Process Engineer II (Drying and Crystallization)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Life/AD&D/STD/LTD insurance

401k with company match

Paid holidays

Unlimited PTO

FMLA leave

Cell phone reimbursement

Bonus and equity plans

Job summary

Solid Power, Inc. is seeking a Process Engineer II to own the drying and crystallization unit operations in electrolyte production.

You will define process parameters, operating windows, and control strategies to ensure materials meet specifications while driving equipment commissioning and validation with production and engineering teams. Qualifications include a Chemical Engineering degree and 2+ years in process engineering, with hands-on drying and high-temperature crystallization

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related field.
• 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 industrial or pilot-scale settings.
• Hands-on experience developing, commissioning, or sustaining high-temperature solid-state crystallization or calcination processes.
• Experience with heat/mass transfer, drying kinetics, and phase transformation.
• Experience scaling processes and commissioning new equipment from pilot scale into production.
• Experience characterizing powder products against specs (particle size, morphology, moisture, crystallinity).
• Experience with PFMEA, process hazard analysis, root cause analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own the process for drying and crystallization unit operations of electrolyte production.
• Define process parameters, operating windows, and control strategies to meet specs.
• Lead commissioning/validation for new drying and crystallization equipment.
• Translate material specs into process parameters and in-process controls.
• Monitor process performance with SCADA and batch data, identify drift.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for throughput, yield, quality, safety.

Skills

Drying processes

High-temperature crystallization

Process engineering

Root cause analysis

Statistical analysis (JMP/Minitab)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

JMP

Minitab

Job description

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 per 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.

Company Policies

Company may delay commencement of employment, rescind an offer of employment, terminate employment, and/or may modify job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and/or access to Company facilities and information systems, as Company deems appropriate, in order to ensure compliance with applicable government access control restrictions.

This position will be posted for a minimum of 7 days and will remain open until filled or adjusted based on the volume of applicants.

All offers of employment at Solid Power are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check.