Principal Engineer

Element has an opportunity for a Principal Certification Engineer to lead homologation testing and certification programs for lithium-ion battery cells modules packs and energy storage systems at our Warren MI laboratory. This role is central to Elements strategic investment in energy storage and electrification and is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of standards testing reality and regulatory intent.

This position goes well beyond running tests. You will own certification strategy translate regulatory requirements into executable test programs and design complex test setups that withstand scrutiny from OEMs authorities having jurisdiction and certification bodies. The right candidate is entrepreneurial technically rigorous and comfortable explaining why Annex 9 exists not just how to pass it.

As the energy storage market accelerates across mobility industrial and stationary ESS applications Element is committed to leading the industry in credible defensible and safety-focused certificationand this role helps make that happen.

Certification & Homologation Leadership

• Lead global certification and homologation programs for battery cells modules packs and ESS supporting North American EU and international market access
• Interpret and apply regulatory frameworks including UN IEC UL SAE ISO and regional requirements to client programs
• Serve as a technical authority during certification reviews CB scheme evaluations AHJ discussions and customer audits

Test Program Design & Execution

• Develop and execute certification-driven test plans covering electrical mechanical environmental thermal and abuse conditions
• Design and oversee custom and semi-custom test setups including:
• Thermal runaway and propagation
• Mechanical abuse (crush impact vibration shock)
• Electrical abuse (short circuit overcharge forced discharge)
• Fire exposure venting ejecta and gas characterization
• Translate ambiguous or evolving standards into clear defensible test methodologies

Standards & Technical Expertise

• Act as a subject matter expert across battery and ESS standards including but not limited to:
• UN 38.3 IEC 62281 DO-311A (transport)
  IEC 62619 IEC 62620 IEC 61960-3 IEC 62133-1/-2
  UL 1642 UL 2054 UL 2580 UL 9540 / 9540A
  SAE J2464 SAE J2929
  UN ECE R100 Rev.3 (including Annex-based system testing)
• Applicable EU Battery Regulation requirements and emerging ESS guidance
• Support internal scope expansion efforts (e.g. A2LA CB Scheme) with technical justification and method development

Data Reporting & Client Interface

• Analyze test data with a certification lensfocusing on compliance failure modes margins and risk
• Author formal certification reports deviation justifications and technical position papers
• Serve as a senior technical interface to OEMs Tier 1 suppliers certification bodies and regulators

Safety & Facility Stewardship

• Champion safe operation of high-energy test environments including abuse testing fire mitigation gas handling and emergency response planning
• Contribute to continuous improvement of lab infrastructure procedures and hazard analyses

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering or related discipline (Masters preferred for overachievers)
• 7 years of experience in battery or ESS testing certification or homologation
• Demonstrated experience navigating standards-driven testing for lithium-ion systems
• Hands-on experience designing and executing complex test setups (not just witnessing them)
• Strong technical writing skills able to stand up to auditor review with confidence clarity and without hesitation

Preferred / Strong Plus

• Direct experience with ESS certification (stationary industrial or mobility applications)
  
• Familiarity with UL IEC UN and SAE certification pathways and how they actually work in practice
  
• Experience supporting global market access programs (EU North America Asia)
  
• Comfortable operating in gray areas where the standard says shall but the test method says it depends

#LI-TF1

At Element we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming the worlds most trusted testing partner.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age disability ethnic origin gender marital status race religion responsibility of dependents sexual orientation or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.