Senior R&D Engineer - Fire and Explosion

UL, LLC; Northbrook (IL); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401K retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

UL Solutions is seeking a driven engineer to join the Research and Development team focusing on fire and explosion safety problems, including lithium-ion battery thermal runaway and fires in built environments.

You will conduct laboratory testing, perform simulations, and develop test programs, communicating results to clients and stakeholders. The role requires a BS in a relevant field; MS/PhD preferred, with 1–2 years for MS/PhD or 3–4 years for BS experience.

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical, chemical, fire protection, explosion protection engineering or related discipline is required.
• MS or PhD preferred.
• Experience in a laboratory or physical testing environment is required.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills are required.
• Experience in modeling and simulation of fluid flows, fire flows, combustion and heat transfer is preferred.
• Certified fire and explosion investigator (CFEI) certification and experience in fire forensics is preferred.
• Skills in Python programming, machine learning techniques and workflow efficiency tool development are preferred.
• Experience with FTIR and GC is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work independently and with a team to conduct laboratory testing for client projects and research programs.
• Apply fundamental and practical understanding of physics, chemistry, and engineering principles to create test programs and engineering judgments.
• Carry out engineering analyses using combinations of numerical simulation and test data inputs.
• Efficiently scope, plan, and execute projects from start to finish, including hands-on testing, analysis and reporting.
• Complete formal technical reports of work completed, including strategy, approach and outcomes.
• Communicate with internal and external clients to develop and manage projects from start to finish.
• Collaborate across industries and stakeholders, providing timeline communications.
• Stay ahead of changing technologies by reading journals, attending conferences, and publishing.

Skills

Python programming

Machine learning

Technical writing

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

BS in mechanical/chemical/fire protection/explosion protection engineering

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Python

FTIR

Gas Chromatography

Job description

The UL Solutions Research and Development team is seeking a driven and team-oriented person to work with us on research, testing, and simulation of emerging fire and explosion safety problems. Many of these problems will focus on the energy and fire protection industries, including lithium-ion battery thermal runaway and fires in the built environment. Practical laboratory projects and robust application of theoretical knowledge of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and combustion are central to this role. A successful candidate will be creative, curious, adaptable to a fast-paced and multi-disciplined environment and willing to work collaboratively with a team of other engineers and scientists to solve complex problems.

• Work independently and with a team to conduct laboratory testing for client projects and research programs for UL safety testing service development and fundamental scientific advancement.

• Apply fundamental and practical understanding of the relevant physics, chemistry, and engineering principles to create test programs and engineering judgments with sound assumptions and reasoning.

• Carry out engineering analyses using combinations of numerical simulation and test data inputs.

• Efficiently scope, plan, and execute projects from start to finish, including hands-on testing, detailed technical analysis and reporting of results.

• Complete formal technical reports of work completed, including all information and details about strategy, approach and outcome.

• Communicate with internal and external clients to develop and manage projects from start to finish.

• Work across industries / segments, collaborate with key stakeholders, and provide timeline communications to both internal and external stakeholders.

• Stay ahead of changing technologies in the field by reading journals and scientific publications, attending academic conferences, writing, and collaborating on original publications, and delivering presentations on research engineering topics.

• Collaborate with industry, academics and other research and development staff to apply the results of R&D efforts to development of new techniques, products, practices, and UL Standards.

• Interprets internal/external business challenges and recommends best practices to improve products, processes or services.

• Present project results and findings at academic and industry conferences.

• Degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, fire protection engineering, explosion protection engineering or other relevant disciplines is required. MS or PhD preferred.

• MS or PhD requires 1-2 years of relevant work experience. BS requires 3-4 years of relevant work experience.

• Experience working in a laboratory and/or physical testing environment is required.

• Excellent communication and technical writing skills are required.

• Experience in modeling and simulation of fluid flows, fire flows, combustion and heat transfer is preferred.

• Certified fire and explosion investigator (CFEI) certification and experience in fire forensics is preferred.

• Skills in Python programming, machine learning techniques and workflow efficiency software tool development are preferred

• Experience with analytical laboratory techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography is preferred

• Ability to work independently but also has a team player mindset, giving priority to team goals and maintaining good team relationships.

What you’ll experience working for ULS

UL Solutions has been pioneering change since 1894 and we’re still leading the way. From day one, we’ve blazed a trail protecting the planet and everyone on it. Our teams have influenced billions of products, plus services, software offerings and more. We break things, burn things and blow things up. All in the name of safety science.

That’s where you come in — because none of it could happen without you. It takes passion to protect people, problem-solving to safeguard personal data and conviction to make the world a more sustainable place. It takes bold ideas and brilliant minds to build a better world for future generations across the globe.

This is more than a job. It’s a calling. A passion to use our expertise and play our part in creating a more secure, sustainable world today — and tomorrow. As a member of our safety science community, you’ll use your ideas, your energy and your ambition to innovate, challenge and ultimately, help create a safer world.

Everyone here is unique. But we’re also a global community, working together to help create a safer world. Join UL Solutions and you can connect with the brightest minds in the business, all bringing their distinct perspectives and diverse backgrounds together to deliver real change.

Empowering our customers to keep the world safe means thinking ahead. It means investing in training and empowering our people to learn and innovate. At UL Solutions, we help build a better future — one where everyone benefits.

Join UL Solutions to be at the center of safety. To learn more about us and the work we do, visitUL.com

Total Rewards: We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. The estimated salary range for this position is $105,000 to $125,000 USD and is based on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, as well as other factors. This position is eligible for annual bonus compensation with a target payout of 10% of the base salary. This position also provides health benefits such as medical, dental and vision; wellness benefits such as mental and financial health; and retirement savings (401K) commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country. We also provide full-time employees with paid time off including vacation (15 days), holiday and personal days (totaling 12 days) and sick time off (72 hours).

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A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.

UL LLC has been and will continue to be an equal opportunity employer. To assure full implementation of this equal employment policy, we will take steps to assure that:

Persons are recruited, hired, assigned and promoted without regard to race, color, age, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, religion, creed, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, ancestry, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy, marital or familial status, or any other protected category under applicable law.