Lead Battery Engineer

Los Angeles
3 days ago
Full time role

Company

We make grid batteries from used EVs with intelligent robotics to electrify the world. Our mission is to scale battery ...

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Job Description

About Universe Energy
We make grid batteries from used EVs with robots to electrify the world.

Our mission is to scale battery reuse as the largest source of the next billion batteries. The problem is that batteries are challenging to reuse today because supply is constrained by expensive shipping, non-standard testing, and dangerous disassembly by hand. We ship used batteries, test how good they still are, and dismantle them at 50% of the cost. We do this by automating the process for all types of EV batteries using machine learning and robotics. Then we turn them into cheap grid storage or make raw materials for new cells. Our vision is to make the next billion batteries out of used batteries as its largest manufacturer. It will slash the need for mining, manufacturing & global supply chains to prevent 7 Gtons of CO2e emissions to power a truly clean energy revolution.

Job objective
Before Bonobo disassembles the battery from pack to module, State-of-Health data is measured to determine the age, state, and value of the modules and cells in the battery pack. The data informs the best next step for its life: remanufacturing, repurposing, or recycling. Then the battery packs are discharged from residual power to prevent any danger. The battery packs are disassembled up to the module level based on the battery's configuration. 

You will design the best sequences to disassemble them from pack to module level and beyond for high-volume EV battery packs. You will develop testing methods to obtain State of Health, battery value, and lifetime prediction through electrical, software, and non-intrusive pathways. You will lead the development of a grid battery design that allows repurposing of EV batteries into grid batteries. It also includes a novel platform for the battery management systems.

How you will contribute

  • Map disassembly sequences of high-volume EV batteries from pack up to the module level. Track decompositions of modules, materials, and cost breakdown of high-volume battery packs and store them in a database.
  • Track state-of-the-art battery architectures, cell chemistries, and form factors to update testing, discharge, and disassembly methods, like LFP cell developments and cell-to-pack architectures.
  • Design and integrate grid batteries from used EV batteries. It includes all structural, thermal, electrical, and sensing components required to make an integrated battery system out of 10s of modules or hundreds of cells.
  • Perform system design reviews, trade-studies decisions, and lead make-buy decisions for the battery hardware & software technology stack.  
  • Develop grid-based battery systems that integrate verified modules and cells based on required performance, lifetime & cost.
  • Design electrical diagnostics methods for State of Health data. Select develop hardware and software with vendors. 
  • Design the battery management systems platform to integrate used modules and cells into repurposed grid batteries and perform load balancing of different sources.
  • Make software to measure, store and analyze SOH data from the BMS outputs through the CAN-bus. Model battery value, State of health, and lifecycle degradation predictions. 
  • Run performance and lifetime testing for warranty and insurance requirements, manage the bill of materials and coorindate with vendors for making grid batteries.

The skills & experience that you bring

  • At least a B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Material Science, Electrical-, Controls Engineering, or a similar field.
  • 3-5 yrs experience developing battery cells, modules, BMS, High Voltage charging systems, power electronics, and/or ultrasonic systems.
  • 3-5 yrs development experience in lithium-ion batteries (automotive/grid) and their composition, electrical architecture, wiring, and Battery management systems.
  • 3-5 yrs research, development, and manufacturing experience in material research, battery cell development, and methods for cell production.
  • 3+ yrs experience in simulating Electrical Power, Management, and Control Systems (Matlab/Simulink). It's applied to high-voltage charging systems and their respective charging and discharge profiles.
  • 3+ yrs experience in developing BMS software in C++. Processing data from BMS and CAN bus communications through Python.
  • Electrical modeling of the electrical battery and charging systems (LTSpice). PCB design experience in power electronics (Eagle/Altium).
  • Non-intrusive testing methods applied to cell development like ultra-sonic, X-ray & CT-scans in lab, engineering, and manufacturing environments.

How to hit a homerun

  • High-voltage certificate to work on battery disassembly by hand. Hands-on experience with fast charging and discharging systems.

Reach out to careers@universeenergy.ai for questions, comments and/or feedback before applying.

We make grid batteries from used EVs with intelligent robotics to electrify the world. Our mission is to scale battery ...

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