Battery Cell Test Engineer - R&D

We are building a state-of-the-art prototype lab facility and a world-class team for R&D into next-generation battery cells, and we are now looking for a Test Engineer to make it happen. Are you an enthusiastic engineer with a passion for product testing and performance evaluation in an exciting growing industry? Then you should join our team, together we enable the future of energy!

Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world. Northvolt is a leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, dedicated to deliver the world’s greenest lithium-ion battery. Together, we have formed a joint venture, NOVO Energy, to power the next generation of pure electric Volvo and Polestar cars.

We are now looking for a Test Engineer to join our R&D Engineering team. In close collaboration with the Materials Technology and Cell Design teams we develop cutting-edge technology, backed by the support, investment, talent, and expertise of Volvo and Northvolt. With a diverse and global team, we foster a dynamic and enjoyable work environment. We have fun while bringing a new generation of mobility to life.

What You’ll Do

You will be responsible for the performance testing of our battery cells that we are building in our prototype lab facility. You will work closely with the test equipment, different cell formats and fixtures. You will make sure cells are put on testing in the correct setup in an efficient and timely manner. Together with cell design and fellow test engineers you will also actively participate in designing new test methods, protocols and commission-up new test equipment as we expand our facility.

Your work will mainly be conducted, hands-on with the process equipment, inside the prototype line environment, but will also involve writing and adjusting test protocols as needed. As we are an R&D facility, the role will involve maintaining and troubleshooting test equipment when issues arise and find innovative solutions for how to mitigate them in the future. You will also contribute to develop and continuously improve our test protocols, procedures and documentation for the test lab activities.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for and owning the operations within the battery cell testing lab.
• Plan and execute testing of different battery cell formats. Match cells with correct test fixture, channel and test protocol. Write, update and improve test protocols depending on projects and requests.
• Develop relevant new test methodology and equipment together with cell design and engineering team.
• Develop working procedures and structures for the test lab team.
• Drive continuous improvement and development of methodology and technology.
• Provide technical expertise, guidance and training to junior staff and technicians.

Skills & Requirements

We are looking for you who have an eye for detail, enjoy working with both hard- and software, and have an interest for larger datasets and coding new test protocols, while at the same time enjoys the hands-on work and the challenge of building up and developing a battery testing lab. As a person you are organized, can manage your time well, don’t shy back from perfecting hands-on work routines, have excellent troubleshooting skills and can work well both in a team and independently.

You are a passionate Test Engineer who takes ownership and is eager to collaborate with others to achieve excellent results.

• A degree in electrical or mechanical engineering or other relevant University degree.
• Previous practical engineering work experience in battery cell, module or pack testing
• Experience with DC electronics, including test & measurement hardware and EE lab best practices.
• Programming experience and interest in C, Python, or a similar programming language.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills. Self-driven and passionate to own and solve issues with test equipment as they arise through a data-driven approach.
• Experience in installation, commissioning and acceptance testing of equipment is a plus.
• Experience in developing processes, standards, procedures and documentation in an efficient way.
• Strong technical leadership and coordinating skills in a highly flexible and frequently changing environment.

Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world. Northvolt is a leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, dedicated to delivering the world’s greenest lithium-ion battery. Together, we have formed a joint venture, NOVO Energy, to power the next generation of pure electric Volvo and Polestar cars.

Our Gigafactory in Gothenburg will be one of the largest cell production facilities in Europe, with a potential annual cell production capacity of up to 50 gigawatt hours (GWh) - thereby enabling a supply of batteries for approximately half a million Volvo and Polestar cars per year. Our state-of-the-art R&D facility will gather leading expertise from all over the world, to create the next generation battery cells.