Principal Battery Design Engineer

Blue Current; Hayward (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Current is an industry leader in silicon solid-state batteries, driving from R&D to pilot and large-scale production. You will lead the design and qualification of next-generation solid-state pouch batteries for automotive and consumer applications with a hands-on leadership style.

The role requires a Ph.D. or MS in a related field, 5+ years of pouch/automotive battery experience, strong CAD/simulation skills, and a track record of translating development plans into scalable, safe products

Qualifications

• 5+ years work experience with pouch, prismatic or automotive batteries for automotive and consumer applications; hands-on experience in scale-up/manufacturing environments preferred
• Proficiency in CAD software and simulation tools
• Strong understanding of lithium based cells, cell components and their interactions inside the cell
• Demonstrated experience on cell design, characterization and failure mode identifications
• Experience assembling battery cells and developing new electrode and electrolyte formulations.
• Experience working with high-speed battery manufacturing systems
• Track record of driving cell development roadmaps and customer-facing deliverables
• Appreciation for and adherence to lab and work safety policies
• Positive, can-do attitude and experience coaching and inspiring team to overcome technical challenges
• Creative thinker with attention to detail
• Strong communication skills and experience sharing results with team members and leadership

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize cell pouches for energy storage applications, considering factors such as performance, safety, and manufacturability
• Select and evaluate materials for cell pouch construction, ensuring compatibility with the application requirements
• Develop and design prototypes and conduct testing to validate the design, making improvements as necessary
• Lead the cell engineering design, development, and qualification for next generation solid-state pouch batteries
• Own the cell design plans, design-of-experiments, failure analysis and new development pathways toward building cell products for consumer devices and EV applications
• Drive product development initiatives and lead technical cell engineering projects for first multi amp-hour cell designs
• Define and own cell design specifications, and test procedures for product validation
• Partner with materials R&D and process engineering to select best formulations and SOPs to meet performance and scalability goals
• Drive quarterly cadence of updates and stage gate transitions
• Internalize system design concepts (thermals, cell to pack) and compliance requirements from customers
• Work with data analytics team to characterize and optimize performance
• Partner with manufacturing process engineering to ensure economics and scalability of design
• Own and ensure alignment on bill of materials with product requirements (BOM)

Skills

Cell design

Materials selection

DOE planning

CAD software

Data analysis

Team leadership

Education

Ph.D. or MS in chemistry, chemical or mechanical engineering, materials science

Tools

Simulation tools

Battery manufacturing systems

Job description

About Blue Current

Blue Current is the industry leader in the development of silicon solid state batteries. Free of flammable liquid electrolytes, Blue Current’s fully dry, inherently safe batteries significantly reduce risks to human and environmental health while providing a higher-performance alternative to traditional lithium ion batteries. Blue Current’s silicon-based platform is highly adaptable, enabling a cost-effective solution for both the mobility and stationary storage markets. Blue Current’s team works out of its state-of-the-art headquarters and pilot line facility in Hayward, CA. To learn more about Blue Current, Inc., visit https://bluecurrent.com/.

Blue Current is a leader in the next wave of battery innovation. The company manufactures completely dry, safe and high-performance silicon elastic composite solid-state batteries to power the new energy economy including electric vehicles, grid storage and consumer electronics. Blue Current leads with science, data, and thoughtful IP across the full battery stack. We are hiring in all areas of battery design and manufacturing. Come build with us.

Are you an experienced automotive battery design cell engineering leader? Have you taken new battery designs from R&D to large-scale production? Have you dreamt of being part of the shift to solid-state? Blue Current is an energy storage startup company focused on the next wave of innovation in the battery industry. We’ve developed a 100% dry, safe, and high-performance battery based on what we call "silicon elastic composite" technology. We arewell-funded and connected across the supply chain and automotive industry.

What you’ll accomplish

You’ll drive the overall battery technology platform and test plan as we move from R&D to pilot and large-scale production. You will play a critical role in the design and development of cell pouches for advanced energy storage applications. This is a fast-paced hands-on leadership position with a team that has a shared passion to change the energy storage landscape.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Design and optimize cell pouches for energy storage applications, considering factors such as performance, safety, and manufacturability.


• Select and evaluate materials for cell pouch construction, ensuring compatibility with the application requirements.


• Develop and design prototypes and conduct testing to validate the design, making improvements as necessary.


• Lead the cell engineering design, development, and qualification for next generation solid-state pouch batteries


• Own the cell design plans, design-of-experiments, failure analysis and new development pathways toward building cell products for consumer devices and EV applications


• Drive product development initiatives and lead technical cell engineering projects for first multi amp-hour cell designs


• Define and own cell design specifications, and test procedures for product validation


• Partner with materials R&D and process engineering to select best formulations and
  SOPs to meet performance and scalability goals


• Drive quarterly cadence of updates and stage gate transitions


• Internalize system design concepts (thermals, cell to pack) and compliance
  requirements from customers


• Work with data analytics team to characterize and optimize performance


• Partner with manufacturing process engineering to ensure economics and scalability
  of design


• Own and ensure alignment on bill of materials with product requirements (BOM)

Your experience and qualifications

• Ph.D. or MS in chemistry, chemical or mechanical engineering, materials science, or
  related field.


• 5+ years work experience with pouch, prismatic or VDA compliant batteries forautomotive and consumer applications; hands-on experience in scale-up/manufacturing environments preferred


• Proficiency in CAD software and simulation tools


• Strong understanding of lithium based cells, cell components and their interactions inside the cell


• Demonstrated experience on cell design, characterization and failure mode identifications


• Experience assembling battery cells and developing new electrode and electrolyteformulations.


• Experience working with high-speed battery manufacturing systems


• Track record of driving cell development roadmaps and customer-facing deliverables


• Appreciation for and adherence to lab and work safety policies


• Positive, can-do attitude and experience coaching and inspiring team to overcome technical challenges


• Creative thinker with attention to detail


• Strong communication skills and experience sharing results with team members and leadership

Blue Current is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and embraces diversity. We believe that our team is strengthened through hiring and retaining employees with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, ideas, and perspectives. We make hiring decisions based on merit and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender (including pregnancy) gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, disability status or any other protected category in accordance with applicable law.