Director of Cell Equipment and Manufacturing Engineering

Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc.; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 207,000 - 262,000; Full time

Job summary

Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc. seeks a Director of Cell Equipment and Manufacturing Engineering to lead the equipment specification, vendor selection, and line bring-up across our cell production facilities.

You will drive automation, FAT/SAT, and high-yield production with a data-driven leadership style. Reporting to the VP of Foundry Operations, you will scale multi-disciplinary teams, collaborate with R&D and Product, and shape the GWh-scale manufacturing roadmap in a fast-growing hardware

Qualifications

• 10+ years in equipment engineering or automated industrial machinery bring-up
• 5+ years leading technical engineering teams
• Experience specifying, selecting, and bringing up core lithium-ion manufacturing machinery
• Proven vendor selection, FAT/SAT, and global equipment OEM collaborations
• Practical understanding of dry rooms, cleanrooms, and hazardous materials safety
• Experience in fast-growth hardware environments with continuous improvement
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical/Electrical/Chemical engineering or related field

Responsibilities

• Define standard equipment requirements, line architecture, machine safety protocols, and line layouts across electrode, cell assembly, formation, aging, and end-of-line testing
• Direct technical RFQs, vendor evaluations, design reviews, and technical agreements with global equipment OEMs across North America, Europe, and Asia
• Own end-to-end equipment commissioning: FAT at vendor sites, oversee shipping and installation, and execute SAT
• Lead process engineering and line optimization post-commissioning to drive throughput, yield, and SPC
• Collaborate with R&D Battery Engineering and Product teams to align cell specifications and form factors for automated tooling
• Partner with Capital Project team to execute construction, integrating clean rooms, dry rooms, solvent recovery, hazardous materials handling
• Direct the integration of machine controls, PLC architectures, robotics, and MES to track data, quality, and maintenance
• Recruit, mentor, and scale a multi-disciplinary team of equipment, process, controls/automation engineers, and technicians
• Finalize equipment specifications, supplier matrix, and capex plans for initial GWh-scale plant lines

Skills

Leadership

Equipment Engineering

Battery Manufacturing

Vendor Management

Line Bring-Up

FAT/SAT

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering

Tools

MES

PLC Systems

Robotics

Job description

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

About Us

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

Who You Are

Sila is seeking a Director of Cell Equipment and Manufacturing Engineering to build and lead the technical organization responsible for the equipment specification, vendor selection, machinery bring-up, and manufacturing line optimization across our cell production facilities. Reporting directly to the VP of Foundry Operations, this executive will serve as the primary authority for transforming cell process chemistry into high-speed, automated, and audit-ready manufacturing lines.

This position is distinct from our early-stage R&D Battery Engineering team; while R&D develops early material chemistries and lab-scale cells, the Director of Cell Equipment and Manufacturing Engineering owns the physical industrialization—taking custom machinery from initial concept and sourcing through installation, line bring-up, and steady-state high-yield production.

The ideal candidate blends rigorous equipment engineering expertise with deep operational bring-up experience. You know how to author tight equipment specifications, run global tendering processes with machine builders, manage Factory and Site Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT), and lead hands‑on line commissioning in dry room and cleanroom environments. You are a low‑ego, data‑driven leader who excels at bridging technical teams and scaling talent in high‑growth hardware environments.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Equipment Specification & Standard Architecture: Define standard equipment requirements, line architecture, machine safety protocols, and line layouts across electrode, cell assembly, formation, aging, and end‑of‑line testing.
• Global Sourcing & Vendor Down‑Selection: Direct technical RFQs, vendor evaluations, design reviews, and technical agreements with global equipment OEMs across North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Factory Bring‑Up, FAT & SAT: Own end‑to‑end equipment commissioning: direct Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at vendor sites, oversee shipping and installation, and execute Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and mechanical/electrical bring‑up.
• Manufacturing Engineering & Yield Ramp: Lead process engineering and line optimization post‑commissioning to drive steady‑state throughput, line yield, OEE, statistical process control (SPC), and cost‑down roadmaps.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Collaborate with R&D Battery Engineering and Product teams to align cell specifications and form factors to define automated assembly tooling and automated high‑rate lines.
• Facilities & Utility Hookup: Partner with the Capital Project team to execute construction, integrating cell infrastructure, including clean rooms, dry rooms, solvent recovery systems, hazardous material handling, and dry air systems.
• Automation & Digital Integration: Direct the integration of machine controls, PLC architectures, robotics, and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to track production data, quality metrics, and maintenance scheduling.
• Team Leadership & Development: Recruit, mentor, and scale a multi‑disciplinary team spanning equipment engineers, process engineers, controls/automation engineers, and field service technicians.
• GWh Equipment Sourcing Roadmap: Finalize equipment specifications, the supplier matrix, and capital expenditure plans for Sila's initial GWh‑scale commercial plant lines.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Leadership Experience: Minimum 10+ years in equipment engineering, battery manufacturing engineering, or automated industrial machinery bring‑up, with 5+ years leading technical engineering teams.
• Lithium‑Ion Machinery Depth: Direct experience specifying, selecting, and bringing up core cell manufacturing machinery: mixers, coaters, slitters, winders/stackers, tab welders, pouch/can sealers, electrolyte filling, formation/aging systems, and EOL test equipment.
• Vendor & Program Management: Proven track record running vendor selection, design reviews, and FAT/SAT with global equipment OEMs.
• Commissioning & Line Bring‑Up Track Record: Hands‑on experience taking complex hardware lines through commissioning to qualified, high‑yield production.
• Facilities & Environmental Integration: Practical understanding of dry room requirements (dew point controls), cleanrooms, and chemical/hazardous media safety compliance.
• High‑Growth Agility: Experience operating in fast‑paced, high‑growth, hardware environments with a pragmatic, continuous‑improvement mindset.
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical field.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The work environment and physical demands are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Rarely: Carrying, Climbing Stairs and Ladders, Kneeling, Squatting, Hearing, Heights, Kneeling, Bending, Stooping, Wet Climates, Hazards, Noise greater than 85 decibels

Occasionally: Sanding, Walking

Frequently: Reading, Sitting

Constantly: Grasping, Hearing, Reaching, Reading, Repetitive Motions, Sitting, Vision

The starting base pay for this role is between $207,000 and $262,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, and equity. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Working at Sila

We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.