Process Engineer, Connectors

CelLink; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

CelLink is seeking a Process Engineer to lead connector process development from concept through validation and production. You’ll design and optimize manufacturing methods across injection molding, overmolding, and laser welding with a focus on scalability and automation.

Collaborating with design engineers, you will translate design intent into robust, scalable processes, conduct structured DOEs, and validate results with lab tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in process engineering, NPI, or advanced manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with injection molding and/or overmolding processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop new manufacturing processes from concept through validation and into production.
• Solid background in DOE methodology, statistical analysis, and data-driven decision-making; experience with JMP, Minitab, or similar tools preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for connector process development; owning processes from concept through validation, scale-up, and handoff to sustained production.
• Develop new and innovative manufacturing processes across injection molding, overmolding, and laser welding with scalability and automation in mind.
• Design, execute, and analyze structured DOEs to optimize process parameters, improve yield, and reduce variability.
• Validate processes using lab and metrology equipment to ensure quality and reliability.
• Collaborate with design engineers, translating design intent into robust, scalable processes.
• Work hands-on with technicians on the production floor providing direction and guidance.
• Write and maintain clear process documentation to ensure repeatability.
• Identify opportunities to automate, scale, or improve connector processes; lead initiatives.
• Lead root cause investigations and drive data-driven corrective actions.
• Support APQP documentation including PFMEAs, DVP&Rs, and control plans.

Skills

DOE methodology

Statistical analysis

Injection molding

Overmolding

Process engineering

NPI

Data-driven decisions

JMP

Minitab

CAD tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical field

Tools

JMP

Minitab

CAD tools

Job description

As a Process Engineer on our Connectors team, you will serve as the technical leader for how connector processes are designed, validated, and scaled. You will develop and own new processes across a range of connectorization methods, including injection molding, overmolding, laser welding, and others; always with an eye toward scalability, automation, and long-term manufacturability.

This role sits at the intersection of design and manufacturing. You will work closely and collaboratively with design engineers, where your process expertise directly shapes product decisions, and their design intent shapes the processes you build.

We’re looking for someone who brings structure to ambiguity, thrives in a fast-changing environment, and has the drive to grow their impact as the Connectors team scales.

This is more than engineering; it’s defining how CelLink connects its technology to the world.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for connector process development; owning processes from concept through validation, scale-up, and handoff to sustained production.
• Develop new and innovative manufacturing processes across a range of connectorization methods, including (but not limited to) injection molding, overmolding, and laser welding, with a mindset toward scalability and automation from day one.
• Design, execute, and analyze structured Design of Experiments (DOEs) to optimize process parameters, improve yield, and reduce variability.
• Validate processes using lab and metrology equipment to ensure results meet quality, reliability, and customer requirements.
• Collaborate closely and bidirectionally with design engineers, providing critical process and manufacturability feedback that shapes product design decisions, and translating design intent into robust, scalable processes.
• Work hands-on with technicians during builds, providing technical direction and guidance; foster a strong, collaborative working relationship on the production floor.
• Write and maintain clear, accurate work instructions and process documentation to ensure consistency, repeatability, and smooth knowledge transfer.
• Identify opportunities to automate, scale, or improve connector processes; lead initiatives that push CelLink’s manufacturing capabilities forward.
• Lead root cause investigations and drive data-driven corrective actions to resolve process issues and prevent recurrence.
• Support APQP documentation as needed, including PFMEAs, DVP&Rs, and control plans.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field

Experience

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in process engineering, NPI, or advanced manufacturing.
• Hands‑on experience with injection molding and/or overmolding processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop new manufacturing processes and take them from concept through validation and into production
• Solid background in DOE methodology, statistical analysis, and data‑driven decision‑making; experience with JMP, Minitab, or similar tools preferred

Preferred

• Experience with electrical interconnection processes such as laser welding, soldering, crimping, or similar techniques is a strong plus
• Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability (DFM), design review participation, and CAD tools
• Experience supporting APQP documentation: PFMEAs, DVP&Rs, control plans, etc.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

Working Conditions/Hours

Salaried Exempt

Physical Demands – Office and Manufacturing Environment

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms and pull/push; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment –

Includes both a typical office environment, with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues, and a shop environment, with exposure to high noise levels from operating machines, physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts, nuisance dust, and skin exposure to chemicals used to run/maintain machines.

PPE

Employee may be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to safety glasses, safety shoes, bump-caps, gloves, hair nets, masks, & clean-room frocks while adhering to the prescribed safety procedures. Ear plugs are recommended in areas of high noise levels that meet minimum OSHA requirements.

CA Privacy Policy

We believe diversity and inclusion among our teammates are essential to our success.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees while building teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

CelLink participates in the E-Verify program in specific locations as required by law.

CelLink was founded in 2012 and entered volume production in 2018. CelLink provides electrical systems to the world's leading automotive OEMs & EV manufacturers, data center developers, and stationary power companies. The company has raised approximately $315M in funding through private investment and multiple grants from the US Department of Energy. CelLink’s investors include 3M, Atreides, BMW, BorgWarner, Bosch, D1 Capital, Fidelity, Fontinalis Partners, Ford, Franklin Templeton, Lear, Park West, SK Telecom, Standard Investments, T. Rowe Price, Tinicum, and Whale Rock