WHAT IS A RESEARCH ENGINEER ?
The incumbent functions as a Research Engineer with a focus on Agricultural, Chemical, and Biological disciplines, actively engaging in both fundamental and applied research activities within the Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit (SPIERU) at the Center for Grain and Animal Health Research (CGAHR). Their research aims to develop and refine innovative instrumentation capable of automated, precise assessments of grain properties including classification, uniformity, grade, functionality, and kernel morphology, among others. This role is pivotal in advancing scientific understanding and enhancing commercial technology for agricultural production.
An Overview of Research Engineer Job Description Responsibilities and Qualifications
1. Research Engineer Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop economical, effective, and ecologically sound methods for managing insect pests of grain
- Process commodities, improve post-harvest management practices and develop methods to rapidly evaluate grain quality.
- Develop instruments and procedures to rapidly and non-destructively detect attributes that relate to end-use functionality of grain such as fungal damage, transgenic seeds, protein quality, toxins, and insect infestations.
- Conduct research leading to fundamental information and commercial production of instrumentation for objective automated determination of grain class, uniformity, grade, functionality, kernel morphology and other properties.
- Develop technology for rapidly detecting insect characteristics that will lead to improved control of pest insects, mycotoxins and reductions in pesticide usage.
- Develop technology for detecting toxins that will help breeders select kernels to rapidly develop lines resistant to pathogens.
- Integrate information from the fields of engineering, genetics, chemistry, plant science, entomology, physics, and biology to solve complex problems.
- Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable.
- New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
2. Research Engineer Skills, Abilities and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in an appropriate field (i.e. chemistry, chemical, electrical or mechanical engineering or a related subject) or equivalent experience
- 3 -5 years of experience in lithium-ion battery cell fabrication/manufacture
- Experience with equipment operation within Dry-room
- Experience with battery industrial manufacture process and equipment operation
- Hand-on experience with battery cell and cell component fabrication/manufacture process (e.g. slurry mixing, electrode coating, electrode calendaring, winding/stacking, etc.)
- Experience with auto- or semi-auto battery cell fabrication equipments.
- Experience with lab-scale or pilot level manufacturing equipments.
- Ability to read & interpret electrical, mechanical, and other engineering drawings as well as other technical information
- Ability to work multi-task with cross-functional teams