Lead Engineer Battery Safety

Lead Engineer Battery Safety )About The Role

The WMG Battery Safety Centre consists of seven chambers to undertake testing of cells and battery modules under various abuse conditions. These tests frequently involve high temperature and over‑pressure events such as deflagrations. As such, a safety‑first attitude is critical as is a high level of skill in preparing and following detailed Risk Assessments. The main function will be leading battery safety related project work with a key WMG partner company and ensuring a professional and successful relationship.

This partner is a leading OEM in the automotive sector who is consistently investing in electrification at a high level and is committed to the highest standard of safety. There will typically be several safety projects running in parallel and the work is frequently creative and innovative. Most projects focus on the development of test programmes to demonstrate the safety of batteries under abuse condition such as overheating, overcharge, short circuit or mechanical damage.

Our emphasis is on data‑rich testing that will allow us to understand why test articles are undergoing thermal runaway and propagation so that we can improve designs to make them safe and robust.

The Centre is a complex laboratory with diverse management needs. These include a high level of audit preparedness, supervision of users and technicians to ensure good housekeeping, a robust maintenance schedule, engagement with a wide range of service and equipment suppliers to ensure equipment serviceability. The Centre will undergo a major upgrade to facilities and capability over the next few years, starting in the summer of 2026.

You will be heavily engaged in supporting this activity to ensure that the future test needs of your partner company are met.

Successful project work will depend upon frequent communication, meetings and working alongside colleagues and partner employees. As such it will suit someone who enjoys collaborative working with a diverse range of people at all levels.

• Significant experience in industry in a product development or test environment. Enjoy both hands‑on testing and supervision of junior colleagues to ensure successful and high‑quality data.
• Formal engineering education or training within an industrial environment.
• Previous experience working with automotive OEMs, or similar, an advantage. Experience working in a battery test lab and understand abuse testing and thermal runaway in detail. This includes initiation methods, test rig and experimental design.
• Knowledge of data acquisition, data analysis and the preparation of written reports and presentations.
• Excellent project planning and reporting skills, with the ability to initiate, plan, organise, implement and deliver programmes of work to tight deadlines.
• Evidence of willingness and previous success in training such as health and safety, fire marshal and first aid qualifications. Experience in creating robust and complete risk assessments of complex and hazardous experiments.

Mid‑Senior level

Contract

Management and Manufacturing

Higher Education

For informal enquiries, please contact Simon Jones, Chief Engineer - EIC at S

Monday 12th January 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)

• Submit an application form via the official careers portal () before the closing deadline.
• Include a CV and a cover letter.
• The CV should include your education and employment history (including your most recent employment) and any other relevant experience.
• The cover letter should explain your motivations for applying to the role and using examples, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the job description (PDF attached below).
• All essential criteria must be met by candidates who are invited to interview.
• Interview Date:
  End of January 2026
• Start Date:
  
  April 2026

• An attractive pension scheme.
• 30 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
• Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
• On‑site childcare facilities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Warwick is committed…