Design Research Engineer – Battery Materials & Advanced Energy Systems
Location: Raymond, Ohio
Position Summary: We are seeking a Design Research Engineer to join our advanced research organization in Raymond, Ohio. In this role, you will research, develop, and validate next-generation battery technologies that support future mobility solutions. You will investigate emerging materials, manufacturing processes, and battery cell technologies while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams to transform scientific discoveries into practical automotive applications.
This position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, designing experiments, and applying scientific principles to advance battery performance, manufacturability, sustainability, and resource circularity.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct research and development focused on advanced battery materials, manufacturing processes, and next-generation energy storage technologies.
- Design, execute, and analyze experiments to validate hypotheses and generate actionable technical insights.
- Research battery material characterization techniques, including cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator technologies.
- Support development of new battery cell designs, cell qualification activities, and manufacturing process improvements.
- Investigate battery chemistries including Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and other emerging chemistries.
- Evaluate rare earth materials, critical minerals, battery recycling technologies, and resource circularity strategies.
- Develop battery performance models to understand degradation, efficiency, safety, and lifecycle performance.
- Apply Agile methodologies to research initiatives, rapidly evaluating concepts through iterative experimentation.
- Analyze experimental data using scientific and engineering principles to develop conclusions and technical recommendations.
- Manage research activities including project schedules, budgets, technical milestones, and resource allocation.
- Collaborate with internal engineering teams, manufacturing organizations, suppliers, universities, and research partners.
- Present technical findings and recommendations clearly to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Identify emerging technologies and evaluate their potential application to future automotive products and manufacturing.
Minimum Qualifications
- 2+ years of relevant engineering or scientific research experience. Equivalent experience in a scientific or engineering research capacity may be considered.
- Bachelor''s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Passion for research, innovation, and solving complex technical problems.
- Strong analytical thinking with the ability to challenge conventional approaches.
- Ability to quickly learn emerging technologies and apply scientific principles to engineering and manufacturing challenges.
- Experience designing experiments to validate technical hypotheses.
- Ability to make informed, independent decisions within established research objectives.
- Excellent project planning, organization, and resource management skills.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and management audiences.
- Ability to compare alternative technologies, materials, and methodologies to determine optimal solutions.
Preferred Technical Qualifications
Experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Battery materials characterization
- Lithium-ion battery technologies
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry
- Cathode and anode material development
- Battery cell design and qualification
- Battery manufacturing processes
- Battery performance modeling
- Electrochemistry
- Materials science
- Rare earth materials and critical minerals
- Battery recycling technologies
- Circular economy and resource circularity
- Statistical analysis and design of experiments (DOE)
- Scientific data analysis and interpretation
- Manufacturing process development
- Agile development methodologies
Working Environment
- Collaborative research and development environment.
- Cross-functional interaction with engineering, manufacturing, and external research partners.
- Occasional travel for conferences, training, supplier visits, and collaboration with research partners.
- Flexibility to work additional hours as needed to support project milestones and business objectives.
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