Overall Job Summary: The Materials and Failure Analysis Engineer is responsible for the incoming materials quality program and will lead root-cause investigations into battery failures. This role sits at the intersection of materials, electrochemistry, mechanical/electrical engineering, and manufacturing quality - translating field returns, production test failures, and reliability data into actionable engineering fixes. You'll work cross-functionally with supply chain, R&D, manufacturing, quality, and field service teams to protect product performance, safety, and customer trust. Job Responsibilities: • Lead root-cause failure analysis (RCFA) on battery modules and systems, from initial triage through corrective action • Design and execute teardown, inspection, and testing protocols for failed units returned from the field or flagged during production • Apply analytical techniques (electrical characterization, electrochemical testing, microscopy, spectroscopy, thermal imaging, etc.) to identify failure modes and mechanisms • Partner with R&D, suppliers, and manufacturing engineering to close the loop between failure findings and design or process improvements • Develop and maintain FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) documentation for cell, module, and system components • Track failure trends across production and fielded fleets; build dashboards and reports to communicate findings to engineering and leadership • Support supplier quality investigations for component-level failures • Own incoming parts quality and inspection processes, including incoming material inspection plans, sampling strategies, and acceptance criteria for raw materials and purchased components • Investigate incoming inspection rejects and non-conformances, working with suppliers and sourcing teams to drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) • Contribute to safety investigations, ensuring findings are documented to meet internal and regulatory requirements • Author clear, well-documented failure analysis reports and present findings to cross-functional stakeholders • Help build out failure analysis lab capabilities, tooling, and standard operating procedures as the team scales Education/Experience: • Bachelor's degree in materials science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field • 5+ years of experience in failure analysis, reliability engineering, or quality engineering, ideally in batteries, electronics, or electromechanical systems • Hands-on experience with failure analysis techniques such as electrical/electrochemical testing, microscopy (SEM/optical), thermal analysis, or X-ray/CT imaging Skills/Abilities: • Strong understanding of root-cause analysis methodologies (5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa, FMEA, 8D) • Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, and test data • Experience with incoming quality inspection, including reading GD&T/mechanical drawings, using inspection equipment (calipers, micrometers, CMM, etc.), and applying AQL/sampling plans • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting technical findings to varied audiences • Strong hands-on lab and hardware troubleshooting skills • Experience with battery systems • Familiarity with statistical analysis tools (Minitab, JMP, or similar) for reliability and trend analysis • Experience in a manufacturing environment, including working with production and quality teams to implement corrective actions • Knowledge of relevant safety and industry standards (UL 9540A, IEC 62619, or similar energy storage standards) • Experience with data analysis/scripting (Python, MATLAB, or SQL) for large field-data or production-data sets Travel • Local Travel • Overnight/North America Travel: 10-25% Working Conditions • Office Environment - Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time and occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. May be required to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. • Factory - The worker may be subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, vibration, moving vehicles, electrical current, exposure to temperature changes or exposure to chemicals. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, odors, dust, mists, and gases. The noise level in the work environment can be loud. Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes. Machinery operation requires the use of safety equipment to include but not limited to eye safety glasses, hearing protectors, work boots, and lab coats. May be required to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. • Customer/Partner Locations - Employee may visit customer or partner locations that may be comprised of office, manufacturing floor, laboratory environments and construction sites depending on the location and reason for visit.