Staff NPI Program Manager, Integration

Socket.dev; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 151,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

Sila is seeking a high-impact NPI Program Manager to drive new battery cell product development and qualification with key manufacturing partners. You will work at the intersection of internal R&D, operations, and external suppliers to accelerate mass-production-ready cell products.

Responsibilities include leading end-to-end NPI, managing cross-border partner relationships, and ensuring DFMEA/PFMEA processes for safe, compliant products.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in high-tech hardware product development (batteries, semiconductors, chemical processing, or automotive).
• Direct experience with lithium-ion battery manufacturing and cell qualification preferred.
• Education aligned with Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrochemistry.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end NPI execution, qualifying new suppliers and external manufacturing partners.
• Coordinate cross-functional deliverables between R&D, Product Management, Operations, and Quality.
• Present updates and risks to executive and engineering stakeholders.

Skills

NPI execution

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic partnership management

Clear communication

Battery manufacturing knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

DFMEA/PFMEA frameworks

Global safety/certification knowledge

Job description

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 is seeking a high-impact NPI Program Manager to lead new battery cell product development and qualification with key manufacturing partners. Positioned at the intersection of internal R&D, operations, and external suppliers, you will drive high-velocity execution to deliver mass-production-ready cell products.

Responsibilities and Duties

Strategic NPI & Partner Management

• Lead end-to-end NPI execution, driving qualification for new suppliers and external manufacturing partners (OEMs).
• Manage cross-border partner relationships, navigating cross-cultural and organizational dynamics to keep programs on schedule.
• Coordinate cross-functional deliverables between R&D, Product Management, Operations, and Quality.

Product Risk Management & Quality Engineering

• Develop and steward DFMEA and PFMEA frameworks for cell designs and manufacturing processes.
• Support the qualification of new battery materials, cell designs, and advanced manufacturing methods.
• Ensure products meet global battery safety and certification pathways (e.g., IEC, UL, GB/T, KC, PSE).

Program Documentation & Operational Readiness

• Own core NPI documentation, including Engineering Bills of Materials (BOMs), design specifications, and partner Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Hand off mass-production-ready cell products to Operations for scale-up.
• Present technical updates, risks, and status reports to executive and engineering stakeholders.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

Essential Technical Expertise

• Experience: 6+ years in high-tech, hardware product development (batteries, semiconductors, chemical processing, or automotive). Direct experience with lithium-ion battery manufacturing and cell qualification is strongly preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrochemistry, or a related field.
• Process Knowledge: Practical understanding of cell manufacturing processes, risk analysis (FMEA), and global safety/certification frameworks.

Key Competencies

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Proven ability to align diverse engineering, operations, and commercial teams around high-velocity timelines.
• Communication: Clear verbal and written presenter, comfortable translating technical details for both technical teams and executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in Mandarin, Korean, or Japanese (to support Asian manufacturing partner interfaces).

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Travel: Up to 10% international travel to partners across Asia, North America, and Europe.
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• On-Site & Lab: Ability to wear required PPE (lab coat, safety glasses, steel-toe shoes) and navigate manufacturing or laboratory environments.

The starting base pay for this role is between $151,000 and $191,000 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.

#LI-PL1 #LI-Onsite

Working at Sila

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.