Principal Energy Storage Research Engineer

Placements24; Redmond (WA); Hybrid; USD 109,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration package

Annual bonus and long‑term incentives

Premium medical coverage

Retirement plans

Generous paid time off

Relocation support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Principal Research Engineer specializing in Energy Storage, based in Welkom, Free State. You will lead R&D on next‑generation battery chemistries, mentor a multidisciplinary team, and translate research into commercially viable products for sustainable energy solutions.

The role requires a Ph.D. in a related field, 10+ years in energy storage, and strong hands‑on expertise in electrochemistry, materials synthesis and system design.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant engineering or materials science field with energy storage focus.
• 10+ years of progressive energy storage research, leading or principal role.
• Expertise in battery electrochemistry, materials synthesis, cell design.
• Proven track record leading R&D projects and delivering innovations.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and computational modeling skills (COMSOL, ANSYS, MATLAB).
• Experience with Li-ion, solid-state, redox flow chemistries and characterization.
• Excellent leadership, project management, and communication skills.
• Experience in energy sector in Welkom or similar region.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of next‑gen energy storage technologies including advanced battery chemistries, flow batteries, and supercapacitors.
• Design and conduct experiments to evaluate material performance, cell design, and system integration.
• Develop models and simulations to predict performance and optimize designs.
• Manage cross‑functional teams to meet milestones within scope and budget.
• Analyze data, interpret results, and prepare technical reports and publications.
• Stay current with energy storage advances and identify opportunities.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and product teams for scale‑up and commercialization.
• Mentor junior engineers and researchers to foster innovation.
• Represent the company at industry conferences and discussions in Free State.
• Ensure adherence to safety protocols and environmental regulations.

Skills

Battery electrochemistry

Materials synthesis

Cell design

System integration

Leadership

Project management

Computational modeling

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field (energy storage)

Tools

COMSOL

ANSYS

MATLAB

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Principal Research Engineer specializing in Energy Storage, based in Welkom, Free State. You will lead R&D on next‑generation battery chemistries, mentor a multidisciplinary team, and translate research into commercially viable products for sustainable energy solutions.

The role requires a Ph.D. in a related field, 10+ years in energy storage, and strong hands‑on expertise in electrochemistry, materials synthesis and system design.