Purpose

Applicants are requested for a Senior or Distinguished R&D Staff position to lead and execute research related to battery management methods and systems including sensing technologies, system modeling and simulation, and related control techniques for battery electric vehicles and/or grid storage.  The candidate is expected to develop and lead research programs focused on the areas of 1) battery management systems, 2) charging technologies including fast charging and wireless charging, and 3) advanced sensing and control methods for ensuring efficient and safe integration of battery systems into the automotive, industrial, and defense sectors.

Candidates should have a demonstrated record of technical accomplishment in the fields of 1) battery monitoring and control, 2) battery management component and system modeling and simulation, 3) battery design including composition, materials and chemistry, and 4) charging technologies research and optimization.  These research areas align well with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and other DOE programs supporting advanced battery technologies research.

The position is in the Electronics and Embedded Systems Group of ORNL’s Electrification and Energy Infrastructure Division, and research will be conducted at both the ORNL’s Grid Research, Integration & Deployment Facility (GRID), and at the ORNL main campus. The candidate is expected to collaborate with staff across multiple divisions at ORNL and will serve as a subject matter expert and technical communicator at conferences and project review meetings, as well as when interfacing with other national labs, industry, and universities.

Major Duties / Responsibilities

• Lead the conception and establishment of new research programs related to battery management, sensing and control, modeling and simulation, and system integration.
• Collaborate with a large group of scientists across ORNL and within the Electrification Section to establish and direct impactful research programs.
• Work closely with engineering staff on related electronics and sensing R&D.
• Interface effectively with ORNL battery scientists and electrical engineers.
• Serve as a technical resource for staff and postdoctoral researchers.
• Write and lead research and development proposals.
• Work with ORNL staff and program managers to influence the national R&D agenda.
• Present and report research results in high-impact peer reviewed journals, conferences, and project reviews.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent discipline with a minimum of 12 years of experience in battery management techniques, sensing, modeling and simulation, systems, controls and processing algorithms, and fundamentals of battery operation including charging methods and discharging characteristics.
• Established reputation in battery sensing, control, charging and system integration and control technologies.
• Demonstrated relevant publication record in peer-reviewed journal articles and/or issued patents.
• Excellence in program development, and project and team management.
• Excellent organizational and written and oral communication skills.