Process Technician - Battery Development & Prototyping Facility

Binghamton University, State University of New York; City of Binghamton (NY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SUNY Tuition Assistance

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The Research Foundation for SUNY at Binghamton is leading Battery-NY in Johnson City, NY. We seek a Process Technician to support hands-on operation of battery manufacturing equipment, including mixing, coating, calendering, cell assembly, and FA&T, with emphasis on safety and quality control.

You will work with engineering, operations, and quality teams to ensure procedures, testing, and documentation meet readiness goals for a state-of-the-art facility.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical certification, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing equipment and supporting production operations.
• Familiarity with safety, quality, and documentation procedures.

Responsibilities

• Support equipment readiness and FAT/SAT/UAT activities for facility launch.
• Operate and support battery manufacturing equipment across electrode, cell assembly, and FA&T processes.
• Assist with project and workflow improvements, coordinating with engineering, procurement, contractors, and suppliers.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Process optimization

Team collaboration

Safety compliance

Education

Associate degree or technical certification

Tools

CAD viewers

MATLAB

Job description

About The Research Foundation for SUNY at Binghamton

Binghamton University is a premier public R1 research institution in the State University of New York (SUNY) system that unites more than 130 broadly interdisciplinary educational programs with some of the most vibrant research in the nation. Our unique character - shaped by our mission, outstanding academics, facilities, and community life - promotes extraordinary student success, research, and service; Binghamton University is where our students, faculty and staff thrive

Working at Binghamton University is about more than having a great job - it is about having the opportunity to flourish in an exciting, engaging environment. Our faculty and staff appreciate Binghamton's collegial and inclusive culture and its commitment to excellence, education, innovation and civic engagement. Our diverse campus community contributes to our success. Embedded within the University, The Research Foundation (RF) exists to serve SUNY and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as an engine of New York State's innovation economy. We are the largest comprehensive university-connected research foundation in the country. The RF is mission focused and serves Binghamton University by providing essential administrative services that enable faculty to focus their efforts on the education of students and the performance of life-changing research. As a private not-for-profit corporation, we support nearly $1 billion in SUNY research activity annually, providing sponsored programs administration and commercialization support services to SUNY faculty performing research in numerous disciplines.

The RF offers a comprehensive benefits package that is a valuable part of our total compensation. Included in the benefits package are comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, dependent care and healthcare spending accounts, employer retirement contributions at 7% of earnings, retiree health benefits and more! The RF promotes employee work/life balance through generous paid leave offerings and wellness resources for employees and their families. Furthermore, our 10 Perks of Working at the RF provides an at-a-glance view of our top benefits that make us a great place to work. Employees receive support throughout their career with access to professional development opportunities across campus, college savings plans, access to public student loan forgiveness programs, a tuition waiver program, and much more!

Job Description

Battery-NY is a new lithium battery technology development and prototyping center in New York's Southern Tier. Funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and NYS Empire State Development, Battery-NY is led by Binghamton University's Distinguished Professor M. Stanley Whittingham, 2019 Nobel Laureate inventor of the Li-ion battery. Battery-NY will build on existing strengths within New York State while advancing the development and enabling the scale-up and advanced manufacturing of batteries for various sectors including transportation, military, and energy, and will establish a robust manufacturing infrastructure that will advance the region by supporting multiple industries and their supply chains.

A first-in-class facility in the United States, Battery-NY will offer companies the latest technologies for the design and manufacture of batteries, as well as in-place pilot production, scale-up, and manufacturing capabilities that can be accessed without capital investment.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Process Technician to support hands-on operation of the wide range of battery manufacturing equipment being installed at Battery-NY. This role will work directly with production tools including mixing, coating, calendering, slitting, pouch/prismatic/cylindrical cell assembly, and formation, aging & test (FA&T). The technician will also operate laboratory and quality-control equipment to ensure safe, consistent, and high-quality process execution.

This position is based in Johnson City, New York, four miles from Binghamton University. Further details of the planned facility can be found at neny.org.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Operations Readiness: Support procurement coordination, vendor interactions, equipment installation, commissioning, and early troubleshooting, while participating in factory acceptance testing (FAT) activities at vendor sites as well as site acceptance testing (SAT) and user acceptance testing (UAT) on-site, and contributing to the development of operating procedures, checklists, and documentation required for facility launch.
• Equipment Setup, Operation & Support: Operate, monitor, and support the setup and integration of battery manufacturing equipment across electrode, cell assembly, and FA&T processes - including basic configuration and verification through UAT - to ensure equipment and workflows meet operational requirements and enable a smooth transition into production.
• Project & Workflow Support: Contribute to equipment-related projects - including new installations, upgrades, and workflow improvements - while coordinating with engineering, procurement, contractors, and suppliers to ensure all tasks are completed safely and on schedule.
• Quality Management Support: Assist in implementing quality procedures, inspection methods, and documentation aligned with the facility's quality management system (QMS), while performing in-process checks, equipment verifications, and data collection to support accreditation and operational readiness.
• Maintenance Readiness & Equipment Care: Work with facilities and maintenance teams to establish preventive maintenance routines and equipment care standards, while performing basic troubleshooting and escalating issues appropriately to minimize downtime.
• Safety & Compliance: Follow all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements during equipment installation, testing, and operation, while supporting hazard assessments, documentation, and safe-work practices throughout the build-out and operational phases.
• Energy and Efficiency Support: Contribute to initiatives that reduce waste, improve process efficiency, and support sustainable operations.
• Budget & Procurement Support: Assist with related purchasing activities, including gathering specifications, obtaining quotes, and supporting cost-effective procurement.
• Training & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, operations, quality, facilities, and environmental health & safety (EHS) teams during facility build-out, while supporting the creation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), training materials, and competency tools for future operators and technicians, and assisting in the transition from project execution to steady-state operations, including equipment handover and documentation updates.

Requirements

• Associate degree or technical certification in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical Technology, or a related field; or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Minimum of two years' experience operating manufacturing equipment, preferably in lithium-ion battery production, electronics, advanced manufacturing, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot equipment and support production operations.
• Understanding of manufacturing workflows, equipment integration, and process optimization principles.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to apply practical, hands-on solutions.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills with the ability to work across functions.
• Familiarity with documentation systems, basic project coordination, or equipment readiness activities.
• Knowledge of safety regulations, environmental standards, and compliance expectations.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including to vendor facilities, for required training, inspections, and equipment acceptance activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with lithium-ion battery processes (electrode, cell assembly, formation, quality control).
• Background in pilot-line, startup, or early-stage manufacturing environments.
• Continuous improvement training (e.g., Six Sigma Yellow/Green Belt).
• Familiarity with engineering tools such as CAD viewers, MATLAB, or P&ID interpretation.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to lift, drag, or pull up to 35-50 lbs. when moving materials or equipment.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.
• Demonstrated commitment to wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE) - including gloves, respirators, and dry-room garments - as an essential condition of working safely in the facility.
• Ability to safely handle chemicals and sensitive battery materials in accordance with safety procedures.
• Work will be performed in dry-room, laboratory, and manufacturing environments.
• Candidates should be prepared for the possibility of extended hours or shift-based work in the future, with schedules communicated in advance and aligned with operational needs.

Additional Information

Salary: $50,000 - $60,000 annually based on a 40-hour working week.

Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York offers a comprehensive benefits package that is a valuable part of total compensation. This includes medical, dental, vision, dependent care subsidy and other benefits such as SUNY Tuition Assistance. Furthermore, our 10 Perks of Working at the RF provides an at-a-glance view of our top benefits that make us a great place to work.

Research Foundation Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

As an Equal Opportunity / Aff…