R&D Battery Lead

Job Description

The Battery Technical Lead is responsible for identifying, evaluating, validating, and integrating battery technologies and battery suppliers for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) applications. Drive battery technology strategy, technical due diligence, supplier assessments, laboratory validation, and technology roadmap activities to support current and future BESS product development initiatives.

The position acts as the technical authority for battery systems within multidisciplinary R&D projects and provides expertise on battery cell chemistry, performance, safety, reliability, degradation mechanisms, testing methodologies, and supplier capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the scouting and assessment of emerging battery technologies, cell chemistries, battery platforms, and associated energy storage innovations relevant to utility-scale and industrial BESS applications.
• Conduct technical evaluations and benchmarking of battery suppliers, products, and technologies, supporting supplier qualification and technology selection activities.
• Define and assess battery characterization, validation, reliability, safety, and performance testing plans in collaboration with internal laboratories and external partners.
• Develop technical specifications, testing protocols, qualification criteria, and acceptance requirements for battery systems and components.

-Analyze battery performance, degradation behavior, thermal characteristics, safety aspects, lifecycle costs, and operational risks under different application scenarios.

-Support design decisions related to battery integration within BESS architectures, including interfaces with Battery Management Systems (BMS), Power Conversion Systems (PCS), thermal management, protection systems, and control platforms.

-Collaborate with suppliers, research institutions, certification bodies, and industry partners to evaluate technology readiness and accelerate innovation.

-Build and maintain battery technology roadmaps, market intelligence, and competitive benchmarking to support long-term product and technology strategies.

-Contribute to DFMEA, risk assessments, reliability analyses, and design reviews throughout the product development lifecycle.

-Support the definition of future BESS products by assessing technology trends, future scenarios, regulatory developments, and evolving market requirements.

-Prepare technical reports, recommendations, and presentations for management decision-making and project gate reviews.

-Contribute to intellectual property generation, innovation initiatives, invention disclosures, patent evaluations, and technical publications where applicable.

-Provide technical coaching and guidance to project teams and junior engineers in battery-related discipline

Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Electrochemistry, Materials Science, Energy Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

Strong understanding of lithium-ion batteries and emerging energy storage technologies.

Experience with battery characterization, validation testing, safety assessment, and performance evaluation (> 4 years).

Knowledge of battery safety, degradation mechanisms, thermal runaway mitigation, battery management systems, and energy storage system architectures.

Experience in supplier qualification, technical due diligence, or technology assessment activities is highly desirable.

Familiarity with relevant battery and energy storage standards (e.g., IEC, UL, NFPA, IEEE) and certification processes.

Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.

Ability to work in global cross-functional teams spanning R&D, product management, supply chain, quality, certification, and manufacturing.