Engineer, Battery Failure Analysis | EAG Laboratories

Eurofins Scientific is a global leader in providing a unique range of analytical testing services to multiple industries. With over 200,000 analytical methods, Eurofins Scientific helps make life and our environment safer, healthier, and more sustainable. Our network of over 63,000 employees across a network of more than 950 laboratories in 60 countries, strengthens Eurofins Scientific as leader in scientific testing services.

Our Sunnyvale, CA laboratory provides test, engineering, and reliability services to a wide range of technology sectors, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Our failure analysis team supports clients in developing and refining technologies across various industries, including consumer electronics, medical devices, automotive, military, aerospace, and manufacturing. We use cutting-edge methods and tools to provide hands-on technical expertise. If you thrive in a tech-driven environment, enjoy tackling challenges, and take pride in your work, join us to live this every day.

The Engineering team is seeking a Battery Failure Analysis Engineer to work with various battery devices, electronic components, and customers to grow EAG’s business. You will diagnose and analyze battery devices, lead root cause investigations, and ensure quality in operations and products. Responsibilities include organizing and assigning tasks, reviewing and approving data and reports, managing workflow, training staff, and fostering a cohesive team. You will also interface with customers, resolve issues, develop technical content, and participate in industry events to become a thought leader.

Examples of the type of investigations:

• Identified a battery fabrication defect as well as a design related issue within a non-functioning, first version product to be used in a novel medical application: With this failure insight, the client was able to quickly implement appropriate changes and corrections to the manufacturing and redesign, producing a working product to further their new product launch activities.  

As an FA Engineer, you will use advanced tools and techniques to support clients by understanding their needs, designing and executing analytical plans, providing insights, and recommending next steps.

This dynamic role involves working with a variety of innovative samples.

If you enjoy challenges, thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, and are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply.

This role is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) therefore all accepted applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR: U.S. Person is a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e., "Green Card Holder"), Political Asylee, or Refugee.

Employees are expected to comply with ISO 27001 standard and company requirements for Information security.  

Education and Experience:

• BS in Electrical Engineering
• 5+ years of direct experience in battery failure analysis, performance testing and/or R&D role
• Semiconductor or Electronics Failure Analysis experience highly preferred
• Experience managing, leading and/or mentoring/training is highly desired

Hands-on Experience and Expertise:

• Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
• Battery tear down
• Operating battery testers and software: Cycler, Maccor, Novonix and Arbin
• Electrical Test/Measurements: Bench testing, parametric analyzer, o-scopes, CV measurement, etc.
• X-ray (2D and CT/3D) inspection for battery failures

Preferred Hands-on Experience and Expertise:

• Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (C-SAM)
• Fault isolation techniques: OBIRCH, XIVA, EMMI, IR Thermography, LVP/LTP, SDL/LADA
• Chemical etching (HF, acids/bases, delineation, etc.)
• Plasma etching (RIE, ICP, CF4, etc.)
• Deprocessing (RIE, parallel lapping, PFIB, etc.)
• Cross sectioning (metallurgical, ion mill, DB FIB, etc.)
• SEM/EDS
• Microprobing, Picoprobing, Nanoprobing
• DPA (Destructive Physical Analysis)
• Software: GDS layout, LabView

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Battery failure modes, causes, classification and mechanisms: electrical, thermal, mechanical
• Different types of batteries technologies: Li-ion, cell, coin, pouch, pack
• Familiarity with battery manufacturing: roll-to-roll, calendaring, and other processes
• Battery disassembly, and Li-ion safety standards and related safety and handling hazards
• Electrical characteristics of different types of battery compositions, mainly li-ion battery types: LFP/NMC/NCA/LMLO/LCO/LTO)
• Battery related electronics, such as management/fuel gauge, charging, and related safety/protection circuitry
• Knowledge of corrosion byproducts, interfacial/separator issues, electromigration, dendrites
• Concepts of exothermic material decomposition, electrolyte combustion, pressurized cell venting
• Battery reliability/quality testing and associated extrapolations: impedance, capacity and environmental testing
• Knowledge in Device physics, IC design, semiconductor fabrication and package manufacturing
• Industry Standards: ISO, MIL-STD, AEC, JEDEC, IPC, etc.
• Proficient collaborator and communicator both verbal and written
• Must be hands-on in a laboratory environment, operating tools, performing techniques, etc.
• Reading schematics, design files, and troubleshooting analog/digital circuits

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.  

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position up to 80% of the time. 
• Ability to continuously operate a personal computer or lab equipment for extended periods of time (4 or more hours).
• Ability to operate a keyboard and other lab equipment, use a telephone, access file cabinets and other items stored at various levels, including overhead
• Ability to communicate clearly and understandably ensure an accurate exchange of information in normal conversational distance, over the telephone, and in a group setting.
• Ability to handle small and fragile devices with tweezers and /or fingers.
• Require close distance visual acuity with or without correction (Glasses, Contacts, etc.)
• Must be willing and able to wear PPE such as hard-hat, steel-toed shoes, safety glasses, laboratory coat and/or any other devices or equipment that is required.
• Learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in the context of a workflow, ability to communicate with visitors, ability to complete tasks in situations that have a speed or productivity quota.
• Ability to move equipment or items up to 50 lbs.

The essential physical and mental requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.    

We will consider reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability or special need, we would like to know how we can better accommodate you.   

Compensation Range: $100,000-$130,000/yr.  (Pay rate is commensurate with experience and degree of technical expertise.)

What It’s Like to Work Here:

• Teamwork: experience what being a part of the Eurofins-EAG team feels like. Be inspired by your leaders, be encouraged by your teammates and be supported in all parts of your journey while you work with us.
• Learning & Development: take on career development programs and goal setting to create big possibilities for your career and life. Develop within the company; be mentored and grown as a leader.
• Diversity & Authenticity: we work hard to embrace diversity and inclusion and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work every day.

Eurofins EAG Laboratories is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all of our employment practices. Eurofins EAG Laboratories recruits, hires, trains, promotes and administers all employment-related matters based on an individual's qualifications, abilities, and efforts.  Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, military and/or protected veteran status, and/or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.    

Eurofins USA Material Sciences is a Disabled, and Veteran Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer

If you enjoy being immersed in science or engineering, tackling problems head-on, finding solutions through teamwork, and taking pride in accomplishments, join us today!

Check out our other opportunities: www.eag.com/about/careers/ 

Eurofins USA Material Sciences is a Disabled and Veteran Equal Employment Opportunity employer.