Battery FEA Engineer

Position Overview

The Simulation Engineering Team at A123 is hiring a Battery FEA Engineer with the major responsibilities of conducting cell-, module-, pack- and system- level FEA structural simulation for Li-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and energy storage systems (EES).

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop/validate non-linear FEA models of Li-ion battery cells, modules, packs and systems.
• Conduct static and dynamic FEA structural simulation, including vibration, shock, crush, etc.
• Conduct thermal-mechanical simulation through integrating thermal and FEA.
• Post-process FEA structural simulation results, to determine whether internal and external requirements can be met or not and draft the technical report.
• Structural optimization of new battery cell, module, pack and system design.
• Explore the swelling mechanism through conducting FEA structural simulation and identify its role in the long-term life usage of Li-ion battery cell/module/pack.
• Support regular and NBO structural simulation activities through our global collaboration.
• Collaborate with teammates and interact with test, validation and product engineers to identify potential simulation issues, conduct root cause analysis, and provide technical proposals/solutions to resolve the engineering problems relevant to structural simulation.
• Communicate findings to internal/external customers using appropriate media in a positive and constructive manner, and establish/maintain technical communications for any open FEA structural simulation issues.

Specific Skills/Experience

• Strong background on solid mechanics of materials and materials constitutive models.
• Advanced knowledge in finite element analysis, especially non-linear FEA is desired.
• Proficiency in FEA software packages, i.e., Altair Hyperworks, Abaqus, Ansys, LS-DYNA, etc.
• Experience of static, dynamic (vibration, shock, crush, crash, etc.), and thermal-mechanical simulation of systems with multi-components either in academia or industry.
• Experience in Li-ion battery structural modeling/simulation for automotive industry or a similar area in industry is a plus.
• Strongly self-motivated, detail oriented, and willingness to learn new knowledge and technology.

Education

• Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanics of Materials, Materials Science and Engineering, Applied Physics, etc.
• 3+ years of relevant industry working experience in FEA structural simulation.