Process Engineer II (Drying and Crystallization)

Solid Power; Thornton (CO); On-site; USD 79,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Unlimited PTO

401k with company match

Paid holidays including the week between Christmas and New Year's

Job summary

Solid Power in Thornton, CO is searching for a Process Engineer II to enhance their team. This role involves owning the processes for drying and crystallization unit operations in electrolyte production, ensuring optimal performance and safety.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering along with hands-on experience in process engineering specifically in chemical or battery manufacturing. A collaborative approach and strong communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of process engineering experience in chemical or battery manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with drying and high temperature solid-state crystallization processes.
• Comfortable working with powder processes and handling materials safely.

Responsibilities

• Own process for drying and crystallization unit operations of electrolyte production.
• Lead commissioning and validation for new drying and crystallization equipment.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and work instructions for process operations.

Skills

Process engineering experience

Statistical analysis

Communication skills

Lean manufacturing knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

JMP

Minitab

Job description

Process Engineer II (Drying and Crystallization)

Thornton, CO

Position Overview

Solid Power is seeking a Process Engineer II to join our talented team of engineers and scientists working to revolutionize the battery industry through the development of next‑generation, all solid‑state rechargeable batteries. Solid Power is a public company with a dynamic, fast‑paced, and highly collaborative environment where innovation thrives. This role will play a key part in commissioning, qualifying, and sustaining the drying and crystallization unit operations on our electrolyte line as we introduce new process equipment. The preferred candidate will have hands‑on process engineering experience with drying and high temperature solid‑state crystallization processes, along with the ability to take a unit operation from new equipment through qualification and into stable production.

Job Duties

• Own the process for the drying and crystallization unit operations of electrolyte production, including defining and maintaining process parameters, operating windows, and control strategies that consistently meet material specifications.
• Use process development data and engineering inputs to define the process windows and conditions to explore during equipment commissioning, validation and normal operations.
• Lead the process side of commissioning and validation for new drying and crystallization equipment, working closely with electrolyte systems engineering, production, and equipment engineering to confirm the process is capable and ready for production.
• Translate material specifications such as particle size distribution, morphology, residual solvent, and crystallinity into process parameters and in‑process controls.
• Use SCADA and batch record data to monitor process performance, identify drift, and determine critical process parameters.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for process issues affecting throughput, yield, quality, safety, and process stability.
• Apply statistical tools such as JMP or Minitab to evaluate process changes and confirm whether results are meaningfully different.
• Participate in and lead PFMEAs, process hazard analyses, and management of change for these unit operations, and implement layers of protection to keep the process safe.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and work instructions for equipment and process operations.
• Provide the process requirements that equipment engineering uses to specify new equipment with vendors, and support installation and start‑up from the process side.
• Build strong working relationships with operators and the production team and support day‑to‑day operations on the line.
• Partner with process optimization engineering on continuous improvement projects for these unit operations.
• Assist EH&S in maintaining occupational safety on the manufacturing floor.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, or a related field of study.
• 2+ years of process engineering experience in chemical, battery, advanced materials, or powder manufacturing.
• Hands‑on experience developing, commissioning, or sustaining a drying process in an industrial or pilot‑scale setting.
• Hands‑on experience developing, commissioning, or sustaining a high temperature solid‑state crystallization or calcination process in an industrial or pilot‑scale setting.
• Working knowledge of the fundamentals underlying drying and thermal processing, including heat and mass transfer, drying kinetics, and phase transformation.
• Experience developing or scaling processes and commissioning new equipment, from development or pilot scale into production.
• Experience characterizing powder products against specifications such as particle size distribution, morphology, moisture or residual solvent, and phase or crystallinity.
• Experience handling air and moisture sensitive materials, or working in dry room or inert atmosphere environments preferred.
• Working knowledge of design of experiments and statistical analysis, with proficiency in JMP or Minitab.
• Experience with PFMEA, process hazard analysis, and root cause analysis.
• Comfortable working with powder processes and handling materials safely.
• General knowledge of OSHA standards, international fire code, electrical area classification (C1D2 or C1D1) and EPA requirements.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build working relationships with operators, production, and other engineering teams.
• Willingness to work hands‑on in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and Six Sigma tools.

Physical Requirements

• Required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as necessary including, but not limited to eye protection, hair net, gloves, face mask, coveralls, full‑face respirator or PAPR.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk.
• Prolonged periods on the production floor.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. daily.

Salary Range

$79,000 - $122,000/year

Benefits

Solid Power offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical/dental/vision insurance, employer paid Life/AD&D/STD/LTD insurance, 401k with company match, 8 paid holidays + the week between Christmas and New Years off, Unlimited PTO, up to six (6) weeks paid FMLA leave, cell phone reimbursement and eligibility to participate in our bonus and equity plans.

Export Control Requirements

This position could require access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls. Employment in this position is conditioned on the continued availability of government authorization to authorize release of such items, to the extent required, including without limitation an export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

As set forth in Solid Power’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.

Voluntary Self‑Identification of Disability

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

How do you know if you have a disability? A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.”

Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
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• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
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• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
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