R&D Technician
About Blue Current
Blue Current is a manufacturer of Solid-state batteries based in Hayward, California. The company strives to provide engineers and designers with the highest performance and safest battery storage for the future energy economy including electric vehicles, consumer, medical and IoT devices. Blue Current leads with science, data and thoughtful IP across the full battery solution stack. Our team is diverse with deep research, implementation, and go-to-market experience. Our facility is located on San Francisco Bay with thousands of acres of wildlife preserve and miles of trails for recreation.
Summary
Blue Current is seeking an experienced and talented R&D Technician with a passion for batteries to join our team in Hayward, California. As a hands-on member of Blue Current鈥檚 R&D team, you will be instrumental in developing next-generation solid state battery chemistries for high performance applications such as electric vehicles. The successful candidate will build and test prototype batteries in furtherance of Blue Current鈥檚 technology.
Responsibilities
- Work with team members to perform all tasks related to R&D cell building and testing
- Follow recipes to create slurries for various battery formulations
- Coat slurries using a Dr blade or similar coating method
- Calender electrodes to target porosities, following instructions from engineers
- Assemble solid state cells according to work order instructions specifying certain material combinations to test
- Perform visual quality checks on coating quality, and take measurements to ensure various weights, voltages, dimensions, etc. are within specifications
- Enter measurement results into internal data portal, ensuring completeness and accuracy
- Assemble completed cells into test fixtures
- Place cells on test with specific test protocols, and with specific test channels as determined by the team.
- Monitor cell test status. Alert team members to tests with status changes such as errors, completion, and change orders.
- Perform electromechanical assembly tasks as needed, such as terminating cables and soldering wires
Requirements
- Minimum 5 years experience working in an R&D environment
- Ability to work in a dry room and in gloveboxes for extended periods of time
- Ability to follow written SOPs and identify errors or clarity issues
- Working knowledge of Excel, Word, Google Sheet, Airtable, and similar software
- Strong interpersonal skills. Must be able to deal with a fast paced working environment with changing priorities and evolving assembly and test procedures
- Respect and adherence to lab and work safety policies
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Required to wear personal protective equipment when applicable.
- Able to pass a respirator fit test and wear a respirator periodically.
- Able to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with chemicals, moving mechanical parts, and electrical hazards.
Preferred
- Experience working with battery assembly and/or testing
- Previous glovebox/dry room experience
- Experience assembling R&D cells, including electrode punching, tab welding, alignment, taping, and quality control checks
- Previous chemical handling experience, including slurry mixing, coating, inventory management
Job type - full time
Schedule - Monday through Friday, day shift
Ability to commute/relocate - Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work
Blue Current is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and embraces diversity. We believe that our team is strengthened through hiring and retaining employees with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, ideas, and perspectives. We make hiring decisions based on merit and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender (including pregnancy) gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, disability status or any other protected category in accordance with applicable law.