Research Engineer

Ford • Dearborn, MI

3d • $85,400 - $165,900 • Onsite

About The Position

Contribute to a team highly engaged in all aspects of battery materials research from material synthesis, characterization, fabrication of coin and pouch cells, testing for electrochemical performance, and post-mortem analysis. Contribute by using optical, spectroscopic, and electrochemical methods to interrogate materials and cells to understand underlying physical and chemical processes. Develop and apply in-operando and in-situ spectroelectrochemical characterization tools. Use laser ablation to structure electrodes for improved performance, durability, and lower cost. Work with universities to measure physical phenomena such as battery gas and interfacial layers.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in materials science, engineering, physics, or related fields
• 3 years of experience in using optical systems to measure physical battery phenomena
• Laboratory experimental skills in synthesizing and/or processing battery materials, performing cell testing and advanced material characterization methods
• Fundamental understanding of chemical processes and mechanisms within batteries from formation to end of life

Nice To Haves

• PhD in battery materials science, engineering, chemistry or related fields
• 5 years of experience in using optical systems to measure physical battery phenomena
• A wide range of material analysis experience is also desirable. This may include teardown and post-mortem analysis of battery materials from pouch, cylindrical, and/or prismatic formats
• Experience assembling and operating LabVIEW or other programmatic data acquisition and hardware
• Experience designing, assembling and operating tunable diode laser-based tools
• Experience operating and maintaining quadrupole mass spectrometry for on-line electrochemical mass spectrometery
• A track record of written and/or oral presentations of research findings to specialist or non-specialist audiences

Responsibilities

• Measure physical battery phenomena using optical techniques such as Raman, FTIR, laser absorption spectroscopy, sum frequency generation, and similar
• Apply laser theory and mathematical modeling of laser/material interactions to optimize the physical measurements and build new laser systems as needed
• Work with optical cells to gain in-situ insight into formation and, cycling and degradation processes
• Use and maintain a femtosecond laser to ablate electrodes
• Use and maintain a variety of in-house equipment including Raman, FTIRs (ATR, DRIFTS), laser absorption spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (including DEMS)
• Collaborate with other team members to implement the insights and learnings in next generation battery materials and systems
• Participate in joint projects with universities and national labs that leverage optical, spectroscopic, and electrochemical methods

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level