Senior Protocol Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Senior Cell Test Infrastructure Engineer ensures that Blue Current's battery test laboratory runs safely, reliably and  meets the current and future needs of the cell development program. Working at the intersection of cell engineering, data engineering, and test development operations this role owns the systems and infrastructure behind test engineering from supporting existing equipment through calibration, maintenance, monitoring, troubleshooting to managing test requests, channel allocation and testing throughput to ensure tests produce actionable data to move projects and programs forward. Operating within Cell Engineering's established test strategy and in close partnership with Staff Test Engineers, the data team, and facilities, this role not only keeps the lab performing, but also grows its capacity and infrastructure  so that engineers and scientists across the organization can depend on accurate, well-organized results.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Partner with facilities and equipment vendors on the design, layout, installation, and commissioning of battery testers, temperature-control chambers, and supporting lab infrastructure.
• Own equipment vendor relationships, including specification, procurement support, installation coordination, service and warranty management, and ongoing performance.
• Build, improve, and maintain systems and workflows for battery test management, including test request intake, scheduling, real-time monitoring, troubleshooting, and equipment calibration.
• Partner with the data team to ensure test data integrity, consistent and uniform data structures, and automated alerting for out-of-bounds, stalled, or failed tests so the data produced is trustworthy, traceable, and actionable for engineering decisions.
• Establish and maintain calibration schedules and records for test equipment, and resolve or escalate instruments operating outside tolerance.
• Write and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for test operations, and guide test technicians on day-to-day execution, troubleshooting, and safe equipment use.
• Work with Staff Test Engineers and other stakeholders to translate defined test protocols into instrument programs, and configure testers and chambers to execute those protocols correctly.
• Diagnose and resolve hardware, software, and data issues affecting test reliability, coordinating across cell engineering, data engineering, and facilities as needed.
• Monitor lab capacity, equipment utilization, and instrument health, and recommend and implement improvements that increase the impact, reliability, and throughput of testing
• Design and fabricate (or coordinate fabrication of) fixturing, chamber inserts, and other custom mechanical hardware needed to support test setups, working independently to solve mechanical problems as they arise
• Other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope and level of this position

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• PhD, MS (with 3+ years of relevant experience), or BS (with 5+ years of relevant experience) in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a related field, with a focus on batteries or electrochemical devices

Experience

• Experience developing test lab infrastructure including instrument procurement, installation, calibration, and test management.
• Demonstrated experience building systems for managing and tracking tests, reporting data, and reviewing operations with stakeholders across an organization

Skills & Knowledge

•   Hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory or production test equipment and instrumentation.
•   Working knowledge of test data systems and data integrity practices, including structured data capture, data validation, and automated alerting.
•   Ability to write clear SOPs and technical documentation and to train and guide technicians.
•   Experience coordinating with equipment vendors and facilities on installation, calibration, and service of technical equipment.
•   Familiarity with scripting or instrument programming used to configure and automate test sequences (e.g., protocol programming on test instruments; Python or a similar language for data handling and automation).
•   Strong troubleshooting skills spanning hardware, software, and data, with the ability to isolate root cause across system boundaries.
•   Effective cross-functional communication and the ability to collaborate across engineering, data, and operations teams.

Certifications / Licenses

• N/A

Preferred Qualifications

•   Direct experience specifying, installing, operating, and programming battery cell testing equipment, including cycler/tester platforms (e.g., Arbin, Maccor, Neware, BioLogic) and environmental or temperature-control chambers.
•   Experience in a battery, electrochemistry, semiconductor, or other advanced-manufacturing or R&D laboratory.
•   Experience designing, building, or scaling a test lab, including layout, electrical power, and environmental/thermal requirements.
•   Experience building or improving LIMS, test-management, or data-pipeline systems.
•   Proficiency with Python or a similar language for automation, data handling, and alerting.
•   Working knowledge of relational databases (e.g., SQL) for querying, structuring, and maintaining test data.
•   Familiarity with calibration standards, measurement traceability, and equipment qualification practices.
•   Experience supporting the transition of test operations from R&D toward pilot-scale or higher-volume operation.

Core Values - Minimum Qualifications

Safety & Security First

For employees, customers, and intellectual property

• Demonstrated commitment to maintaining a safe and secure work environment, including adherence to workplace safety protocols, data privacy standards, and confidentiality requirements.
• Proven ability to identify and appropriately escalate potential risks to personnel, customers, or sensitive information.

Trust & Respect

Treat everyone with honesty, dignity, and sensitivity. Embrace different perspectives. Be humble.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and working styles.
• Track record of maintaining professionalism, integrity, and discretion in all workplace interactions.

Ownership & Accountability

Take responsibility and action. Set goals and deliver. Don't wait for others.

• Demonstrated ability to independently prioritize, execute, and follow through on responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Proven track record of setting measurable goals, meeting deadlines, and taking initiative to resolve challenges proactively.

Technical Excellence

Always strive for the best solution possible.

• Demonstrated commitment to quality and continuous improvement in delivering work product, solutions, and outcomes within area of expertise.
• Ability to evaluate options critically and apply sound judgment to identify the most effective and scalable solution.

Learn & Be Curious

Think outside the box. Always learning.

• Demonstrated ability to quickly acquire new skills, tools, or domain knowledge in response to evolving business needs.
• Proven track record of applying creative or unconventional thinking to solve problems.

Be Resourceful

Be hungry, frugal, and flexible. Use what you have. Find a way.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in resource-constrained environments by maximizing existing tools, processes, and partnerships.
• Proven ability to adapt and find effective solutions in ambiguous or rapidly changing situations.

Delight Customers

Build stronger relationships with internal and external customers.

• Demonstrated commitment to understanding and exceeding the needs of internal and/or external customers.
• Track record of building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships that drive positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Occasional lifting and positioning of equipment and components up to approximately 30-50 lbs (e.g., test fixtures, chamber components, cabling); installation and maintenance work may involve bending, reaching, and working around electromechanical equipment. 
• Work in proximity to electrical test equipment, batteries, and temperature-control systems; adherence to all applicable electrical, battery, and laboratory safety protocols is required.
• Prolonged periods of screen-based work for test configuration, monitoring, data review, and documentation.
• Regular use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including safety glasses, gloves, and lab coat; additional PPE may be required depending on materials handled
• Able to pass a respirator fit test and wear a respirator periodically.
• Travel is estimated at less than 10% of working time and would be primarily domestic (e.g., vendor or equipment site visits)
• FAT program execution or in the event of vendor or supplier visits. 
• Standard weekday business hours; occasional off-hours availability may be required to support long-running test campaigns, installations, or troubleshooting.