Program Manager

Front Door Defense; Alameda (CA); Hybrid; USD 168,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

Sila is seeking a Program Manager in Alameda, CA to lead cross-functional, multi-year programs spanning R&D, capital projects, and manufacturing scale‑up. You will align stakeholders, manage workflows, and ensure delivery of strategic objectives within target financial metrics.

The role requires 10+ years in battery tech or related field and 5+ years in multi-disciplinary program leadership. Applicants will operate in a matrix environment and communicate with executives regularly.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in battery technology, automotive, chemical process, semiconductor, oil & gas, or similar complex hardware-plus-process industry.
• 5+ years leading complex technical and/or business programs that integrate R&D, manufacturing scale-up, and commercial execution.
• Experience transferring novel technology into high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Physical Science.
• Deep expertise in core program and project management disciplines.
• Ability to navigate a matrix model and ensure alignment across functions.
• Strong ability to distill complex data into actionable insights for executives.
• Experience with Stage-Gate methodologies and Agile/Waterfall frameworks.
• Comfort working through ambiguity while maintaining momentum.

Responsibilities

• Integrated leadership across R&D, Operations, Capital Projects, and Commercial teams to drive multi-year programs.
• Design and communicate workflows and maintain a single source of truth for objectives and data.
• Optimize sequencing of R&D, scale-up, and commercial milestones to hit financial targets.
• Lead executive communications, risk assessments, and cross-program prioritization.
• Guide decision making and risk management across executives and functional managers.

Skills

Industry experience

Program leadership

Scale-up expertise

Engineering degree

PM fundamentals

Systemic program architect

Master communicator

Strategic influence

NPI & tech transfer

Ambiguity management

Education

Engineering or Physical Science degree

Job description

Program Manager

Coordinate multi-year cross-functional programs from R&D to manufacturing to deliver strategic targets

Location: Alameda, California

Compensation: $168,000 - 212,000 USD / year

About The Role

Program Manager

Alameda, CA

About Us

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world's transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground‑breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

Who You Are

Sila's Program Managers act as the 'flight control tower' for our critical, multi-year integrated programs. This leadership role bridges R&D, engineering, capital project, and commercial workstreams to ensure complex products scale smoothly from lab to market. You aren't executing the functional tasks—you are orchestrating the sequencing, integration, and high‑stakes decision‑making required to land our strategic objectives safely, on time, and in‑line with target financial metrics.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Integrated Leadership: Drive major cross‑functional programs linking R&D (materials/equipment/battery development), Operations (manufacturing), Capital Projects (manufacturing scale‑up), and Product + Commercial teams (customer 'Plans to Win').


• Workflow Architect: Design and communicate workflows to resolve complex uncertainties and decisions. Maintain the 'single source of truth' (integrated databases and governance tools) to keep objectives, metrics, and technical data synchronized across functions.


• Execution & Sequencing: Optimize the timing of R&D breakthroughs, scale‑up projects, and commercial milestones to hit financial and strategic targets (e.g., revenue run rate, ROIC).


• Executive Communication & Partnership: Serve as the central point of accountability for program health, working closely with the Exec Sponsor and Steering Team to steward the program's direction and approach. Deliver crisp status updates, risk assessments, and roadblock resolutions to executives and collaborators. Lead and participate in company‑wide, cross‑program prioritization efforts.


• Decision & Risk Management: Lead execs and functional managers through high‑stakes decisions (e.g., project scoping, partner selection) and proactively mitigate cross‑program dependencies before they impact timelines.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Industry Experience: 10+ years in battery technology, automotive, chemical process, semiconductor, oil & gas, or a similarly complex hardware‑plus‑process industry.


• Program Leadership: 5+ years leading complex technical and/or business programs that integrate R&D, manufacturing scale‑up, and commercial execution.


• Scale‑up Expertise: Proven experience transferring novel technology and/or products from R&D into high‑volume manufacturing environments.


• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in an Engineering or Physical Science field.


• Program Management Fundamentals SME: Deep, demonstrable expertise in core program and project management disciplines—including decision quality, scheduling, budgeting, project framing, financial analysis, risk communication and analysis, and resource allocation.


• Systemic Program Architect: Proven ability to navigate a matrix model, ensuring functional activities support macro program objectives without duplicating effort.


• Master Communicator: Skilled at distilling complex technical, financial, and commercial data into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.


• Strategic Influence: Adept at driving alignment among executives and SMEs, escalating effectively, and balancing technical risks with business objectives.


• New Product Introduction & Tech Transfer Mastery: Strong understanding of Stage‑Gate methodologies, with the ability to leverage Agile or Waterfall frameworks depending on the workflow.


• Ambiguity Management: Comfortable driving execution and maintaining momentum especially in the face of uncertainties, when strategies shift, or deliverables are fluid.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Ability to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including safety glasses, lab coats, and steel‑toe shoes when visiting laboratory or manufacturing environments.


• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.

The starting base pay for this role is between $168,000 and $212,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila's competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.