Postdoc in solid-state batteries – Precision manufacturing

KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholms kommun; On-site; SEK 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm invites applications for a 2-year postdoctoral position in precision manufacturing for scalable production of solid-state batteries within the Dept. Production Engineering.

The project is part of the COMPEL initiative, focusing on precision metrology, inline quality assurance, and measurement-based process control to reduce variability and enable industrial scale-up.

Qualifications

• PhD in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, or related field.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Strong theoretical foundation with hands-on experimental experience.
• Awareness of diversity and gender equality issues.
• Preferred: PhD obtained within last 3 years.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interdisciplinary research at the intersection of precision manufacturing, metrology, production engineering, and digital manufacturing for solid-state batteries.
• Develop measurement-based methodologies to quantify and control manufacturing variability and tolerances.
• Apply inline metrology and non-destructive evaluation techniques to monitor stages and detect defects.
• Integrate measurement data with process models to support tolerance engineering and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with researchers across disciplines to advance scalable production of solid-state batteries.

Skills

Hands-on experimental experience

English proficiency

Collaborative skills

Independent working

Education

PhD in Systems Engineering

PhD in Mechanical/Production Engineering

Job description

Overview

Postdoc in solid-state batteries – Precision manufacturing at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Industrial Engineering and Management. The project is part of the Swedish governmental battery initiative COMPEL, aiming to support competence and excellence in battery research and education for the transport sector. The 2-year postdoctoral project, Precision Manufacturing for scalable production of Solid-State Batteries, will be conducted within the Dept. Production Engineering. It offers an interdisciplinary research opportunity at the interface of precision manufacturing, metrology, production engineering, and digital manufacturing, applied to solid-state batteries. The work focuses on investigating how manufacturing precision and integrated metrology can reduce process variability, minimize process-induced errors, and improve production robustness, while characterizing how variation arises and propagates through the manufacturing process chain and how it can be controlled. A central objective is to develop measurement-based methodologies that relate manufacturing precision, process capability, and product quality. Precision metrology and inline quality assurance will be used to identify critical process parameters, understand error sources, and define manufacturing tolerances that support robust production. Advanced measurement and non-destructive evaluation techniques, including optical and laser-based metrology, industrial X-ray computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonic sensing, will monitor process stability and detect defects at different stages of manufacturing. The resulting data may be combined with process models and digital engineering tools to support tolerance engineering, process analysis, and continuous improvement. The expected outcomes include new methods for reducing manufacturing variability, improving process capability, and enabling reliable industrial scale-up of solid-state battery production.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interdisciplinary research at the intersection of precision manufacturing, metrology, production engineering, and digital manufacturing as applied to solid-state batteries.
• Develop measurement-based methodologies to quantify and control manufacturing variability and process tolerances.
• Apply inline metrology and non-destructive evaluation techniques to monitor manufacturing stages and detect defects.
• Integrate measurement data with process models to support tolerance engineering and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with researchers across disciplines to advance scalable production of solid-state batteries.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, or a closely related field, with experience in manufacturing, precision engineering or manufacturing metrology. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled no later than the date on which the employment decision is made.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English, as this will be required in day-to-day work.
• Strong theoretical foundation combined with hands-on experimental experience.
• Awareness of diversity and equal treatment issues with a particular focus on gender equality.

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline.
• Experience in solid-state batteries and familiarity with manufacturing of batteries.
• Hands-on experience with precision manufacturing, manufacturing metrology and quality assurance.
• Innovative mindset and ability to work independently.
• Good collaborative skills and the ability to work in a team.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.