Research Engineer - R&D

East Penn is a stable, essential employer, and has been voted one of the Best Places to Work in PA for 21 years!

At East Penn, our employees are our culture; our employees will always be the heart of the company.  We are a private, family-owned enterprise committed to cultivating an atmosphere that honors the contributions of everyone.  We want our employees to have long-term careers, and many do.  More than 38% of our workforce has over a decade of service.  Our open-door management policy, comprehensive benefits package, employee appreciation and recognition events, and career advancement opportunities are just some of the ways we show our employees how incredibly valued they are.

EOE/VEVRAA

East Penn is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  

East Penn is currently seeking a highly motivated and innovative Research Engineer to join our R&D team focused on the design, development, and testing of next-generation energy storage systems. This role involves cross-disciplinary research across electrochemical, thermal, mechanical, and electrical domains to optimize battery performance, safety, lifecycle, and manufacturability. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in one or more engineering disciplines—chemical, mechanical, materials science, or electrical—and a passion for clean energy technologies.

• Conduct research and experimental work on lead battery and other novel battery chemistries (e.g., lithium-ion, solid-state, flow batteries, sodium-ion, etc.).
• Design, prototype, and validate cell, module, and pack-level energy storage systems.
• Design experiments to evaluate performance under real-world conditions (cycle life, rate capability, thermal stability).
• Perform electrochemical testing, thermal modeling, mechanical integrity assessments, and electrical performance analysis.
• Analyze and interpret test data to evaluate material performance and system behavior under various environmental and operational conditions.
• Work cross-functionally with research scientists and manufacturing teams to ensure scalability and DFM (design for manufacturability).
• Document procedures, results, and technical reports for internal use and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transition technologies from lab-scale to pilot and commercial scale.
• Develop and refine testing protocols, standard operating procedures, and safety guidelines.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, documentation, and present findings to stakeholders.
• Keep abreast of industry trends, academic research, and emerging technologies in energy storage.
• Support intellectual property generation including patents and technical publications.

Supervises:

N/A

Works Closely with:

All parts of R&D

VP of Technology

Manager of Basic Research

Manager of Applied Research

Project Management

Works Regularly with:

External industry experts

Automotive, Motive Power, and Reserve Power engineering

• 2–5 years of experience in battery manufacturing or process development preferred.
• Proficiency in battery cycling software, data acquisition, and equipment troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with cell assembly techniques (mixing, coating, calendaring, welding, etc.).
• Strong project management and technical documentation skills.
• Experience with pilot line equipment and transitioning from lab to production.
• Experience with BMS (Battery Management Systems) or cell/module/pack-level integration.
• Experience with advanced battery materials (e.g., solid electrolytes, high-voltage cathodes, silicon anodes).
• Knowledge of safety standards (UN38.3, UL, etc.) and quality systems (ISO 9001, Six Sigma).

• BS or MS in Chemical, Mechanical, Materials, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of battery cell design, fabrication processes, and manufacturing scale-up considerations.
• Proficiency in using modeling and simulation tools for battery performance prediction preferred.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information clearly and concisely.
• Previous experience in a research-focused role within the battery manufacturing industry is advantageous.
• Electrochemical testing software (e.g., BioLogic EC-Lab, Gamry, Arbin, Maccor).
• Simulation tools (depending on specialization):
• COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS, MATLAB/Simulink, SolidWorks, AutoCAD
• Data analysis: Python, R, MATLAB, Excel
• Statistical tools: JMP, Minitab
• Lab instrumentation software for automation and data logging

East Penn offers excellent benefits:

• Competitive compensation
• Group health insurance that includes high quality medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage with a low employee premium
• Retirement Savings Plan with company match and a 3% employer contribution
• 9 paid company holidays, 2 paid personal holidays, and paid vacation days annually
• Employee assistance program
• Fitness Discounts
• Promotional opportunities