Programme Associate - Technology Futures

CEEW's Technology Futures team works towards mainstreaming appropriate global and indigenous technologies that can deliver energy security and sustainable economic growth at scale. The team's work spans clean energy technology manufacturing, critical minerals, and the evolving geopolitics and governance of clean energy technology collaboration, and has previously informed India's G20 presidency-led work on global renewable energy supply chains.

CEEW seeks to hire a suitable candidate to lead the Technology Futures team's technical research on battery or energy storage manufacturing, covering the end-to-end value chain - from critical mineral and precursor material processing to battery cell manufacturing, and module/pack assembly and integration. The candidate in this role will lead technological assessments of manufacturing processes, equipment and materials used across the value chain, while also tracking the policies, regulations, industrial strategies, technology partnerships, and geopolitics that shape battery manufacturing competitiveness across major global markets, including the US, EU, China, Southeast Asia, and India.

The candidate will also evaluate emerging and next-generation battery chemistries and formats (such as sodium-ion, redox flow, and solid-state) and their manufacturing readiness, and guide the technical rigour of the team's research outputs. The role also involves tracking technology partnerships, licensing arrangements, and analysing how manufacturing incentives, trade measures, and geopolitical developments - such as export controls on critical minerals and trade disputes - shape the global battery manufacturing landscape.

The candidate must have a strong technical/engineering background in battery or energy storage manufacturing, along with the ability to engage with the policy, trade, and geopolitical dimensions of the sector. In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlined below, the candidate should be prepared, as and when necessary, to take on additional responsibilities and respond to ongoing events and developments in the sector.

CEEW offers an intellectually challenging and conducive work environment, with a focus on research rigour, innovative thinking, and strategic outreach. We are looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented individual who would be excited to take research to action. We recommend that applicants visit the Technology Futures page for more details about our projects.

Job duties and accountabilities

Research and programme assistance

• Lead technical assessments of manufacturing processes, equipment and materials across the entire battery value chain - from critical mineral and precursor processing to cell manufacturing, and module/pack assembly and integration.
• Track industry technology roadmaps, such as those published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), and Battery 2030+, to anticipate shifts in dominant cell chemistries and manufacturing processes. Based on this, evaluate emerging and next-generation battery technologies, and assess their manufacturing readiness levels (MRLs), including timelines to commercial-scale manufacturing.
• Assess the timelines, capital costs, and production downtime associated with transitioning an existing manufacturing line from one cell chemistry to another (for instance, NMC to LFP), including equipment compatibility and retrofit versus greenfield trade-offs.
• Map domestic and global supply chains for battery manufacturing inputs and equipment, including dependencies on critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite, and assess technology licensing and intellectual property considerations that shape manufacturers' adoption of new technologies.
• Track and analyse policy, regulatory, and geopolitical developments - including manufacturing incentive schemes, customs duties and trade measures, export controls, and technology partnerships between countries - across major battery manufacturing geographies, and assess their impact on manufacturing competitiveness.
• Use AI tools to accelerate literature review, data synthesis, and analysis of quantitative data, such as production capacities, investments, trade flows, and costs, enabling quick-turnaround of outputs.
• Lead the drafting of high-value research briefs and reports.

Stakeholder engagement

• Engage extensively with cell, module and pack manufacturers, equipment and materials suppliers, industry associations, government agencies, and international bodies to collect data, understand technical and policy priorities and challenges, and validate research findings.
• Track and build relationships around technology partnerships, joint ventures, and industry collaborations relevant to global battery manufacturing.
• Lead stakeholder consultations and workshops, and represent CEEW in relevant industry, technical, and policy forums.

Selection Criteria

Qualification

• A bachelor's or master's degree in engineering - mechanical, materials science, chemical, electrical, or a related technical discipline - with strong exposure to battery, electrochemistry, or energy storage manufacturing.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant technical experience in battery or energy storage manufacturing, technology assessment, or related industry/research roles.
• Hands-on or professional experience with battery manufacturing processes, equipment, or engineering - for instance, with a manufacturing company, equipment provider, or technical research institution - is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with techno-economic modelling, cost analysis, or manufacturing process simulation tools is preferred.
• Exposure to industrial or trade policy, geopolitics, or manufacturing/supply chain management relevant to clean energy - through coursework, prior roles, or otherwise - is highly desirable.
• Past experience working with secondary trade and investment datasets, such as UN Comtrade or WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution), is an advantage.
• Exposure to financing, investment, or bankability considerations for battery/energy storage projects is an added advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong technical and engineering understanding of battery manufacturing processes, machinery and raw materials, and an ability to analyse policy, regulatory, and geopolitical developments and assess their implications for manufacturing competitiveness.
• Proficiency in tools such as techno-economic analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis, sensitivity analysis, decision trees, or Monte Carlo simulations is preferred.
• Familiarity with bottom-up manufacturing cost models and benchmarks published by institutions such as NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory).
• Familiarity using AI tools, such as large language models and AI-assisted research and analysis platforms, to speed up research workflows and produce quick, high-quality outputs.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences, and present findings in a clear and accurate manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Compensation

Competitive compensation - commensurate with the experience and matching the best standards adopted by the industry or other similar organisations for similar roles.