Senior Electrical Battery System Test Engineer

Briggs & Stratton; Wauwatosa (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Briggs & Stratton seeks an Electrical Battery Test Engineer to validate next‑gen lithium‑ion battery systems for mobile and stationary energy markets. You will lead test strategies, design DVPRs, and perform hands‑on diagnostics on pack and BMS hardware while working with CAN/LIN networks and advanced benches.

Ideal candidates have 5–8+ years in hardware testing of Li‑ion systems, strong data analysis skills in Python/MATLAB, and hands‑on LabVIEW experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 5–8+ years in hardware/electrical testing of Li-ion battery systems.
• Hands-on experience with test benches, CAN/LIN, and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform diagnostics on battery packs, BMS boards, wiring, and test equipment.
• Develop DVPR documents for new battery programs and ensure performance requirements.
• Validate BMS algorithms: SOC, SOH, cell balancing, thermal management, fault protection.
• Operate test benches with cyclers, environmental chambers, power supplies, and DAQs.
• Analyze test data with Python/MATLAB and drive root-cause investigations.

Skills

5-8+ years hardware testing

Troubleshooting

Root-cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Vector CANalyzer/CANoe

LabVIEW

Python

MATLAB

JAMA/DOORS/PLM

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated and analytical Electrical Battery Test Engineer to participate the validation and testing of our next-generation lithium-ion battery systems supporting both the mobile and stationary energy markets. This role is critical to ensuring our battery systems are safe, reliable, and high-performing.

Key Responsibilities

• Hands-On Electrical Troubleshooting: Perform real-time, hands-on electrical diagnostics on battery packs, BMS circuit boards, wiring harnesses, and test equipment during test execution. Trace unexpected hardware and communication faults using oscilloscopes, digital multimeters (DMMs), breakout boxes, logic analyzers, and current probes.
• Test Setup & Bench Rework: Perform hands-on electrical modifications, harness crimping, soldering, component replacement, and custom fixture integration to adapt test benches for non-standard or custom test profiles.
• Test Strategy & Execution: Create, execute, and manage Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R) documents for new battery programs, ensuring products meet stringent functional, performance, and durability requirements.
• BMS & Systems Validation: Conduct system-level testing and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation [1.3.4]. Evaluate BMS algorithms including state-of-charge (SOC), state-of-health (SOH), cell balancing, thermal management, overcurrent/overvoltage protection, and fault detection protocols.
• Advanced Lab Operations: Design, build, and configure test setups using heavy-duty battery cyclers (e.g., Maccor, Bitrode, Arbin, AVL), environmental chambers, programmable power supplies, electronic loads, DAQs, and oscilloscopes.
• Communication & Diagnostics: Utilize industry-standard communication tools (Vector CANalyzer, CANoe) to test CAN, LIN, and internal network communications, diagnostics, and embedded firmware interactions.
• Data Analysis & Root Cause Investigation: Analyze complex test data using Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW to identify trends, performance degradation, and failure modes. Drive root-cause analysis (8D, Ishikawa, DFMEA) for test failures and collaborate with mechanical and firmware teams on design iterations.
• Compliance & Safety Standards: Ensure all battery systems comply with international safety, homologation, and transportation standards (e.g., UN38.3, UL 2271/2580, IEC 62133, ISO 26262) [1.3.3]. Maintain a strict culture of safety around high-voltage and high-power electrical testing.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to other test engineers and technicians, improving the overall technical capability and automation practices of the laboratory team].

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline [1.2.1, 1.3.3].
• Experience: 5 to 8+ years of proven experience in hardware/electrical testing, with a primary focus on lithium-ion battery systems, BMS, or electric powertrains].
• Technical Skills:
• Deep understanding of lithium-ion cell chemistry behaviors, failure mechanisms, and thermal dynamics.
• Hands-on experience with CAN/LIN communication protocols and Vector hardware/software [1.3.4].
• Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, MATLAB) and test automation software (LabVIEW) to streamline data collection and analysis
• Experience writing comprehensive test plans from product requirements using tools like JAMA, DOORS, or similar PLM systems
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to apply first-principles engineering to troubleshoot ambiguous hardware, software, and test-equipment interactions

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working in the automotive (OEM or Tier 1), energy storage, advanced power tool, or marine sectors.
• Familiarity with various battery form factors (cylindrical, prismatic, pouch) and chemistries (NMC, LFP, NCA).

Briggs & Stratton, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, provides innovative products and diverse power solutions to help people get work done. Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest producer of engines for outdoor power equipment, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of lithium-ion battery, standby generator, energy storage system, lawn and garden, turf care and job site products through its Briggs & Stratton®, Vanguard®, Ferris®, Simplicity®, Billy Goat®, Allmand®, SimpliPhi®, Branco® and Victa® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in more than 100 countries on six continents.

Briggs & Stratton is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. The Company conducts all employment practices without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran's status, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by law. Briggs & Stratton also undertakes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunity for minorities and women, for persons with disabilities, and for protected veterans.