Engineer, Associate Materials and Failure Analysis

Job Description

The Associate Materials Failure Analysis Engineer will support the incoming materials quality program root-cause investigations into battery failures, working under the guidance of more senior engineers. This is a great opportunity for an early-career engineer to build hands-on experience in materials, electrochemistry, failure analysis techniques, and manufacturing quality. You'll gain exposure across supply chain, R&D, manufacturing, quality, and field service teams while developing core failure analysis skills.

Job Responsibilities

• Support root-cause failure analysis (RCFA) investigations on battery modules, and systems under the direction of more senior engineers
• Perform teardown, inspection, and testing of failed units returned from the field or flagged during production, following established protocols
• Conduct analytical testing (electrical characterization, visual/optical inspection, thermal imaging, etc.) and document results accurately
• Assist with incoming parts quality and inspection process, including measuring and analysis of components against drawings/specs and logging inspection results
• Help maintain FMEA documentation and failure-mode databases for cell, module, and system components
• Compile and organize failure data, helping build trend reports and dashboards for the engineering team
• Support supplier quality investigations by gathering data and documentation on component-level issues
• Assist with safety investigations by helping capture and organize findings and evidence
• Draft initial failure analysis reports and summaries for review by senior engineers
• Help maintain lab equipment, tooling, and organization as the failure analysis function grows

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field
• 0-2 years of experience in failure analysis, reliability engineering, quality engineering, or a related lab/manufacturing environment

Skills/Abilities

• Basic familiarity with failure analysis or inspection techniques (electrical testing, microscopy, dimensional inspection, etc.) through coursework, internships, or projects
• Exposure to root-cause analysis methodologies (5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, FMEA) a plus
• Ability to read basic electrical schematics and mechanical drawings
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable working hands-on in a lab and manufacturing environment
• Eagerness to learn and grow into a more senior failure analysis role
• Coursework or project experience with batteries or electrochemical systems
• Familiarity with basic inspection tools (calipers, micrometers) and reading GD&T
• Exposure to data analysis tools (Excel, Python, or Minitab)

Travel

• Local Travel
• Overnight/North America Travel: 10-25%

Working Conditions

• Office Environment - Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time and occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. May be required to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Factory - The worker may be subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, vibration, moving vehicles, electrical current, exposure to temperature changes or exposure to chemicals. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, odors, dust, mists, and gases. The noise level in the work environment can be loud. Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes. Machinery operation requires the use of safety equipment to include but not limited to eye safety glasses, hearing protectors, work boots, and lab coats. May be required to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Customer/Partner Locations - Employee may visit customer or partner locations that may be comprised of office, manufacturing floor, laboratory environments and construction sites depending on the location and reason for visit.