Postdoctoral Fellow, Next-Generation Smart Battery Management System

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: Automotive and Surface Transportation

Classification: RO

Tenure: Term

Duration: 2 years

Language Requirements: English

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the at the NRC work location identified.

The program

The NRC’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program offers PDFs access to unique world-class facilities and the opportunity to work alongside multi-disciplinary teams of expert researchers and technicians on projects of critical importance to Canada. PDFs will carry out research on innovative research projects, with opportunities for career development (publications and/or industry interaction).

PDFs will be offered appointments to the staff of the National Research Council on a term basis and will be offered salaries and benefits currently available to Research Officers. Salaries commensurate with experience are taxable and subject to other deductions. As a guide, the current annual PhD recruiting rate is $83,985. In addition PDFs will be allocated a travel fund to support their work.

Project title

Next-Generation Battery Management System for Electrified Transportation and Energy Storage

The role

Battery systems are central to electrified transportation, including electric vehicles, trains, and aircraft. Every battery pack requires a battery management system (BMS), an electronic controller that monitors, protects, and optimizes battery operation. Current BMS technology has critical gaps: existing platforms are closed and restrict research use; temperature sensing is sparse, forcing engineers to rely on unreliable simulation models; and the standard cell-balancing method wastes energy as heat.

This project will develop a next-generation, NRC-built BMS platform integrating three novel capabilities: a flexible, cloud-connected architecture for research use; fiber Bragg grating (FBG) optical sensors embedded in battery packs, providing hundreds of real-time temperature sensing points to support thermal management and fast charging; and an active cell-balancing prototype that redistributes energy between cells rather than dissipating it. The project will produce peer-reviewed publications and patent opportunities, and directly supports Canada's net-zero transportation goals.

As the postdoctoral fellow, you will be the primary researcher on this project, taking each of its three components from early-stage work to working hardware. In your first year, you will be a part of the development of the NRC BMS platform, expanding its hardware and software capability. Across both years, you will build on a completed proof of concept to embed FBG sensor arrays into battery modules and connect them to the platform for real-time thermal mapping. In your second year, you will develop a physical active cell-balancing prototype and benchmark it against conventional passive balancing.

You will work with a high degree of autonomy, supported by a project lead and other team members. You will have hands-on access to NRC’s state-of-the-art battery testing facility and will collaborate with researchers across NRC, including the Aerospace and Construction research centres, as well as external partners. In this role, you will build expertise in embedded sensing, power electronics, and software development, and you will be encouraged to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, and pursue patents arising from the work.

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or in a field related to the position.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• Experience conducting research in a field related to energy storage, power electronics, or embedded systems.
• Experience using programming and data analysis software such as Python, MATLAB, or C/C++.

The following experience criteria would be considered assets:

• Experience designing, building, or testing electronic hardware or battery systems in a laboratory setting.
• Experience working with battery management systems and related functions such as state estimation, cell balancing, or thermal management.
• Experience developing circuit design, simulation, or printed circuit board (PCB).
• Experience developing embedded firmware for microcontrollers.
• Experience using cloud connectivity, IoT systems, and connected devices.

Language requirements

English

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Condition of employment

Reliability Status

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Who is eligible?

• Fellowships will be for two years contingent on satisfactory progress achieved during the first year.
• Candidates should have obtained a PhD (or equivalent) within the past three years (PhD received on or after July 1, 2024*) or expect to complete their PhD within 6 months of appointment.
• Fellows will work in a lab under the direct supervision of an NRC researcher.

* Exceptions may be considered to recognize personal or family related leave. Please connect with us using the contact information below to discuss in more detail.

Application requirements

To be considered for the program please include the following in your application, please note that you will need to attach the required documents as per the list below when submitting your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded.

• Resume
• Statement of Interest in the project (maximum one page in length)
• PhD Transcript - an electronic copy is sufficient, it does not have to be an official version.
• List of Publications

When submitting your application you can include the required documents in any attachment field such as «Second language evaluation results» or «Other attachments»

In addition, applicants who best meet the requirements of the position will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation at a later stage of the competition process.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff the position at the AsRO level, which is an early-career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $116,641. This wide range accounts for varying degrees of expertise and impact, and growth within the role.

Salary determination will be based on a thorough evaluation of the successful candidate's prior experience. This evaluation will consider specific achievements, skills, and contributions that demonstrate the candidate's impact and expertise. As a guide, the average starting rate for new PhD graduates entering this role is $83,985.

The NRC is committed to supporting career progression within the organization, providing access to the opportunities and resources needed for a pathway to a fulfilling career. NRC employees also enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• Fellowships are open to nationals of all countries, although preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (26200) to:

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 514-206-9802

Closing Date: 07 January 2027 - 23:59 Eastern Time

For more information on career tools and other resources, check out Career tools and resources

*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careersmodule from your NRC computer.