About this role
[What the role is] Lead Scientist (Clean Energy Research Centre) / School of Engineering (2-year contract) [What you will be working on]
• Lead and execute R&D projects on Battery Management Systems (BMS) for lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and other next-generation batteries.
• Conduct system-level research on battery safety and external monitoring (excluding materials development), focusing on failure mechanisms, protection strategies, and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurement and analysis.
• Design and optimise multi-source energy management systems integrating batteries, solar PV, fuel cells, and hybrid configurations.
• Develop and implement algorithms for battery diagnostics, including SOC, SOH, SOP estimation, predictive analytics, early-warning safety mechanisms, and hybrid energy optimisation.
• Advance research on future battery systems from an Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE) perspective, such as: a) Cloud-connected and distributed BMS architectures with AI-assisted diagnostics. b) Real-time health monitoring and on-the-fly EIS. c) Digital twins for Energy Storage Systems (ESS). d) Fast-charging strategies from a control perspective. e) Integration of new battery types at the system level.
• Support the development of next-generation ESS and microgrid integration, emphasizing control, power electronics, and system-level optimisation.
• Prepare and manage project proposals, research grants, technical documentation, and reports.
• Collaborate with industry partners on R&D initiatives, prototype validation, and technology deployment.
[What we are looking for]
• Qualifications in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Automation, Computer Engineering, or a related field, with a focus on system-level or electronics (We are not looking for candidates with a background focused on materials or chemical science, such as battery materials or anode/cathode material development). • Preferably 2-5 years of relevant R&D or industry experience. • Strong expertise in battery systems, including BMS development and system-level safety analysis. • Familiarity with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) principles, instrumentation, and diagnostic techniques. • Experience in multi-source energy management (batteries, solar PV, fuel cells, hybrid systems). • Practical skills in hardware and software development, including MCU programming, embedded interfaces, PCB/system integration, and testing. • Competence in algorithm development for battery modelling, estimation, diagnostics, and control. • Experience in project proposal writing, planning, and R&D management. • Industry collaboration or technology co-development experience is an advantage. • Innovative, self-driven, and capable of working independently on complex R&D topics. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. • Effective communicator and collaborative team player in multidisciplinary environments. Passionate about advancing clean energy technologies with practical, real-world impact.