Battery Cell Process Engineer (Entry Level)

Programmers.io; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Programmers.io in Mountain View, CA is seeking an entry-level Battery Cell Process Engineer to support pilot-line fabrication and prototyping of next-generation battery technology for high-energy applications. Day-1 onsite, contract and full-time Hire Type.

You will assist senior engineers by operating lab equipment, conducting DOEs, and ensuring quality and repeatability across builds, while documenting SOPs and safety protocols for new chemistries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• 1+ years operating lab-scale pilot line equipment for pouch cell fabrication.
• Hands-on experience with battery materials handling and cleanroom/dry room work.
• Familiarity with lithium-ion cell manufacturing processes (coating, calendering, stacking, electrolyte filling).

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end lab-scale pouch cell fabrication processes.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain pilot line equipment and glove boxes.
• Execute DOEs to optimize processes and CPPs.
• Perform inline quality inspections and log metrics.
• Troubleshoot defects and document SOPs and safety protocols.

Skills

Lab equipment operation

Documentation

Process optimization

Statistics/DOE awareness

Education

Bachelors in Materials Science

Tools

Pilot line equipment

Glove boxes

Calendering equipment

Electrolyte filling/sealing equipment

Slot-die coating

Job description

Position: Battery Cell Process Engineer (Entry Level)

Location: Mountain View CA (Day 1 onsite)

Hire Type: Contract / Full Time

The Battery Cell Process Engineer (Pilot Line / Prototyping) will be supporting the fabrication and prototyping of next-generation battery technology for high-energy applications.

The vendor will support senior process and cell design engineers by operating and maintaining lab-scale pilot line equipment, building pouch cells systematically, optimizing cell assembly parameters, and ensuring high manufacturing

quality and repeatability across experimental builds.

Services and Deliverables:

• Support end-to-end lab-scale pouch cell fabrication, including slurry mixing, electrode coating, calendering, slitting/die cutting, precision stacking, tab welding, pouch sealing, electrolyte filling, and formation.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain pilot line equipment, tooling, dry rooms, and glove boxes to maintain baseline process capability.
• Execute Design of Experiments (DOEs) for process optimization, identifying critical process parameters (CPPs) to improve cell yield, uniformity, and energy density.
• Perform in-line quality inspections (e.g., thickness uniformity, loading density, alignment checks, seal integrity) and log fabrication metrics into tracking databases.
• Troubleshoot fabrication defects (e.g., coating pinholes, delamination, stacking misalignment, poor wetting) and work with senior engineers to implement corrective actions.
• Document Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), assembly traveler logs, and safety protocols for new chemistries and form factors.

Minimum Qualifications (Reference only):

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical
• Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 1+ years of practical experience operating lab-scale pilot line equipment for pouch cell fabrication.
• Hands-on laboratory or cleanroom/dry room experience handling battery materials, chemicals, and mechanical assembly tools.
• Direct experience or coursework involving lithium-ion cell manufacturing processes (e.g., slurry preparation, slot-die/doctor-blade coating, calendering, stacking, electrolyte filling, etc.).
• Strong documentation skills, attention to detail in handling delicate pouch cell components, and adherence to lab safety/hazardous materials handling protocols.

Preferred Qualifications (Reference only):

• Working knowledge of pouch cell fabrication equipment, including tab welding, and electrolyte filling/sealing equipment.
• Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), yield analysis, and basic data analysis tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, JMP, Excel).
• Understanding of how upstream process variations impact downstream cell quality and electrochemical performance.