Senior Battery Abuse Test Engineer

At Wisk, we're transforming the future of urban mobility through safe, all-electric, autonomous flight. We are a passionate team working together toward a sustainable future, solving high-impact problems that have never been solved before. By delivering everyday flight for everyone, we're making it possible to spend less time getting there and more time being there. If you want to be part of shaping the future of mobility, then read on!

We are looking for a Senior Battery Abuse Test Engineer to join our team. This role will be expected to lead the design, execution, and analysis of rigorous abuse tests to ensure the safety, reliability, and robustness of our advanced battery systems for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.  You will be in a critical role on the Energy Storage and Power Systems (ESPS) team, validating battery performance under extreme conditions and contributing to the development of industry-leading safety protocols.

This is a hybrid work opportunity. At Wisk, this means working onsite at our Mountain View, CA office three days per week, with flexibility for remote work on the remaining days.

• Lead the design and execution of battery abuse tests, including thermal, electrical, and mechanical scenarios such as thermal runaway, overcharge, short circuit, mechanical crush, and penetration tests.
• Develop and maintain abuse test protocols, instrumentation plans, and safety procedures, ensuring compliance with aviation standards and regulatory requirements.
• Operate and manage high-voltage test equipment, environmental chambers, and safety systems, ensuring safe and accurate execution of abuse tests.
• Analyze test data, identify failure modes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive design improvements and enhance battery safety.
• Serve as a technical expert in abuse testing, guiding junior engineers and lab technicians and supporting safety assessments and certification efforts.
• Conduct root cause analysis of test failures, proposing and validating mitigation strategies to improve battery thermal management and safety.
• Support the development of failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and hazard analysis to ensure robust safety features in battery management systems (BMS).
• Maintain an organized, safe, and efficient test environment, upholding the highest standards of safety and quality.

• You will take part in defining and executing advanced abuse testing methodologies, ensuring battery systems meet stringent safety and performance standards.
• You will support cross-functional collaboration, providing insights to battery design, thermal engineering, and safety teams to drive safety-focused innovations.
• You will help support problem-solving activities, identifying potential safety risks through test data analysis and simulation correlations.
• You will coordinate and oversee abuse testing logistics, including test fixture design, instrumentation setup, and data acquisition systems.
• In some areas, you will be working closely with certification and regulatory teams to ensure compliance with aviation safety standards, including DO-311A, UL 2580, and UN 38.3.
• You will plan and execute technical reports, safety assessments, and presentations to support design reviews, certification processes, and regulatory submissions.
• As a Senior Battery Abuse Test Engineer, you will help define industry-leading safety protocols, contribute to battery design reviews, and drive the continuous improvement of abuse testing processes.

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with at least 5+ years of experience in battery abuse testing, preferably in the automotive, aerospace, or energy storage industries.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and executing abuse tests, including thermal runaway, electrical abuse, mechanical impact, and environmental testing.
• Proficiency with high-voltage battery systems, test equipment, data acquisition tools, and safety systems.
• Extensive experience with test design, instrumentation, and data analysis, utilizing tools such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, or similar platforms.
• Deep knowledge of battery safety standards and regulatory requirements, including DO-311A, ARP4761, AS6413, UL 2580, and UN 38.3.
• Proven ability to lead root cause analysis, FMEA, and safety risk assessments.
• Excellent leadership skills, with experience in mentoring junior engineers and guiding lab technicians in safe testing practices.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, with a proactive approach to safety and quality assurance.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating initiative and ownership of test programs.
• This role may require up to 10% travel for supplier visits, testing support, or regulatory engagements.

We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity, and we encourage  individuals from all backgrounds, including those from marginalized or underrepresented groups in the tech industry and aerospace, to apply for our job openings. We consider  every candidate who shares our passion for making the impossible possible, even if they may not strictly meet all preferred requirements. We firmly believe that a diverse range of perspectives can profoundly influence both our product and our company culture.

Wisk HQ is located in Mountain View just a couple of hundred feet from Shoreline Lake and its surrounding walking/jogging trails. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, 9 off Fridays for full-time employees throughout the year, flexible vacation time off, 11 company holidays, a 401(k) plan with 50% company matching vested immediately, commuter assistance, and education assistance. And on top of all that, we also offer a variety of perks such as free catered lunches, flight lessons, wellness allowances, snacks, drinks, employee referral bonus, charitable giving match, patent bonus program, and more.

To all recruitment agencies: Wisk Aero does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Wisk Aero employees, or any other organization location. Wisk Aero is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. 

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background check. Wisk Aero provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wisk Aero abides by applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Wisk Aero is an E-Verify employer.