Staff Battery Cell Engineer

About Rivian

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.

Responsibilities

• Own cell development from cell design concept to mass production
• Develop cell technical roadmap and cell strategy for current and future product
• Develop strategic relationship with vendors
• Work with Rivian purchasing to source cells
• Work with cross functional teams to decompose requirements from vehicle to cell requirements/specifications.
• Work with material engineers and mechanical designers to design cell that meets safety, performance (fast charge, durability...) and cost
• Work with Vendor to develop cell and cell manufacturing process
• Travel to vendors for workshop, line bring up, PPAP, line audits..
• Manage meetings and action items with suppliers; ensure the cell development and industrialization on time
• Manage changes request for cell design and cell manufacturing processes from both internal and vendors
• Oversee cell supplier's DFMEA and PFMEA development
• Develop or support Rivian development of DFEMA and PFMEA with cross functional teams
• Establish internal sync on cell development with cross functional teams to update on status of cell development and integrating cells to the pack and cell assembly into module/pack.
• Develop and execute test methods to evaluate various lithium-ion battery cell chemistries. Coordinate resource for internal and external testing.
• Drive the decision for cell's selection based on the test results.
• Work closely with modelling engineers, extract parameters from cell to help to build cell model and validate cell model
• Work closely with cell testing, cell modeling and cell safety to develop and execute comprehensive cell validation and characterization
• Use different electrochemical techniques to identify cell degradation mechanism and propose mitigation strategies such as cell design, cell manufacturing processes or cell usage changes
• Use cell testing data to support control/estimation algorithms used in battery management system.
• Work with pack design engineers to define pathways to improve cell/pack design with enhanced performance and lifetime
• Work with Rivian manufacturing engineers to develop and optimize equipments for cell handling and cell measurement in module/pack assembly line
• Review academic literature of lithium-ion cells and beyond in order to advance Rivian' battery cell technology
• Develop intellectual property for Rivian battery cell technology.
• Train other engineers/technicians.

Qualifications

• Must have:
  • MS degree in chemistry/chemical engineering/materials science with 5+ years of experience with hands- on testing of lithium-ion batteries. (PhD preferred)
  • Strong understanding about cell's components and their interactions inside the cell.
  • Strong understanding about electrochemistry properties of lithium ion batteries.
  • Experienced in cell design and development
  • Experience in developing DFMEA and PFEMA, PPAP, Line audit
  • Demonstrated experience in cell validation.
  • Experience with fault tree analysis and DFMEA/PFMEA of electrochemical systems, for identifying root cause and applying mitigation strategies to development issues.
  • Familiar with dQdV, dVdQ.
  • Familiar with common electrochemical techniques such as EIS, GITT, CV, PITT...
  • Excellent knowledge of development trend of lithium ion battery.
  • Can work independently with minimum supervision. Work well in a team.
  • Passionate about research/work in lithium ion batteries, especially in EV.
  • Good communication; Good time and project/tasks management skills.
• Nice to have:
  
  • Good knowledge about fast charge development.
  • Experience in estimating lifetime of lithium ion battery.
  • Experience in data analysis tool such as Python is a plus.
  • Understanding of how battery cells are integrated into automotive (HEVs/PHEVs/EVs), or consumer electronics applications.
  • Working knowledge of SAE, FMVSS, ECE, GBT/QCT standards and regulations relating to automotive traction batteries, and with statistical methods for understanding process capability.

Pay Disclosure

Salary Range for California Based Applicants: $137,800.00 - $172,200.00 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time and part-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Full Time Employee coverage is effective on the first day of employment

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at

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Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.