Pilot Line Manager

About Blue Current

Blue Current is a manufacturer of Solid-state batteries based in Hayward, California. The company strives to provide engineers and designers with the highest performance and safest battery storage for the future energy economy including electric vehicles, consumer, medical and IoT devices. Blue Current leads with science, data and thoughtful IP across the full battery solution stack. Our team is diverse with deep research, implementation, and go-to-market experience. Our facility is located on San Francisco Bay with thousands of acres of wildlife preserve and miles of trails for recreation.

Description

As a Pilot Line Manager, you will be focused on producing battery materials and building cells that deliver high energy density, safety, and manufacturability. The Manufacturing Tech Manager needs to manage pilot line technicians, plan and organize cell manufacturing based on the requirement. You will be spending your day leading and creating a supply of materials and/or building cells and then characterizing all to support Manufacturing and R&D team. A background in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or any related field is preferred. This position will offer hands-on, fast paced work on a growing team that has a shared passion to change the energy storage landscape.

Responsibilities

Manage manufacturing technician team for day-to-day activities to manufacture small and large format battery cells with manual and pilot line from raw material handling to battery formation and cell quality check

Supporting prototype cell manufacturing, sample cell production and Process engineers’ development work

Produce various battery components (powders, electrode, assembly)

Create plan and schedule for manufacturing prototype battery components, cell and sample cells for customers

Manage raw material, components inventory and create purchasing plan

Characterize cell materials using with various analytical techniques (e.g. SEM, XRD, TGA, EIS and*CV)

Provide feedback and discuss characterization results to understand the impact of material properties on cell performance

Identify areas of improvement in process and machines, work with process engineering team to improve process capability

Establish and maintain safety work environment and manage hazardous waste and parts cleaning areas working with EH&S manager

Implement 5S environment, maintain the organization and cleanliness of the laboratory spaces

Perform frequent preventative maintenance and calibrations on equipment to maintain best operating conditions and functionality working with facility team

Complete material documentation accurately and timely with detail

Quickly adapt to constantly evolving processes of core technology while maintaining detailed notes and updated data sheets that reflect changes

Requirements

Previous team management experience (5+ years or more)

Experience working in an environment that requires strong attention to detail and precision

Consistent and thorough documentation, and standard operating procedures

Experience handling hazardous materials and waste management for lab space

Ability to work in a dry room and a glove box for extended periods of time

Ability to stand or sit for long periods of time and perform hand intensive repetitive tasks

Above-average fine manual dexterity and visual acuity

Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and experience working with team members to overcome technical challenges

Clear written and verbal skills to logically communicate ideas and thought processes

Appreciation for and adherence to lab and work safety policies

Previous powder process and machine (Powder mixing, synthesis process, sieving, classification)

And/or Previous roll to roll process and machine (slot die, gravure, comma coating, calendering, slitting) experience

And/or Previous slurry mixing experience (Handling powder, solvent, handling various types of mixers)

And/or battery cell assembly (Stamping, stacking, JR winding, ultrasonic welding, pouch sealing)

Previous glovebox/dry room experience

Previous chemical manufacturing experience

Preferred

BA/BS in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar field lab science

Familiarity with analytical tools such as SEM, XRD, TGA, FTIR, DSC, and TGA

5+ years of work experience in a fast-paced lab or manufacturing environment requiring high accuracy execution of processes or experiments

Experience of working in a chemical laboratory and handling hazardous materials

Basic knowledge about chemistry (understanding of difference between acid/base, meaning of pH, and awareness of those risks)

Job Type - Full-time

Schedule - Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate - Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work

Blue Current is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and embraces diversity. We believe that our team is strengthened through hiring and retaining employees with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, ideas, and perspectives. We make hiring decisions based on merit and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender (including pregnancy) gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, disability status or any other protected category in accordance with applicable law.