Programme Associate/ Research Analyst - Vehicles and Fuels (Sustainable Mobility)

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi

Programme Associate/ Research Analyst - Vehicles and Fuels (Sustainable Mobility)

Terms of reference

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) is one of Asia’s leading not-for-profit policy research institutions. CEEW works at the intersection of energy, environment, economy, and human development to generate evidence that informs policy and practice. CEEW places strong emphasis on methodological rigour, interdisciplinary analysis, and policy relevance.

At CEEW, we are deliberate about what we stand for (and what we don’t stand for!) as an employer. If the description below resonates with you, we would love to hear from you!

At CEEW, we build careers in public policy

● We offer strong visionary leadership - with emphasis on research and impact at scale

● We actively promote leadership by initiative

● We celebrate talent and ambition

● You will be surrounded by smart people who will challenge you and help you grow

● You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations

● Curiosity and irreverence, as well as responsibility, come together at CEEW

● You will get above-market remuneration

● We provide a safe space for all

● At CEEW, your life is your example for others

Designation offered

Programme Associate / Research Analyst

Team/ Focus area

Sustainable Mobility - Vehicles & Fuels

Location

New Delhi, India

Reporting to

Fellow/ Programme Lead

Job Summary:

CEEW seeks a technically grounded and policy-oriented Programme Associate with strong training in automotive engineering and the energy transition portfolio. This role bridges vehicle-level engineering analysis, vehicle fuels, vehicle materials, specifications and supply chain with macro-level policy and cost modelling.

The selected candidate will support research and advisory work spanning vehicle design, powertrain technologies (ICE, Hybrid, EV, Hydrogen), alternative fuels, supply-chain decarbonisation, circular economy, and life-cycle emissions and costs modelling. The role demands an understanding of automotive systems engineering alongside techno-economic and regulatory analysis to inform India’s low-carbon mobility transition.

The position requires contributions to national level policy support, evaluating next-generation vehicle technologies, assessing material and component-level cost structures, and translating technical findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and multilateral institutions.

Job duties and accountabilities

Project-specific:

Vehicle & Powertrain Engineering

● Conduct techno-economic assessments of various powertrains (ICE, Flex-fuel, Hybrid, BEV, FCEV, Hydrogen-ICE) across segments (2W, 3W, 4W, MHDVs, buses).

● Evaluate vehicle design evolution trends, lightweighting strategies, aerodynamics, thermal management, and drivetrain efficiency improvements.

● Analyse emerging technologies including solid-state batteries, megawatt charging systems (MCS), battery swapping architectures, and hydrogen storage systems.

Emissions & Energy Modelling

● Conduct Well-to-Tank (WtT), Tank-to-Wheel (TtW), and Well-to-Wheel (WtW) emission analysis aligned with India’s net-zero pathway.

● Perform Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of vehicles, batteries, and fuel systems, including material extraction and end-of-life scenarios.

● Extract inputs from national fuel and transport models to conduct sensitivity analysis on energy demand, fleet electrification scenarios, and grid impacts.

● Assess vehicle-level efficiency improvements and their impact on national oil import dependence and energy security.

Materials, Components & Supply Chain

● Undertake materials and components-based costing analysis for EVs and ICE vehicles (battery packs, motors, controllers, fuel systems, exhaust after-treatment).

● Analyse the automotive supply chain transition under PLI schemes and localisation mandates.

● Study critical mineral dependency (lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earths) and strategic diversification pathways.

● Evaluate battery recycling ecosystems, scrappage policy impacts, steel and aluminium recovery pathways, and circular economy interventions.

Circular Automotive Systems

● Assess vehicle scrappage frameworks and material recovery efficiencies.

● Study second-life applications and recycling value chains for the study battery.

● Quantify embodied carbon in manufacturing processes and propose decarbonisation strategies for OEM production facilities.

Programmatic:

● Jointly author/Co-author high-impact research reports, policy briefs, journal papers, and opinion pieces, translating complex automotive engineering, fuel transition, and life-cycle findings into actionable policy insights.

● Lead and support multi-state studies on vehicle electrification, hydrogen mobility, alternative fuels, and supply-chain decarbonisation—managing timelines, stakeholders, and research workflows.

● Develop techno-economic models, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) frameworks, and scenario analyses to evaluate powertrains (ICE, Hybrid, EV, Hydrogen) across vehicle segments.

● Conduct Well-to-Wheel (WtW) emissions modelling, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and materials-based costing to assess vehicle technologies, battery chemistries, hydrogen systems, and manufacturing transitions.

● Track and analyse national and state mobility policies (e.g., FAME/PM E-DRIVE, PLI schemes, CAFÉ norms, Hydrogen Mission), and draft evidence-based regulatory recommendations.

● Provide technical advisory support to government stakeholders and industry partners on vehicle standards, charging and hydrogen infrastructure, circular economy frameworks, and industrial localisation pathways.

● Build and manage structured datasets integrating vehicle performance, component costs, supply-chain emissions, and fuel pathways.

● Engage with OEMs, battery manufacturers, ministries, and research institutions to ensure industry-grounded and policy-relevant outputs.

● Mentor junior researchers and contribute to stakeholder consultations, expert roundtables, and outreach initiatives.

● Generate compelling data visualisations and concise insights for public dissemination and thought leadership.

Selection Criteria

Education and experience:

● Master's degree in Automotive/Mechanical Engineering (with EV / vehicle systems focus), Energy Systems, Public Policy (with strong technical exposure).

● A strong research background in vehicle engineering, fuels, and emissions analysis is required.

● 3–5 years of relevant experience in the Automotive industry (OEM, Tier-1 supplier, EV startup), or Energy transition research, or Policy consulting in transport and fuels.

● Experience working with public and private institutions is desirable.

● Demonstrated experience in designing and managing complex surveys (cross-sectional and longitudinal).

● Strong proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, Python) and multivariate analysis techniques.

● Published peer-reviewed publications or high-impact policy reports.

Key Skills:

● Proficiency in Python, R, or STATA for modelling

● Advanced Excel for techno-economic assessments

● Familiarity with GIS tools

● Understanding of vehicle simulation tools (preferred)

● Experience with LCA frameworks and emissions accounting methodologies

● Excellent writing skills (English; Hindi preferred)

● Ability to synthesise complex engineering concepts into policy insights

● Comfort handling tight deadlines

● Strong stakeholder engagement capabilities

● Alignment with CEEW culture: curious, responsible, and impact-driven

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Compensation

Competitive compensation – commensurate with the experience and matching the best of the standards adopted by industry or other similar organisations for similar roles.

Application Process