Battery Test Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus. The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management. The Energy Processes and Materials Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, creates and delivers real world solutions that support the Department of Energy’s goals for national energy security. We deliver new technologies that connect fundamental science to applications in areas such as energy storage, advanced materials manufacturing, applied catalysis, advanced separations, biomass conversions, carbon capture and utilization, and hydrogen production and storage. We employ a systems perspective that includes discovery, technology development, and scale-up as well as economic, regulatory, and market acceptance issues necessary for successful technology commercialization. The Battery Materials and Systems Group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory works on a diverse portfolio of storage technologies including Li-ion, Na-ion, Na-metal halide, redox flow, Pb-acid, and aqueous Zn batteries. The group is comprised of approximately 70 world-class scientists and engineers with diverse backgrounds in electrochemistry, materials science, and electrical engineering, working on research projects that include fundamental and applied material research, battery prototyping and demonstration, battery reliability testing, and safety codes and standards. The Battery Materials and Systems Group is currently seeking an engineer to help operate the battery reliability testing efforts in DOE’s Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL) testing facility at PNNL. GSL is a new 93,000 square foot grid energy storage research and development facility at PNNLs Richland campus. GSL boasts a 6,000 square foot performance testing area for reliability testing of battery modules up to 10 kW and six test bays designed for reliability testing of 100 kW battery systems. More information on GSL is available at https://www.pnnl.gov/projects/grid-storage-launchpad. This position is for a highly motivated person with industrial, utility, national laboratory, or commercial experience in testing of battery energy storage systems to work with senior scientists on battery reliability test projects at GSL. The successful candidate will have prior experience in battery testing equipment, test protocol design and execution, and experience preparing reports of battery test data. Preferred candidates will have hands-on experience with testing single cell/large module batteries and experience working in battery testing facilities.

Requirements

BS/BA and 2 years of relevant experience -OR-
MS/MA -OR-
PhD

Nice To Haves

Engineering or Science degree with 2 or more years of experience.
Experience in battery testing.
Experience in programming battery cycler equipment.
Experience in interfacing battery management systems with battery cycler.
Experience with data analysis software (Excel, PowerBi, Tableau).
Experience developing data acquisition systems.

Responsibilities

Work with PMs, PIs, and other staff to determine/procure battery modules and design/determine test protocols.
Work with PNNL support staff to determine a safe operating plan for the modules and to build battery test stands, connections, and fixtures.
Work independently or in a team to program battery cycling equipment and interface battery management systems with battery cyclers.
Monitor ongoing battery tests to track performance and identify potential off-normal operation.
Work independently or in a team to assemble battery cycler data into reports on battery performance and degradation.
Work with other national laboratories or other staff/project teams in PNNL to accomplish complex program objectives and write research proposals.
Prioritize safe operations and testing in the labs.

Benefits

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, several mental health benefits, free wellness coaching, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, relocation, backup childcare, legal benefits, supplemental parental bonding leave, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support.
Employees are automatically enrolled in our company-funded pension plan and may enroll in our 401 (k) savings plan with company match.
Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

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