineering, or Materials Science.
• Research Focus: Dissertational work directly tied to battery thermal management, electrochemical-thermalmodelling.
• Software Fluency: Expert-level command of CFD packages like ANSYS, GT Suite,Fluent, Star-CCM+, COMSOL Multiphysics,etc.
• Systems Tools: Experience building 1D lumped-parameter networks in MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, or Python.
• Technical Depth: Deep comprehension of Li-ion heat generation rates, overpotential kinetic losses, and entropic heating terms.

We value your data privacy and therefore do not accept applications via mail.

Who we are and what we believe in

We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group's leading brands and entities.

Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment.

Volvo Energy lives and leads the change in accelerating Volvo Group's electrification journey and driving circularity for a better tomorrow. We bring together people with who will work in a highly diverse, equal and inclusive global context with an entrepreneurial spirit where everyone is key and directly contributes to achieving our ambitions for wanted position: better for people - better for planet - better for business. Together - from individual success to collective significance!

Every day, Volvo Group products and services ensure that people have food on the table, children arrive safely at school and roads and buildings can be constructed. Looking ahead,we are committed to driving the transition to sustainable and safe transport, mobility and infrastructure solutions toward a net-zero society.

Joining Volvo Group, you will work with some of the world's most iconic brands and be part of a global and leading industrial company that is harnessing automated driving, electromobility and connectivity.

Our people are passionate about what they do, they aim for high performance and thrive on teamwork and learning. Everyday life at Volvo is defined by a climate of support, care and mutual respect.

If you aspire to grow and make an impact, join us on our journey to create a better and more resilient society for the coming generations.