Engineering Technical Assistant - Electrical

Argonne National Laboratory - Lemont, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Lemont, IL

Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers

About the position

The Engineering Technical Assistant - Electrical at Argonne National Laboratory plays a vital role in supporting the Grid Integration Technology group, focusing on innovative solutions for sustainable energy management, particularly in electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This position involves designing, building, and maintaining experimental setups for both low-power electronic systems and high-voltage/high-power AC and DC systems, contributing to research on electric vehicles and grid-connected technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test equipment and experimental setups for low power electronics and high voltage/power AC and DC systems.
• Design and set up EV charging solutions to deliver high voltage and high power safely and reliably.
• Perform hands-on mechanical work using plastic, metal, electrical and wood as required by the project.
• Conduct independent assignments with limited direction.
• Supervise and guide non-exempt technicians as needed.
• Ensure compliance with safety policies and procedures, particularly regarding high-voltage systems.
• Install, program, and operate data acquisition equipment.
• Perform electrical repairs, design, and assembly of electrical equipment from scratch.
• Work on high-voltage EV systems, adhering to safety protocols.
• Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats, including technical documentation.

Requirements

• Deep knowledge and experience in designing, building and testing electrical and mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of electrical codes for building and automotive industries.
• Proven ability to set up custom project experiments, including electrical and mechanical modifications.
• Familiarity working with thick wire gauges (lower than 2 AWG) for high current and high-power applications.
• Knowledge of basic electrical engineering principles related to vehicle systems, including standard wiring techniques and electrical safety standards.
• Understanding of basic mechanical engineering principles, including thermal effects on materials and components.
• Familiarity with quality assurance procedures and safety guidelines.
• Skills in installing, programming, and operating data acquisition equipment.
• Extensive ability in electrical repairs, electrical design, and assembling electrical equipment from scratch.
• Proficiency in developing technical documentation, including wiring diagrams, CAD drawings, and test procedures.
• Excellent communication skills, problem-solving skills and ability to work timely and effectively in a team environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in working with high voltage battery systems (50 - 1000V DC) such as those in EVs.
• Basic programming skills in languages such as LabVIEW, C, C++, JavaScript, and Python.
• Formal education in Electrical Engineering or a related field, typically an associate's degree, or equivalent experience (high school diploma & 5+ years of relevant experience).