Na-ion Systems Engineer

Location: Bangalore, India

Department: Research & Development - Saft Innovation Incubator

Experience: 7+ years

Reporting To: Engineering Manager, with a strong functional link to the Incubator teams in France

Career path: Founding member and future lead of the Bangalore Na-ion Systems team

About Saft

Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, is a global leader in advanced battery technologies, delivering innovative energy storage solutions for industrial, transportation, telecommunications, and renewable energy applications.

Sodium-ion (Na-ion) is one of the most promising alternatives to lithium-based chemistries: abundant raw materials, reduced exposure to lithium price volatility, excellent behaviour at low and high temperatures, and long cycle life. Saft’s chemistry experts have been characterising Na-ion cells for several years. The next step is to turn this chemistry into safe, competitive and certifiable battery systems.

We are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Na-ion Systems Engineer to open this new activity in our Bangalore engineering hub, starting hands-on and growing it into a dedicated team.

Position Summary The Na-ion Systems Engineer will initially act as the technical lead for electronics and Battery Management System (BMS) topics on Na-ion battery systems, and as the system integrator who brings together the electrical, electronic, mechanical and thermal dimensions of the product.

Na-ion is not a drop-in replacement for Li-ion. Its wider voltage window, different open-circuit-voltage profile, specific ageing, gassing and safety behaviour, and its ability to be stored and shipped at very low state of charge all have a direct impact on BMS hardware, sensing, algorithms, power conversion interfaces, protections, cooling and mechanical design. The successful candidate will translate the guidance provided by Saft’s chemistry experts into system requirements and architecture choices for BESS, Telecom and other applications where Na-ion can create value.

This is a role with a clear growth path: after establishing the technical foundations and delivering the first demonstrators, the successful candidate is expected to build, structure and lead a dedicated Na-ion systems team in India, working hand in hand with the Incubator and the Saft business divisions in Europe and worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

BMS & Electronics for Na-ion

- Assess and specify the BMS requirements for Na-ion battery systems: cell voltage window and measurement accuracy, current and temperature sensing, balancing strategy, protections, contactor and fuse management, insulation monitoring, communication interfaces and diagnostics.
- Evaluate the impact of Na-ion characteristics (wide and sloping voltage curve, low-voltage / near-0 V storage, low-temperature performance, ageing and gassing behaviour) on BMS hardware and on State-of-X estimation (SOC, SOH, SOP).
- Benchmark existing Saft BMS/BMU/SMU platforms and market solutions (AFEs, monitoring ICs, isolators, current sensors), identify gaps, and define the reuse, adaptation or new-development strategy.
- Define the interface requirements with power conversion equipment (PCS, rectifiers, DC/DC and DC/AC converters), including voltage range, series count and operating limits specific to Na-ion.
- Contribute to the definition of safety functions and protection strategies (overvoltage, undervoltage, overcurrent, over-temperature, early detection of abnormal cell behaviour) in line with functional safety principles.

System Architecture & Multidisciplinary Integration

- Act as the system integrator for Na-ion battery projects, coordinating electrical,



electronic, mechanical and thermal aspects into a consistent, optimised architecture from cell to module, rack and system.
- Translate the inputs of Saft’s chemistry experts (cell performance, ageing, safety and abuse test results) into system-level requirements, design rules and trade-off studies.
- Define, with mechanical and thermal engineers, the cooling strategy, the mechanical envelope, venting and gas management, and the propagation-mitigation concepts adapted to Na-ion cells.
- Perform sizing and trade-off studies (energy, power, voltage, series/parallel configuration, cost, footprint, efficiency) and support techno-economic comparisons with LFP-based solutions.
- Ensure that new Na-ion architectures remain compatible with Saft platforms where relevant, including emerging architectures such as AC batteries with distributed power electronics.

Applications & Business Opportunities

- Assess Na-ion system requirements for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Telecom backup applications, and identify further markets that would benefit from the technology (e.g. rail, industrial, UPS, harsh-climate or cold-environment applications).
- Engage with Saft business divisions and product lines to understand customer use cases, duty cycles and operating environments, and translate them into technical specifications.
- Identify the relevant standards and certification requirements (e.g. IEC 62619, IEC 62485, UL 1973, UL 9540 / 9540A, telecom-specific requirements, transport regulations) and integrate them into the design from the start.

