Cell Validation & Reliability Engineer

Peak Energy

Job Title: Senior Cell Validation & Reliability Engineer

Location: Burlingame, California

Department: Cell Engineering

Reports To: Cell Applications Engineering Manager

Position Type: Full-time

About the Company

Peak Energy is the first American venture to advance globally proven sodium-ion battery systems as the storage standard for the new era of renewable energy on a resilient grid. 

Sodium-ion is cheap, readily available, and safe — making it the leading contender in a rapidly evolving market. 

Our leadership team is powered by decades of expertise in scaling gigawatt-level innovation at world-class companies such as Tesla, Northvolt, Apple, Powin, Enovix, Zipline, Solid Power, SunPower, and Fluence. We are backed by strategic investment and product partners including TDK Ventures, Eclipse Ventures, and GM Ventures. 

We recently announced America's first sodium-ion grid storage factory in Sacramento with production starting Q1 2027, and over $1B in signed customer commitments including Jupiter Power and Energy Vault. 

About the Role – Senior Cell Validation & Reliability Engineer

Peak Energy is seeking a Senior Cell Validation & Reliability Engineer to own the validation and reliability foundation for the cells integrated into our energy storage systems. This role will move beyond cell specification verification to quantify how cell-to-cell and batch-to-batch variation impacts system-level performance and reliability.

You will design the studies, own the statistical analysis, and deliver cell-level validation verdicts and reliability inputs that inform Peak Energy's system design and 20-year calendar life expectations. You will work closely with cell test engineering, cell modeling, ESS engineering, supplier quality, and other cross-functional teams to translate cell performance and variation into actionable system requirements.

Test execution will be carried out by the cell test engineering team, predictive modeling by the cell modeling function, and system design and system-level reliability evaluation by ESS engineering. This role owns the cell-side validation and reliability inputs that connect those functions.

The ideal candidate combines strong battery validation experience with applied reliability statistics and is comfortable turning complex test data into clear engineering decisions.

What You'll Do (Responsibilities)

Cell-to-System Integration Validation 

• Validate the electrical and mechanical integration of supplier cells into Peak Energy ESS platforms; own the cell-side validation verdict at each integration point. 

• Move validation from spec verification to population statistics: design cell-to-cell and batch-to-batch variation studies and quantify how variance propagates to system-level performance — balancing burden, thermal gradients, mechanical preload windows, and energy/power delivery. 

• Mechanical: validate cell behavior under system-representative compression; characterize force versus state of charge and swell over life; deliver force–displacement–life datasets that inform foam/pad selection and preload design by systems engineering. 

• Electrical & BMS: Assist in analysis with measured variation accounted for of OCV characterization, equivalent-circuit parameters; quantify cell-in-system versus bench performance deltas. 

• Establish the statistical foundation: measurement system analysis (MSA / Gauge R&R) across cell test equipment, capability analysis against specification, and statistically justified sample sizes, acceptance criteria, and validation exit criteria. 

Cell Reliability Ownership 

• Own the cell reliability test roadmap: inform sample size requirements for calendar life, cycle life, and accelerated aging test plans designed explicitly to inform reliability analysis — not only to characterize performance. 

• Deliver the authoritative cell-level input to system reliability evaluation: failure-rate estimates, life distributions under product duty cycles, degradation trajectories, and derating guidance. 

• Track reliability performance across supplier lots and chemistries; participate in root cause analysis of cell-related reliability failures and feed findings back into test plans and supplier requirements. 

Cross-Functional Interface 

• Own the cell-requirements and reliability-input handoffs; participate in DFMEAs for cell-driven failure modes. 

• Share variation and reliability findings with supplier quality: this role owns the performance and reliability implications of variation. 

• Pair with cell modeling: measured variation and life data validate equivalent-circuit, thermal, and degradation models; model predictions guide test-plan design. 

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What You'll Bring (Qualifications)

• B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering or a related field; M.S. preferred. 

• 5+ years in battery cell/module/pack validation or reliability engineering within automotive or stationary energy storage. 

• Reliability statistics: Weibull / life-data analysis, accelerated life testing, and confidence-bound methods for life claims. 

• Applied statistics in an engineering context: design of experiments, capability analysis, measurement system analysis, sample-size justification. 

• Hands-on familiarity with cell test methods: cyclers, environmental chambers, force/displacement measurement, and thermal instrumentation. 

• Depth in one integration axis — mechanical (compression, thermal interface) or electrical (BMS, system electrical performance) — with working competence in the other. 

• Working knowledge of BMS fundamentals: SOC/SOH estimation, cell balancing, and protection limits. 

• Proficiency in Python or equivalent for engineering data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Reliability methods: reliability block diagrams, failure-rate (FIT) allocation, MTBF modeling. 

• Experience owning DVP&Rs and driving validation programs from plan through sign-off. 

• Sodium-ion or LFP cell experience. 

• Experience partnering with modeling teams on equivalent-circuit, thermal, and degradation model validation. 

• DFMEA participation on module/pack programs. 

Peak Energy is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage women, people of color, and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. We value skills, potential, and perspective over specific credentials. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t look perfect on paper, we still want to hear from you.

Our Core Values

• Speed Through Focus - Move fast but understand why. Focus on the goal, don't sacrifice quality.

• Mission Over Self - It's about the greater good; confident humility. Take ownership and accountability.

• Face the Brutal Truth - Transparency, honesty, big picture curiosity. Fearless decision making.

• Be a Good Person - Kindness, collaboration and teamwork.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $150,000–$190,000, with actual pay varying based on work location, experience, and skills. Our competitive benefits package includes:

• Flexible time off

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Strong 401(k) plan

• Equity opportunities

• Many great work perks

Join us to thrive in a supportive environment while making a meaningful impact in the energy sector!

At Peak Energy Technologies Inc., we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us a more capable, innovative, and competitive company. We welcome people who represent diversity in their backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. Peak Energy Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, aiming to reach our company’s full potential by cultivating an inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.