Process Engineer

Plasma International; Chico (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Plasma International is seeking a Process Engineer to join a battery technology team working on development and mid-scale manufacturing of cylindrical Li-ion cells. You will own process development, trials, equipment projects, and troubleshooting while interfacing with cell development and scale-up teams.

The role focuses on electrode and cell assembly processes, DOE-led trials, and data-driven root-cause analysis to improve yield and process stability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in process development/manufacturing engineering.
• Experience with lithium-ion electrode processing or cylindrical cell manufacturing preferred.
• Knowledge of DOE, SPC, process capability, PFMEA, control plans and root-cause analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize electrode and cell assembly processes.
• Plan and lead process trials, including DOE and capability work.
• Support NPI, scale-up, qualification, pilot builds and manufacturing transfer.
• Define equipment requirements and support commissioning, debugging and qualification.
• Investigate process/manufacturing issues using data-driven root-cause analysis.
• Produce and maintain technical docs including specs, work instructions, PFMEAs and control plans.
• Improve yield, process stability, coating consistency, cycle time, and scrap reduction.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and technicians.

Skills

Process engineering

Troubleshooting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

DOE

PFMEA

Control plans

SPC

Job description

We are supporting a battery technology company operating across both advanced R&D and mid-scale manufacturing, with a strong focus on helping bring new lithium-ion cell technologies through development and towards production.

They are looking to add a Process Engineerto their engineering team, with responsibility for a range of process development and manufacturing activities linked to cylindrical lithium-ion cells.

The role will suit someone who enjoys owning technical workstreams and being directly involved in process development, trials, equipment projects, troubleshooting and manufacturing transfer.

You will be involved across areas including:

• Development and optimisation of electrode and cell assembly processes.


• Planning and leading process trials, including DOE, capability work and troubleshooting activities.


• Supporting new product introduction, scale-up, qualification, pilot builds and transfer into manufacturing.


• Defining equipment requirements and supporting commissioning, debugging and qualification activity.


• Investigating process and manufacturing issues using data-driven root-cause analysis.


• Producing and maintaining technical documentation including specifications, work instructions, PFMEAs and control plans.


• Improving areas such as yield, process stability, coating consistency, assembly quality, cycle time, equipment utilisation and scrap.


• Providing technical guidance to less-experienced engineers and technicians.

What they are looking for

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field is expected, including areas such as chemical, mechanical, materials, manufacturing, industrial or electrical engineering.


• The ideal background will include around 3–5 years of experience in process development, manufacturing engineering, equipment engineering or a closely related discipline.


• Experience working with process development, scale-up, qualification and troubleshooting is important as is direct exposure to lithium-ion electrode processing or cylindrical cell manufacturing.


• Knowledge of DOE, SPC, process capability, PFMEA, control plans and root-cause analysis would also be highly relevant, alongside experience supporting equipment commissioning and manufacturing transfer.

This is an opportunity to join a growing battery technology organisation where the role sits directly between cell development, process engineering and manufacturing scale-up.