Overview

Element has an opportunity for a Principal Certification Engineer to lead homologation, testing, and certification programs for lithium-ion battery cells, modules, packs, and energy storage systems at our Warren, MI laboratory. This role is central to Element’s strategic investment in energy storage and electrification and is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of standards, testing reality, and regulatory intent.

This position goes well beyond running tests. You will own certification strategy, translate regulatory requirements into executable test programs, and design complex test setups that withstand scrutiny from OEMs, authorities having jurisdiction, and certification bodies. The right candidate is entrepreneurial, technically rigorous, and comfortable explaining why Annex 9 exists, not just how to pass it.

As the energy storage market accelerates across mobility, industrial, and stationary ESS applications, Element is committed to leading the industry in credible, defensible, and safety-focused certification—and this role helps make that happen.

Responsibilities

Certification & Homologation Leadership

• Lead global certification and homologation programs for battery cells, modules, packs, and ESS, supporting North American, EU, and international market access
• Interpret and apply regulatory frameworks including UN, IEC, UL, SAE, ISO, and regional requirements to client programs
• Serve as a technical authority during certification reviews, CB scheme evaluations, AHJ discussions, and customer audits

Test Program Design & Execution

• Develop and execute certification-driven test plans covering electrical, mechanical, environmental, thermal, and abuse conditions
• Design and oversee custom and semi-custom test setups, including:
• Thermal runaway and propagation
• Mechanical abuse (crush, impact, vibration, shock)
• Electrical abuse (short circuit, overcharge, forced discharge)
• Fire exposure, venting, ejecta, and gas characterization
• Translate ambiguous or evolving standards into clear, defensible test methodologies

Standards & Technical Expertise

• Act as a subject matter expert across battery and ESS standards, including but not limited to:
• UN 38.3, IEC 62281, DO-311A (transport)IEC 62619, IEC 62620, IEC 61960-3, IEC 62133-1/-2UL 1642, UL 2054, UL 2580, UL 9540 / 9540ASAE J2464, SAE J2929UN ECE R100 Rev.3 (including Annex-based system testing)
• Applicable EU Battery Regulation requirements and emerging ESS guidance
• Support internal scope expansion efforts (e.g., A2LA, CB Scheme) with technical justification and method development

Data, Reporting & Client Interface

• Analyze test data with a certification lens—focusing on compliance, failure modes, margins, and risk
• Author formal certification reports, deviation justifications, and technical position papers
• Serve as a senior technical interface to OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, certification bodies, and regulators

Safety & Facility Stewardship

• Champion safe operation of high-energy test environments, including abuse testing, fire mitigation, gas handling, and emergency response planning
• Contribute to continuous improvement of lab infrastructure, procedures, and hazard analyses

Skills / Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline (Master’s preferred for overachievers)
• 7+ years of experience in battery or ESS testing, certification, or homologation
• Demonstrated experience navigating standards-driven testing for lithium-ion systems
• Hands-on experience designing and executing complex test setups (not just witnessing them)
• Strong technical writing skills, able to stand up to auditor review with confidence, clarity, and without hesitation

Preferred / Strong Plus

• Direct experience with ESS certification (stationary, industrial, or mobility applications)
• Familiarity with UL, IEC, UN, and SAE certification pathways and how they actually work in practice
• Experience supporting global market access programs (EU, North America, Asia)
• Comfortable operating in gray areas where the standard says “shall,” but the test method says “it depends”

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Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.