People Matter

Reliability Engineer

Natron Energy

Natron Energy

Software Engineering
Santa Clara, CA, USA
Posted on Apr 12, 2024
Natron is seeking a Reliability Engineer to support the development and test of our high-power battery systems for data center UPS and EV charging applications. The occupant of this position will work with the Product Engineering, Reliability, Technology, and Operations teams to develop procedures for accelerated life and abuse testing of battery systems and components, and apply statistical analysis techniques to test and field data, among other duties. They will also support the fabrication of reliable batteries through the lens of Design for Reliability.
This position requires extensive hands-on work and a do-whatever-it-takes attitude to get the job done.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute qualification test plans for sodium-ion batteries and components by conferring with engineers, customers, and compliance and 3rd-party testing agencies to obtain the safety and reliability certifications required by customers and the energy industry;
  • Design optimal experiments to model the physics of degradation of battery systems and components caused by temperature, humidity, voltage, and other factors. Demonstrate appropriate acceleration factors for reliability tests.
  • Develop new and improve current procedures for accelerated testing of failure modes seen or expected in the field.
  • Develop and operate computer algorithms in MatLab, Python, or other to analyze battery test data, model and simulate the behavior of battery components and systems, generate plots and reports with compiled data regarding existing or potential electrical engineering projects related to the development of sodium-ion battery products.
  • Support production of reliable batteries. Develop appropriate measurement protocols and specifications. Develop containment plans when reliability is at risk.
  • Apply failure analysis and statistical analysis techniques to detect trends in large data sets and root cause of failures for test samples and deployed units.
  • Perform detailed calculations and use statistical software such as JMP or MiniTab to design experiments, determine the statistical significance of the results of tests, justify the risks in making decisions based on statistical sampling of subsets of the population of batteries produced in house, compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications for sodium-ion battery products.

Required Experience and Skills

  • A degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics, or related science or engineering field.
  • Minimum 5 years of experience as reliability engineer.
  • Strong experience in participating in and leading 5D / 8D, and FMEA exercises.
  • Extensive knowledge of applied statistics and experience with statistics software such as JMP or MiniTab.
  • Extensive knowledge of HALT and HASS testing for electronic, mechanical, and electro-mechanical components.
  • Experience in failure analysis techniques.
  • Knowledge of Design for Reliability techniques.
  • Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
  • A positive and team-first attitude.
  • Comfort in working at a fast-paced environment.

Desired Skills and Experience

  • Fluency in LabView, Python, MatLab, and SQL.
  • ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer.
  • Experience testing battery cells or other electronic devices .
  • Experience working with electro-mechanical products.
  • Experience with high voltage items and batteries.

Compensation/Pay Transparency

  • Disclaimer: The actual salary of a successful applicant may vary from posted ranges based on the candidate’s experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, internal equity and alignment with market data, and other legitimate business reasons, including, but not limited to, compliance with applicable immigration law prevailing wages.
  • In addition, Natron Energy has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k Plan with Match, Life Insurance, Parental Leave Benefits, Discretionary Time Off (DTO) and Paid Time Off (PTO) for Exempt and Non-Exempt employees respectively, and 11 paid holidays.
  • The salary range for this position is a minimum of $136,000 and a maximum of $158,500 annually.
  • *NOTE: Salary range is based on the national average of an individual with 4-8 years of relevant experience. Adjustments will be considered for geographical areas with higher living costs.
About Us:
Natron Energy (natron.energy) is the future of energy storage. Our battery products solve operations performance and reliability problems for the world’s biggest electricity customers. Our initial products target markets exceeding twenty-five billion dollars including data centers, oil & gas, EV fast charging, and commercial aviation. We have additional products in development for larger markets including commercial and residential grid storage. Our products are based on sodium-ion cells containing Prussian blue electrodes that deliver unique power, cycle life, and safety: full discharge and recharge in just minutes all from a nonflammable, fault-tolerant system.
Unsolicited Resume Policy
Natron Energy, Inc. (“Natron Energy” or the “Company”) does not accept unsolicited resumes from professional recruiters, third-party recruiting or staffing agencies, placement services, or any other source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes, including partial resumes, candidate profiles, and candidate details or information, sent to Natron Energy or its personnel will be treated as public information provided free of any charges or fees.
Natron Energy will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume, unless in connection with a written agreement with the Company then in effect. Such agreement must be pre-approved by Natron Energy and executed by an authorized representative of the Company. Natron Energy specifically rejects, and denies any liability under, any agreement purporting to be accepted based on negative consent, negotiation with a candidate, performance, or any means other than the signature of an authorized representative of the Company.
Natron Energy is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at: jobs@natron.energy