Senior Research Scientist – Battery and Data Center Safety

FM; Norwood (MA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive plan

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Well-being programs

401(k) and pension plan

Career development opportunities

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible work

Time off, including vacation and sick

Job summary

FM is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to advance scientific understanding, develop testing methodologies, and create engineering solutions in battery safety. Focus on thermal and fire hazards for lithium-ion systems used in data center and renewable energy applications.

The role involves developing experiments, standardizing testing methods, analyzing data, and communicating findings to partners and clients. Office-based in Norwood, MA with domestic relocation support.

Qualifications

• Master's degree with a minimum of 5 years of experience or a PhD in Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with battery fire testing and associated experimental approaches in fire science.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and perform thermal and fire safety experiments at cell, module, unit, and high-voltage system levels.
• Advance methods for standardized hazard testing and protection of battery systems.
• Analyze data and prepare high-quality technical documentation.
• Communicate test methods, results, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage all aspects of project proposals, planning, execution, and reporting.

Skills

Battery safety testing

Thermal analysis

Data interpretation

Technical communication

Education

Master's degree + 5 years experience

PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related

Job description

Establishednearly twocenturies ago, FM is a leading mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineeringexpertiseare solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder-owners. These owners, who share the belief that the majority of property loss is preventable, represent many of the world’s largest organizations, including one of every four Fortune 500 companies. They work with FM to better understand the hazards that can impact their business continuity to make cost-effective risk management decisions, combining property loss prevention with insurance protection.

Schedule & Location

Employment type: Full-time, exempt salaried position based in office at FM's Science and Technology Office in Norwood, MA.

Relocation: Domestic Relocation assistance within the US is available for this position.

Assessments

Candidates will be expected to deliver an in-person presentation as part of the interview process.

Position Summary

FM is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to advance scientific understanding, develop testing methodologies and standards, and create engineering solutions in the field of battery safety. The ultimate goal is to support industrial property loss prevention by conducting high-quality research focused on thermal and fire hazards associated with batteries, with a near-term emphasis on lithium-ion systems used in data center and renewable energy applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and perform thermal and fire safety experiments at multiple battery scales – cell, module, unit, and high-voltage-system levels.
• Advance existing experimental capabilities and methods to support the development of standardized testing for hazard evaluation and protection of battery systems.
• Analyze experimental data and prepare high-quality documentation.
• Communicate test methods, results, and engineering recommendations to internal and external stakeholders, including collaborators, clients, and industry partners.
• Manage all aspects of project management, including proposals, planning, execution, reporting, and engineering application.

Qualifications

A Master's degree with a minimum of 5 years of experience, or a PhD degree in Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering, or a closely related field.

Desired Experience

• Strong understanding of existing and emerging battery technologies, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and combustion.
• Hands-on experience with battery fire testing and associated experimental approaches in fire science.
• Experience with high-voltage battery system testing, such as BESS or UPS systems, is highly desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop effective solutions to complex technical challenges.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to productively collaborate in an interdisciplinary research environment.

The hiring range for this position is $121,000 - $173,000 a year. The final salary offer will vary based on geographic location, individual education, skills, and experience.

• incentive plan
• medical, dental and vision insurance
• life and disability insurance
• well-being programs
• a 401(k) and pension plan
• career development opportunities
• tuition reimbursement
• flexible work
• time off, including vacation and sick time

FM is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, developing, andretaininga diverse workforce.