Director, R&D Equipment Engineering

The role

You will provide leadership for a team of engineers and technicians designing and building materials processing and battery testing equipment. You will contribute to system designs, manage resources, and hire and grow technical talent.

What you will do

• Provide leadership for mechanical design, equipment and controls engineers and R&D fabricators & technicians.
• Balance competing resources and cross-functional objectives.
• Attract, hire, onboard, and retain engineers.
• Contribute technically to system designs from concept through operational support.
• Review and approve key design process work including mechanical design reviews, P&ID, and HAZID/HAZOPS.
• Support existing tools and deep troubleshooting.
• Work with R&D Operations and R&D Battery Operations to improve performance metrics.
• Organize, document, and communicate design decisions and experimental outcomes.
• Plan and execute projects in an R&D setting.

Required qualifications

• Demonstrated excellence at building and leading technical teams.
• Demonstrated collaborative problem solving.
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals.
• Experience in design and fab of complex assemblies, CAD software, and component sourcing.
• Expertise with lab or industrial automation platforms.
• Experience with lab/industrial electronics.
• Experience in R&D/laboratory settings with time pressure and substantial managerial autonomy.
• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical/Controls Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 15 years of work experience (post B.S.).
• Experience in a startup environment.
• Wear personal protective equipment including lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and composite toe safety shoes.
• Move long distances and be stationary for extended periods of time.

Nice to have

• Programming experience (C, C#, Python, .NET, MATLAB, or IEC 61131 PLC automation preferred)
• Basic familiarity with software engineering best practices

Benefits

• Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, and equity

About the company

Sila is a next-generation battery materials company. They engineer and manufacture battery materials to increase energy density for consumer devices and electric cars.