Job Description

About Us

STARK is a European defence technology company building the next generation of unmanned systems. We design, develop and manufacture software-defined, mass-scalable and cost-effective platforms that give NATO operators a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance capability — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, our work strengthens the technological edge of NATO Allies and their partners.

Your mission

As a Battery Cell Engineer, you will be the company’s foremost expert on electrochemistry and cell-level performance. You will be responsible for sourcing, characterizing, modeling, and validating the next generation of battery cells. You will work directly with Tier 1 cell suppliers and our internal engineering teams to ensure the cells we select will safely and reliably power our fleet through rigorous flight profiles.

Responsibilities

• Cell Evaluation & Selection: Scout and evaluate commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and prototype battery cells from global suppliers. Select optimal chemistries (e.g., high-nickel NMC, LCO, Silicon-Anode, Solid-State) that meet our aggressive Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) targets.
• Characterization & Testing: Design and execute rigorous cell-level test matrices, including Hybrid Pulse Power Characterization (HPPC), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cycle life, calendar aging, and extreme temperature testing.
• Data Analysis & Modeling: Process massive datasets from cell cyclers (e.g., Arbin, Maccor) to generate Equivalent Circuit Models (ECM) and empirical degradation models.
• Failure Analysis: Lead cell-level root cause investigations. Define Destructive Physical Analysis (DPA) and cell teardowns to identify failure mechanisms like lithium plating, electrolyte degradation, or manufacturing defects.
• Supplier Quality & Collaboration: Act as the primary technical liaison with cell manufacturers. Define cell-level specifications, incoming quality control (IQC) metrics, and acceptance testing protocols to ensure high yield and batch-to-batch consistency.
• Safety Validation: Conduct and analyze cell-level abuse testing (nail penetration, overcharge, thermal runaway) to define the thermal boundary conditions for the Mechanical Engineering team.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrochemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience: 3+ years of professional experience in battery cell engineering, characterization, or cell manufacturing.

Technical Skills:

• Deep theoretical and practical understanding of lithium-ion reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and degradation mechanisms.
• Extensive hands-on experience programming and running battery testing equipment.
• Proficiency in data analysis and scripting using Python, MATLAB, or R to automate the processing of cycling data.

Nice to have

• Experience analyzing high C-rate discharge profiles specific to aerospace, eVTOL, or high-performance drone applications.
• Direct experience working at a battery cell manufacturer (Gigafactory) or auditing cell manufacturing lines.
• Familiarity with next-generation cell technologies, such as lithium-metal or solid-state electrolytes.

For more details, please contact Sally Grütte-Pad, Interim Lead TA Partner via talent@stark-defence.com