Demonstrators, Testing & Validation

- Define, build and test Na-ion system demonstrators (TRL 3 to 6), from requirements and architecture through bench integration and validation.
- Write test plans and specifications, supervise characterisation and validation campaigns, and analyse test data to confirm or adjust design choices.
- Produce transparent technical documentation: requirement specifications, architecture descriptions, design justifications, risk analyses (DFMEA, FTA), test reports and lessons learned.
- Present results, risks and recommendations to project teams, steering committees and internal customers to support go / no-go decisions.

Team Building & Leadership

- Define the skills roadmap and the staffing plan for a dedicated Na-ion systems team in Bangalore (electronics, BMS software, mechanical, thermal, validation).
- Take an active part in recruiting, onboarding, mentoring and technically leading the team as the activity grows.
- Set up efficient ways of working with the teams in France and other Saft sites: shared tools, design reviews, requirements management, reporting.
- Build and manage a local ecosystem of suppliers, test laboratories, academic partners and start-ups in India to accelerate development.
- Monitor the technology landscape (Na-ion cells, BMS ICs, power electronics, competitor products) and propose innovations, including patentable ideas.

Required Qualifications

Education

- Master’s degree or Engineering degree in electrical, electronics, power electronics, mechatronics, energy systems, or a related field. A PhD in a battery-related topic would be a plus.

Experience





- Minimum 7 years of industrial experience in battery systems development, with significant hands-on experience in BMS and/or battery electronics.
- Proven track record in the design, integration and validation of battery packs, modules or energy storage systems, ideally for stationary storage (BESS), telecom, e-mobility, rail or industrial applications.
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering work (electronics, mechanics, thermal, software) on a complex product.
- First experience in technical leadership (technical lead, mentoring, project or work-package management) is highly desirable; experience in building or growing a team would be a strong asset.

Technical Skills

- Strong knowledge of BMS architecture and functions: cell monitoring, balancing, protections, contactor management, insulation monitoring, communication (CAN, Modbus, Ethernet), and diagnostics.
- Solid understanding of battery behaviour and modelling: equivalent-circuit models, OCV/SOC relationships, impedance, ageing mechanisms, and State-of-X estimation methods.
- Good knowledge of analog and mixed-signal electronics, sensing chains, isolation, EMC and PCB design principles; ability to review schematics and layouts.
- Understanding of power electronics interfaces (PCS, DC/DC, DC/AC) and of system-level electrical design (high-voltage architecture, protection coordination, grounding).
- Working knowledge of thermal management (air and liquid cooling) and mechanical integration of battery systems, including thermal runaway, venting and propagation mitigation.
- Familiarity with battery safety and certification standards (IEC 62619, IEC 62485, UL 1973, UL 9540 / 9540A, UN 38.3) and functional safety principles (IEC 61508 or equivalent).
- Hands-on experience with simulation and analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and electrical or thermal simulation software.
- Knowledge of Na-ion technology (layered oxides, polyanionic cathodes such as NFPP, hard carbon anodes) is a strong plus, but motivated Li-ion experts eager to master a new chemistry are warmly encouraged to apply.

Soft Skills

- Entrepreneurial mindset: comfortable starting from a blank page, structuring a new activity and taking ownership of results.
- Strong system thinking and the ability to make sound trade-offs between performance, safety, cost and time-to-market.
- Leadership potential, with the ability to inspire, coach and grow a team.
- Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral, with the ability to explain complex technical topics to experts and non-experts alike.
- Collaborative attitude in an international and multicultural environment, working closely with teams in France and other locations.
- Analytical rigour, attention to detail and a strong commitment to safety and quality.

Why Join Saft?

- Be the founding engineer of a strategic new activity and shape the Na-ion systems roadmap from the very beginning.
- Clear career path towards team leadership, with the opportunity to build and lead your own team in Bangalore.
- Work on one of the most exciting emerging battery technologies, with direct impact on BESS, Telecom and other markets.
- Collaborate with recognised chemistry, electronics and safety experts within Saft and TotalEnergies, and with an international innovation network.
- See your work materialise into real demonstrators and products, from concept to validation.
- Contribute to innovations supporting the global energy transition and more resilient, less critical-material-dependent energy storage.
- Benefit from an inspiring environment focused on technology, innovation, and sustainability.

📌 Na-ion Systems Engineer (Bengaluru)
🏢 Saft
📍 Bengaluru