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AVTC Technical Operations and Battery Systems Engineer

Argonne National Laboratory · Lemont, IL · $69,750–$108,810 a year · Full time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a complex engineering project you managed with many stakeholders. How did you keep it on track?

What they are checking: Whether they bring the execution discipline the posting says this role must combine with engineering depth.

Describe a time you had to say no to a sponsor or partner.

What they are checking: Whether they can protect program goals and safety while keeping key relationships strong.

How do you balance hands-on technical work with project management when both need you at once?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle a hybrid role without dropping either side.

What would you do

A sponsor's module delivery is late and teams are waiting. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can keep the program moving and communicate honestly with teams and sponsors.

How would you design new battery engineering training for university students entering the workforce?

What they are checking: Whether they can advance new programming that prepares students for battery industry jobs.

About the work

How would you lead industry sponsors through the design and validation of custom battery modules for EcoCAR?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage the technical and relationship side of a multi-sponsor battery effort.

What validation testing would you require before a custom battery module goes into a student-built vehicle?

What they are checking: Whether they put safety first with abuse, thermal and electrical testing for packs used by students.

How do you approach thermal management and cell balancing in a battery module design?

What they are checking: Whether they have real battery engineering knowledge beyond project coordination.

What software tools or workflows have you built to make a program run more smoothly?

What they are checking: Whether they can build the practical tools and data systems the posting mentions.

How do you see AI being used in battery engineering or vehicle development, and where is it overhyped?

What they are checking: Whether they have a grounded view of AI-enabled engineering, which is part of STEP's portfolio.

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The full job description

As published by Argonne National Laboratory.

Argonne National Laboratory’s Strategic Transportation Education & Partnerships (STEP) Department seeks an AVTC Technical Operations and Battery Systems Engineer to support and expand STEP’s battery engineering and project delivery across its advanced energy and transportation workforce portfolio. This role combines technical project management, applied research, battery engineering leadership, and software/data systems development to advance workforce initiatives in batteries, energy storage, software-defined vehicles, electrified transportation, and AI-enabled engineering. The selected candidate will serve in a key technical and program-delivery role across the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, including direct responsibility as a technical project lead for EcoCAR battery engineering activities, specifically coordinating industry sponsors through the design and validation of custom modules for deployment within the program. The role is intended for a candidate who can bridge engineering depth with execution discipline: managing complex research and engineering efforts, along with coordinating diverse stakeholders, advancing new battery engineering programming, and building practical tools and workflows that improve how STEP programs operate. • Provides technical project management and strategic coordination for large, multi-stakeholder workforce programs and R&D initiatives. • Serves as the operations project lead for the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, coordinating project activities, schedules, deliverables, risk management, and communication across internal staff, university teams, sponsors, and research partners. • Coordinates industry sponsors through the process of designing and validating custom modules for deployment within the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge. • Supports EcoCAR battery engineering activities, designing and executing overall program structure, deliverables, student/team engagement, and external partnerships. • Coordinates activities related to evaluating module configurations, structural integration, and pack architectures to meet strict electrical, safety, and packaging requirements. • Supports planning and execution of major technical milestones, events, deliverables, and cross-functional workstreams, ensuring alignment between engineering, programmatic, and sponsor-facing objectives. • Contributes to curriculum, student mentorship, and training related to high-voltage battery systems integration, battery thermal management, and safety protocols to accelerate mobility innovation. • Utilizes artificial intelligence and embedded systems to accelerate engineering methods, software platforms, and digital workflows that improve engineering productivity, evaluation, and program delivery. • Contributes to the design of new programs and pilot efforts that align STEP’s workforce mission with emerging technology priorities. • Represents and advances STEP through technical publications, presentations, workshops, conferences, and participation in professional societies, technical committees, and external working groups, disseminating methods, findings, and tools in batteries, transportation systems, and AI-enabled engineering while strengthening STEP’s visibility and collaborations. Position Requirements • Experience leading battery engineering, systems integration, or technology translation activities in a research, industry, or academic environment. • Knowledge of high-voltage battery architecture, safety compliance, and module-level pack integration. • Knowledge of software engineering and applied AI/ML principles for research, engineering, or workforce-program platforms. • Experience applying AI/ML to engineering workflows, technical decision support, program operations, or battery engineering processes • Experience with technical project management, including planning, coordination, scheduling, tracking deliverables, and managing cross-functional stakeholders. • Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, organizational ability, and capacity to manage multiple concurrent activities • Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports, presentations, training materials, and publications. • Ability to work effectively across technical, programmatic, and external partnership settings. • Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork. The selected candidate will be placed at the appropriate level (PT2 or PT3) depending upon depth and breadth of relevant knowledge, skills, and experience brought to the position. The requirements for the desired levels are as follows: • PT2: Bachelors and 2+ years of experience, or equivalent in engineering, computer science, energy systems, transportation, or a related technical field. • PT3: Bachelors and 4+ years of experience, Masters and 2+ years, or equivalent in engineering, computer science, energy systems, transportation, or a related technical field. Job Family Professional Technical (PT) Job Profile Project Management and Planning 2 Worker Type Regular Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $69,750.00 - $108,810.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package. Click here to view Argonne employee benefits! As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

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