Sr. Battery Cell Modeling Engineer

Rivian • Tustin, CA

5h

About The Position

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.
As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

The Battery Cell Modeling Engineer is a key technical role within the Battery Cell Engineering team. You will be responsible for advancing Rivian’s cell-level reduced-ordermodeling capabilities, linking cell testing data and physical modeling results to program decisions and cross-functional workflows across cell development, pack thermal, BMS algorithms, and vehicle performance.

Requirements

• M.S. in applied mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related field; PhD preferred.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in modeling and simulation of complex physical systems, with a significant background in lithium ion batteries.
• Deep understanding of reduced order battery modeling techniques, including equivalent circuit modeling and advanced fitting and optimization algorithms
• Strong expertise in lithium-ion battery operating principles, including charge transport, reaction kinetics, heat generation mechanisms, and the impact of cell design and usage conditions on performance, safety, and lifetime.
• Familiarity with battery test methods and practices, including instrumentation, data acquisition, and data analysis
• Excellent communication skills, with a track record of driving alignment across cross-functional teams through clear written and verbal communication of complex technical topics.

Responsibilities

• This role will lead the development and validation of performance models for battery cells, with a specific emphasis on their application in battery system and control design
• You will contribute to the development of accurate models that capture the transient behavior of cells under various operating conditions, enabling Rivian to achieve the following: Developing Robust Control Algorithms: Predicting cell behavior in real-time allows for the design of effective control strategies for temperature regulation, voltage balancing, and state-of-charge estimation
• Optimizing Thermal Management Systems: Simulating heat generation and dissipation within cells enables the design of efficient cooling systems that prevent thermal runaway and extend cell life
• Improving Voltage Control: Modeling voltage dynamics allows for the development of precise voltage control algorithms that enhance cell performance and prevent overcharge/overdischarge
• Enabling Advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS): Accurate models provide the foundation for advanced BMS functionalities, such as state estimation, fault detection, and predictive maintenance
• Develop cell performance models including equivalent circuit models and reduced order electrochemical-thermal models at different SOH, SOC, and temperatures
• Analyze the test data and develop simplified models to mimic various aging/performance data sets that can be used in controls algorithms
• Develop innovative numerical techniques to improve speed and accuracy of model and guide design of experiments for optimal utilization of resources
• Work with battery systems and software engineers to integrate models in SOC, SOH, SOP algorithms software
• Work with thermal modeling engineers to integrate battery thermal behavior especially the non-uniformity in the temperature distribution within the battery pack and support improvements in the battery thermal management system
• Work with vehicle and battery systems engineers and model to decompose vehicle level requirements to cell level requirements

Benefits

• The successful candidate may be eligible for annual performance bonus and equity awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26, including but not limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and a competitive portfolio of insurance benefits including life, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance to eligible employees. You may also have the opportunity to participate in Rivian’s 401(k) Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program if you meet certain eligibility requirements. Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee coverage is effective the first of the month following 90 days of employment. More information about benefits is available at rivianbenefits.com.

What This Job Offers

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