We are looking for an Engineering PhD Intern, Cell Materials and Column Design to join our team in one of today’s most exciting technologies.

Location: This position will be based in SJ

Role and Responsibilities:

• Introduce and develop new SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) materials and components such as electrodes, electrolytes, seals, and coatings. Submit invention disclosures when appropriate.
• Use expertise in electrochemistry and/or high temperature materials to identify promising material sets, define functional requirements, and establish and perform characterization studies on the component and stack level
• Evaluate performance and degradation of new materials against established metrics
• Explore new characterization methods and develop new metrology to advance technical learning and improve product quality
• Establish new component-level testing, test equipment, and testing protocols as appropriate to study performance, robustness, and degradation mechanisms. 
• Facilitate implementation of new technologies into production where applicable. Tasks may include DOE runs, corner point analysis for specification development, and first article/ lifecycle management
• Create and refine raw material and component specifications. When refining specifications, execute continuous improvement plans (CIP) for performance, cost, yield, and/or reliability
• Introduce and evaluate new processing methods for powders, inks, and/or components 

Skills and Experience:

• PhD degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Physics
• Experience in developing and characterizing SOFC materials preferred
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively within cross-functional teams in a fluid and fast-paced environment
• Exceptional analytical skills and attention to detail
• Proven ability to successfully manage multiple projects while meeting deliverable deadlines amidst changing requirements, deadlines, and priorities
• Strong self-starter and team player, with a “can-do” attitude
• Highly resourceful, and a “big picture” thinker
• Strong drive for results and continuous improvement
• Hands-on experience in engineering testing or lab experiments preferred
• Experience in SolidWorks modeling, Agile, and production lifecycle management a plus
• Experience in metrology development for mass production a plus
• Experience with design of experiments (DOE) and software such as JMP and/or Minitab a plus

Salary Ranges: