Lab Tech

PowerNaP Energy, Inc.; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health insurance

Dental & vision coverage

Job summary

PowerNaP Energy, Inc. is a climate-tech startup building lab capabilities in the SF Bay area. We seek an early-career scientist to assist in materials synthesis, processing, and cell assembly and testing, helping to push toward safer, higher-density sodium-ion batteries.

You'll maintain detailed experiments and data records, support lab setup and instrument calibration, enforce safety, manage hazardous materials, and collaborate with the CTO to scale workflows as we grow.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering.
• 4+ years of hands-on lab experience preferred.
• Experience in chemical synthesis, analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, process engineering, slurry mixing, or film coating.
• Commitment to rigorous safety standards and experience handling hazardous materials.
• Organized, detail-oriented, with solid record-keeping and data-analysis abilities.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift quickly.

Responsibilities

• Work on site in our SF Bay area lab – assist synthesis, processing, and cell assembly/testing.
• Maintain detailed experimental records and analyze data with senior staff.
• Support lab setup, inventory management, and calibration of analytical instruments.
• Enforce safety protocols and manage hazardous materials storage and disposal.
• Collaborate with the CTO and senior team to implement new procedures and scale workflows.

Skills

Lab safety

Data analysis

Analytical chemistry

Electrochemistry

Process engineering

Synthesis

Film coating

Record keeping

Education

Chemistry degree

Chemical engineering degree

Job description

PowerNaP is seeking an early-career scientist driven to advance battery technologies. You’ll be joining a climate-tech startup from the ground floor, building core lab capabilities, streamlining R&D processes, and seeing your work directly impact our mission.

About PowerNaP

Powernap Energy is a battery materials company. We’re on a mission to create a sustainable energy future for everyone. To achieve this promise, we engineer advanced materials to increase the energy density of sodium-ion batteries, raising their performance to parity with lithium-ion at a fraction of the cost.

About Sodium-Ion Batteries

Today, transportation and power generation account for 60% of CO 2 emissions. Sodium-ion batteries are made of Earth abundant materials, offering improved supply chain resilience and lower cost over lithium-ion batteries. Cost-effective batteries mean cheaper electricity and broader access to electric transportation, directly reducing those CO 2 emissions.

What you'll do

• Work on site in our new lab in the SF Bay area (East Bay) – location announcement coming soon.
• Assist in materials synthesis and processing, as well as various stages of cell assembly and testing
• Maintain detailed experimental records, analyze and review data with senior staff on a regular basis
• Support lab setup, inventory management, and calibration of analytical instruments
• Enforce safety protocols and manage hazardous materials storage and disposal
• Collaborate with the CTO and senior team to implement new procedures and scale workflows

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field
• 4+ years of hands-on lab experience preferred; strong foundational skills and appetite to learn welcome
• Experience in one or more areas: chemical synthesis, analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, process engineering, slurry mixing, or film coating
• Commitment to rigorous safety standards and experience handling hazardous materials
• Organized, detail-oriented, with solid record-keeping and data-analysis abilities
• Comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift quickly
• Competitive Salary, commensurate with experience
• Stock options to share in our growth
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance