Lab Operations Lead - Solid-State Battery R&D

Blue Current, Inc.; Hayward (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Current, Inc. is seeking a Lab Operations Supervisor to join the Technical Operations team in Hayward, CA, supporting solid-state battery R&D and prototyping.

The role leads a team of technicians performing slurry mixing, coating, calendering, pouch sealing, and testing. You will own day-to-day lab leadership on the floor, scheduling and staffing across experiments, ensuring SOP compliance, and coordinating with engineers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in a technical, laboratory, or precision manufacturing environment (batteries, semiconductors, medical devices)
• 1+ years of experience supervising, leading, or mentoring technicians or lab staff
• Demonstrated ownership of processes or equipment, including troubleshooting and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of lab technicians through regular one‑on‑ones, daily standup meetings, performance management, and skills development planning
• Review and approve timesheets, PTO requests, and other administrative tasks for direct reports
• Build and maintain daily and weekly schedules that align technician availability and equipment capacity with experiment priorities and project deadlines
• Drive cross‑training initiatives to broaden technician skill sets and strengthen team resiliency
• Ensure the technician team executes work orders accurately, safely, on schedule, and in compliance with SOPs and documentation protocols
• Provide hands‑on process coverage during technician absences or workload constraints to maintain operational continuity
• Manage day‑to‑day laboratory inventory of chemicals, raw materials, consumables, tooling, and other supplies required for R&D activities
• Coordinate the identification, escalation, and resolution of equipment, materials, process, and scheduling issues
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the technician team and R&D engineers/scientists on daily priorities, experiment status, and process changes
• Uphold and enforce lab safety standards; proactively identify and close gaps
• Partner with EHS, Facilities, Maintenance, and Quality on equipment upkeep, laboratory safety, quality systems, and compliance requirements
• Lead 5S initiatives and maintain organized, clean, and efficient laboratory workspaces
• Other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope and level of this position

Skills

Team leadership

Lab operations

Safety compliance

Scheduling

Communication

Education

Associate's degree in a technical field

Job description

Blue Current, Inc. is seeking a Lab Operations Supervisor to join the Technical Operations team in Hayward, CA, supporting solid-state battery R&D and prototyping.

The role leads a team of technicians performing slurry mixing, coating, calendering, pouch sealing, and testing. You will own day-to-day lab leadership on the floor, scheduling and staffing across experiments, ensuring SOP compliance, and coordinating with engineers.