Cell Engineer

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Background

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

With innovation at the core of all we do, every challenge starts with the same question. How can we do it better? This restless spirit runs right through McLaren Automotive. And the search for perfection is evident in everything we do.

Purpose of Role

To ensure McLaren Automotive continues to be at the forefront of the Automotive market, we are looking for a Qualified Engineer to join our Propulsion department to design, engineer and deliver, from concept to series-development, electrochemical cells for High Voltage Energy Storage Systems (HV ESS), ensuring they fulfil all programme requirements of cost, timing and performance attributes.

Principal Accountabilities

  • Electrochemical cell ownership and delivery to vehicle project requirements of quality, cost and weight, on time and on budget
  • Manage cell design releases, technical specifications, DFMEAs, DVPs and Quality Concern Resolution
  • Ensure cells integrate with HV ESS using aligned technical specifications
  • Ensure cell solutions that deliver ESS systems that meet attribute targets in thermal, durability and performance (power, emissions and response) within the defined quality
  • Work with ESS design engineers, ESS suppliers and concept teams to achieve efficient, innovative and lightweight designs. Including the seamless integration of cells into the HV ESS, including structural interfaces
  • Support Propulsion CAE teams with ESS simulation activities, including cell selection investigations and providing data and initial assumptions to enable advanced investigations
  • Lead on cell supplier relationships, including supplier management
  • Cell BOM management and tracking
  • Support supply chain management to ensure delivery of the ESS on schedule for all phases of prototype, pilot, pre-production and production builds
  • Support vehicle build and development activities
  • Plan and co-ordinate cell testing, in-house and at 3rd-party test facilities. including cell test definition
  • Support module and pack level testing to facilitate data gathering and analysis
  • Working within and influencing the vehicle programme and engineering management teams to guarantee that the Propulsion department collectively delivers the whole vehicle specification targets
  • Delivery of ESS for all projects in line with MDP (McLaren Development Process) and that project management KPIs are on track
  • Preparation and presentation of material to support external and internal project status reviews
  • Support project and engineering management with ESS development budgets and expenditure
  • Provide support on ESS technical risk management to ensure project delivery, optimised vehicle performance and delivery of electric drive system attributes
  • Create, support and manage links with external organisations such as universities, research organisations or other like minded organisations on collaborative research projects that will help McLaren deliver innovation in ESS technologies
  • Support testing with HiL (Hardware in the Loop) and rig systems to prove integration quality

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Technical expert in all high-power and high-energy density electrochemical cells, including mechanical, electrical and thermal cell design, performance, test and production delivery

Technical expert in integration of cells into a module / HV ESS

Technical expert in the behaviour and characterisation of electrochemical cells, including life, safety and abuse cycles

A high level of understanding of Li-Ion technologies, Ultra/Supercapacitor storage solutions and their management via a BMS

Ability to run cell Design of Experiments for characterising the cell performance in a BMS

Experience of cell design verification plans and testing, inc. certification and homolgation tests

A good level of technical knowledge and experience of high performance ESS design and development, including cooling, EE and structural systems

A good understanding of Ultra/Supercapacitor storage solutions, Functional Safety and High Voltage Switchgear design

Understanding of ESS embedded systems such as Battery Management System (BMS)

Experience in component release management and problem solving

Experience of executing cell FMEA and DFM plans

Experienced in OEM or tier one component delivery

Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic or Automotive Engineering Degree 2:1 or above

Personal Attributes

  • 3 years automotive design and development experience
  • A passion for high performance ESS cell engineering
  • Good team skills and a willingness to work cross-functionally with excellent communication
  • An ability to deliver under pressure with an appetite for measured success
  • Collaborative working to deliver world class Electric Drive Systems
  • A positive, proactive attitude with a high level of self motivation to deliver excellence
  • Ambitious and self reliant
  • Well organised and delivery focused – with demonstrable track record of on-time delivery
  • Experience of high and niche vehicle (low volume) programmes
  • Capable of representing a world class automotive brand
  • PC literate and at ease with MS Office products
Organization: 
McLaren Automotive