R&D Engineering Director — Hardware & Automation Leader

Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc.

Alameda (CA)

On-site

USD 211,000 - 276,640

Full time

14 days+

Get more replies from employers

Send a job-specific resume in minutes.

Job summary

Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc. is seeking an experienced engineering leader to guide a cross-disciplinary team in designing and fabricating first-of-a-kind materials processing and battery testing equipment.

You will own concepts through validation and handoff, shaping the technical roadmap and mentoring engineers. You will oversee rigorous design reviews, collaborate with R&D and manufacturing, and drive reliability, quality, and uptime in a fast-paced startup that rewards bold problem solving and

Qualifications

Proven track record building and leading technical teams.
Strong communication and collaboration across roles.
Strong mechanical design fundamentals and CAD experience.
Experience with lab or industrial automation platforms; programming in C, C#, Python, .NET, MATLAB, or IEC 61131 PLC.
15 years of post‑B.S. experience in a startup environment.

Responsibilities

Provide inspirational leadership for a team of mechanical design, equipment and controls engineers and technicians.
Balance resources in a fast-paced matrixed environment.
Attract, hire, onboard, and retain world-class engineers; coach and grow talent.
Contribute technically to system designs from concept through operational support.
Review and approve key design process work (mechanical design reviews, P&ID, HAZID/HAZOPS, test plans).
Collaborate with R&D Operations to improve performance metrics and uptime.
Organize, document, and communicate; distill design decisions for varied audiences.
Bring operational discipline to open-ended R&D; plan projects and move faster.