Engineering Manager | NantG Power

Colonial Group; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

NantG Power is seeking an Engineering Manager – Battery Technology & Scale-Up in Culver City, CA. You will lead PhD-level scientists and engineers to translate next-generation lithium-ion technologies into manufacturable battery solutions.

The role combines research, engineering, and commercialization, guiding innovations from concept through pilot and into production with a strong emphasis on team leadership, DOE studies, and risk mitigation.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with extensive battery development background.
• Proven leadership with 2+ years managing teams.
• Experience translating lab tech to production.
• Strong electrochemistry fundamentals and cell design knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing technical team to deliver advanced battery innovations.
• Oversee translation of lab-scale technologies into manufacturable, scalable processes.
• Ensure rigorous documentation, technical communication, and cross-functional alignment.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks that could impact product performance, manufacturability, or yield.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or related field with 5+ years of industrial battery development

Bachelor’s/Master’s with 8–10+ years of relevant experience

Tools

DOE studies

Scale-up trials

Job description

Location: Culver City, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Engineering Manager – Battery Technology & Scale‑Up is a critical leadership role within NantG Power’s organization. This individual will lead a team of PhD‑level scientists and engineers to apply next‑generation lithium‑ion cell technologies and translate them into manufacturable, production‑ready battery solutions.

This role sits at the intersection of advanced research, applied engineering, and commercialization, ensuring that innovations developed in the lab can be scaled reliably, cost‑effectively, and with high yield. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in battery materials and battery cell design and engineering with strong leadership skills and a proven ability to guide technologies from concept through pilot and into production.

MAIN JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Engineering Leadership & Technical Direction

• Lead, mentor, and develop an interdisciplinary team working across anode, cathode, electrolyte, separator, and cell design.
• Drive the full research and product development cycle—from early‑stage concept through prototype, validation, and transfer to manufacturing.
• Guide root‑cause analysis, failure mode identification, and risk mitigation strategies for cell components and processes.
• Define and prioritize R&D initiatives aligned with NantG’s technical roadmap and commercial objectives.

Scale‑Up & Commercialization

• Partner with R&D, Manufacturing, Process Engineering, and Quality to translate lab‑scale innovations into production‑relevant processes.
• Develop scale‑up strategies for new materials, formulations, and cell designs, including process windows, equipment requirements, and manufacturability constraints.
• Oversee pilot‑line trials, DOE matrices, and validation builds to ensure smooth transition from R&D to production.
• Identify yield risks, cost drivers, and process sensitivities early in development and drive solutions that support high‑volume manufacturing.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work with Operations, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure R&D activities align with timelines, budgets, and customer requirements.
• Represent R&D in cross‑functional reviews, communicating technical progress, risks, and resource needs to executive leadership.
• Support customer engagements, technical discussions, and external collaborations.

Documentation, IP, and External Engagement

• Prepare and review technical reports, patent filings, publications, and grant proposals.
• Maintain rigorous documentation of experiments, process parameters, and scale‑up learnings.
• Stay current with industry advancements and integrate state‑of‑the‑art knowledge into team strategy.

General Leadership & Other Duties

• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and efficient execution.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead and develop a high‑performing technical team to deliver advanced battery innovations.
• Oversee the translation of lab‑scale technologies into manufacturable, scalable processes.
• Ensure rigorous documentation, technical communication, and cross‑functional alignment.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks that could impact product performance, manufacturability, or yield.
• Maintain compliance with internal processes, IP requirements, and external grant or reporting obligations.
• Provide technical leadership that, if absent, would materially impact R&D progress, production readiness, or commercialization timelines.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related field with 5+ years of industrial battery development experience; OR Bachelor’s/Master’s with 10+/8+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 2 years of people leadership, including team supervision, mentorship, or technical project leadership.
• Demonstrated success developing and scaling lithium‑ion battery technologies from lab to pilot or production.
• Strong understanding of electrochemistry fundamentals, cell design tradeoffs, and interactions between materials, processes, and performance.
• Hands‑on experience with electrode formulation, coating, calendaring, electrolyte systems, and cell assembly.
• Experience designing and executing DOE studies, validation builds, and scale‑up trials.
• Ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary projects in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence technical discussions and present to leadership.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with adaptability, resilience, and a bias toward action in a startup environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading R&D teams in high‑growth or startup environments.
• Background in high‑volume manufacturing or pilot‑line scale‑up.
• Experience with advanced characterization tools, modeling, or data analytics for battery systems.
• Prior involvement in IP strategy, patent drafting, or external research collaborations.
• Familiarity with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements for lithium‑ion cell production.

COMPETENCIES

Results Orientation & Execution

• “Identifies in advance where objectives are not on track and develops a plan to address the issues.”
• “Takes initiative and is not satisfied with the status quo.”

Communication

• “Tailors messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.”
• “Engages stakeholders using appropriate communication methods to achieve desired outcomes.”

Decision Making & Problem Solving

• “Collects and analyzes information from a variety of sources to support decision making.”
• “Effectively leverages hard data as inputs in making decisions.”

Innovation & Change Management

• “Proposes novel ideas and explores alternatives.”
• “Readily adapts to change and actively communicates the advantages of change.”

OTHER

• collaborations, or conference participation; valid passport required.
• May involve time in lab, pilot, or manufacturing environments requiring PPE.

The Pay Range

$140,000 to $155,000 Annually (Depending on Experience)