Senior Battery Abuse Test Engineer

Figure is an AI Robotics company developing a general purpose humanoid. Our Humanoid is designed for corporate tasks targeting labor shortages and jobs that are undesirable or unsafe. We are based in Sunnyvale, CA and require 5 days/week in-office collaboration. 

We are looking for a Battery Abuse Test Engineer to lead the comprehensive safety testing of the Figure battery. In this role, you will facilitate the development of industry leading safety for a humanoid robot battery.

Responsibilities: 

• Develop and execute battery abuse tests both in-house and with external suppliers, including multi-cell thermal runaway, overcharge, short-circuit, crush, puncture and robot fall
• Collaborate with equipment vendors to source, install and commission abuse test equipment at Figure’s in-house battery lab
• Generate all necessary documentation for test execution (test protocol, DUT specifications, equipment specification, instrumentation, etc.)
• Lead the development of abuse test methods and fixtures
• Instrument packs with various sensors including thermocouples, pressure sensors, strain gauges, accelerometers, etc.
• Manage data acquisition equipment, data logging and post processing
• Troubleshoot any issues that may arise during testing and propose solutions
• Analyze data and present test results to cross functional stakeholders
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical input to improve battery safety
• Create strict safety protocols and guidelines during testing and development
• Work closely with technicians to plan and execute tests
• Maintain lab space and equipment, perform equipment calibration and troubleshooting as needed

Requirements: 

• 5+ years of industry experience in developing and executing battery abuse test plans
• Expertise in sourcing and commissioning battery pack abuse test equipment including thermal runaway bunkers, calorimeters, etc.
• Proficiency in instrumenting battery packs with a variety of sensors 
• Expertise in implementing high speed and high temperature data acquisition systems
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as MATLAB, LabView, etc.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Materials Science or similar field

Bonus Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of lithium-ion battery chemistry, failure modes, and safety mechanisms
• Knowledge of industry and regulatory standards related to battery safety testing (e.g., UL, IEC, SAE) 
• Familiarity with cell teardown, CT scan and other lithium-ion battery analysis methodologies and tools
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (i.e. CATIA V6) to enable design and build of abuse test fixtures