BATTERY ENGINEER - BATTERY CELLS, SATELLITES (STARLINK)
SpaceX is looking for a Battery Engineer to help optimize the next generation of battery cells for the Starlink satellite program. This individual is ultimately responsible for the definition, operation, performance, and lifetime of battery cells; ensuring every gram of battery mass launched to orbit is maximally utilized over the vehicle’s life.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Guide battery cell-level development roadmap to maximize Wh/kg and lifetime
- Benchmark existing and future cell technologies against Starlink requirements
- Identify primary degradation modes, optimizing pack-level operation & future ground tests
- Accelerate testing from initial characterization through long-duration cycling
- Conduct cell teardowns and sample preparation for materials characterization
- Define manufacturing requirements, specifications, and validation of production cells
- Expand cell modelling capabilities through semi-empirical and physics-based modelling
- Collaborate with teams covering abuse testing, on-orbit operation, cell-to-pack design, and thermal analysis to achieve high-reliability operation of millions of cells in orbit
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or another STEM discipline
- 3+ years of hands-on work with lithium-ion battery cells (co-op/thesis work can apply)
- 1+ years of professional experience with battery cell-level manufacturing or testing (co-op/thesis work can apply)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Advanced degree in Physics, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, or another STEM discipline
- Proficiency in MATLAB or Python, with strong numerical methods experience
- Experience with industry-standard battery cycling equipment and test techniques
- Experience with battery degradation mode analysis, both destructive & nondestructive
- Experience with design of experiments, statistical process control, and process qualification
- Familiarity with battery cell manufacturers and industry trends
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be willing to work extended hours
