Principal Engineer

Element Materials Technology•Warren, MI

1h•Onsite

About The Position

Element has an opportunity for a Principal Certification Engineer to lead homologation, testing, and certification programs for lithium-ion battery cells, modules, packs, and energy storage systems at our Warren, MI laboratory. This role is central to Element’s strategic investment in energy storage and electrification and is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of standards, testing reality, and regulatory intent. This position goes well beyond running tests. You will own certification strategy, translate regulatory requirements into executable test programs, and design complex test setups that withstand scrutiny from OEMs, authorities having jurisdiction, and certification bodies. The right candidate is entrepreneurial, technically rigorous, and comfortable explaining why Annex 9 exists, not just how to pass it. As the energy storage market accelerates across mobility, industrial, and stationary ESS applications, Element is committed to leading the industry in credible, defensible, and safety-focused certification—and this role helps make that happen.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline (Master’s preferred for overachievers)
7+ years of experience in battery or ESS testing, certification, or homologation
Demonstrated experience navigating standards-driven testing for lithium-ion systems
Hands-on experience designing and executing complex test setups (not just witnessing them)
Strong technical writing skills, able to stand up to auditor review with confidence, clarity, and without hesitation

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with ESS certification (stationary, industrial, or mobility applications)
Familiarity with UL, IEC, UN, and SAE certification pathways and how they actually work in practice
Experience supporting global market access programs (EU, North America, Asia)
Comfortable operating in gray areas where the standard says “shall,” but the test method says “it depends”

Responsibilities

Lead global certification and homologation programs for battery cells, modules, packs, and ESS, supporting North American, EU, and international market access
Interpret and apply regulatory frameworks including UN, IEC, UL, SAE, ISO, and regional requirements to client programs
Serve as a technical authority during certification reviews, CB scheme evaluations, AHJ discussions, and customer audits
Develop and execute certification-driven test plans covering electrical, mechanical, environmental, thermal, and abuse conditions
Design and oversee custom and semi-custom test setups, including: Thermal runaway and propagation Mechanical abuse (crush, impact, vibration, shock) Electrical abuse (short circuit, overcharge, forced discharge) Fire exposure, venting, ejecta, and gas characterization
Translate ambiguous or evolving standards into clear, defensible test methodologies
Act as a subject matter expert across battery and ESS standards, including but not limited to: UN 38.3, IEC 62281, DO-311A (transport)IEC 62619, IEC 62620, IEC 61960-3, IEC 62133-1/-2UL 1642, UL 2054, UL 2580, UL 9540 / 9540ASAE J2464, SAE J2929UN ECE R100 Rev.3 (including Annex-based system testing) Applicable EU Battery Regulation requirements and emerging ESS guidance
Support internal scope expansion efforts (e.g., A2LA, CB Scheme) with technical justification and method development
Analyze test data with a certification lens—focusing on compliance, failure modes, margins, and risk
Author formal certification reports, deviation justifications, and technical position papers
Serve as a senior technical interface to OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, certification bodies, and regulators
Champion safe operation of high-energy test environments, including abuse testing, fire mitigation, gas handling, and emergency response planning
Contribute to continuous improvement of lab infrastructure, procedures, and hazard analyses