Battery Prototyping and Testing Engineer

University of Waterloo•Waterloo, ON

67d

About The Position

The position is responsible for the provision of battery prototyping and testing services to support research in the battery prototyping labs of the Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre (OBEC), including funded external research interests. The incumbent is required to maintain the battery prototyping lab and all aspects of its operations. For day‑to‑day operational oversight, this position functions under the indirect supervision of the Facility Manager and the Senior Metrologist of the Chemistry Department.

Requirements

A master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry or a related field. A bachelor’s degree would be considered in the case an applicant has considerable and significant experience in battery prototyping/testing in addition to experience managing laboratory resources. PhD level applicants will be considered but such an advanced degree is not necessary.
Practical, hands-on experience formulating active material slurries, processing electrodes into packaged batteries and operating battery testers or potentiostat/galvanostats is a must.
A working knowledge of electrochemistry as applied to Li-ion or beyond Li-ion batteries is required along with experience processing and analyzing battery performance data.
Understands the materials chemistry and electrochemical limitations of cathode and anode materials used in Li-ion batteries with cursory knowledge of next-generation chemistries.
Skilled in formulating electrodes with knowledge in the downstream processes required to achieve a high energy density, packaged battery.
The ability to quickly learn and adapt new processing and analytical methodologies.
Knowledge in standard battery testing protocols including CC, CCV, EIS, CV, GITT, PITT, etc.
Knowledge in analytical laboratory practices and equipment functionality, specifically, XRD, GC-MS, QCM, SEM/EDS/EBSD, TGA, DSC, BET

Nice To Haves

Experience troubleshooting and working with scientific equipment is an asset.

Responsibilities

Be proficient in formulating slurries of active material, conductive additives and binders by various mixing strategies to be tape cast or slot-die coated onto current collectors.
Possess an understanding of the tradeoffs between ink viscosity, solids loading and coating parameters to achieve crack-free coatings of a desired thickness.
Measure key coating parameters like slurry viscosity, film thickness and bulk density using standard metrology equipment.
Run semi-automated machinery required to create large format batteries of pouch and cylindrical geometry including roller presses, cutters, electrode stackers, electrolyte fillers, degassers, laminators and tab welders.
Train academic and industry users in the abovementioned steps
Operate, calibrate and maintain equipment
Keep the prototyping space clean and organized with the appropriate handling and disposal techniques, including the disposal of hazardous materials
Operate a variety of battery testers to determine performance of coin, pouch and cylindrical cell prototypes both at room temperature and in controlled environment chambers.
Generate results files for external users.
Train internal and external users on battery tester and environmental chamber operation.
Maintain and calibrate battery cycler and potentiostat/galvanostat channels.
Maintain the battery prototyping and testing facilities and all aspects of their functioning, including usage, scheduling, and all related charges.
Process users’ requests for prototyping or analysis and communicating results.
Source and order supplies for the facilities.
Establish and maintain liaison with equipment sales representatives and technical support.
Assist in the supervision of casual co-op students who might occasionally assist in operations.
Maintain first aid kit, spill kit, posted safety procedures including WHMIS, hazardous waste disposal etc. in the analytical lab.
Prepare and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the analytical lab.
Conduct regular safety inspections in the analytical lab, including the enforcement of safety requirements for lab users.
Prepare and maintain chemical inventory in accordance with UW and legislative requirements in the analytical lab.
Serve as a technical resource person for OBEC faculty, researchers, and students in the development of their research projects.
Provide occasional support in the operation and maintenance of OBEC’s metrology facilities in collaboration with staff from the Faculty of Science.