Technical Project Manager

Plasma International; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Plasma International seeks aTechnical Program Manager to drive custom battery cell development, bridging cell development, pilot manufacturing and customer interactions. You will own technically complex programmes from evaluation through cell build, testing, validation and final delivery.

Applicants should have hands-on battery R&D experience and strong ability to interpret electrochemical data, with proven multi-programme management and excellent communication with customer teams.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or related discipline.
• Hands-on experience in cell development, testing, pilot production or battery R&D.
• Strong understanding of Li-ion manufacturing processes ( slurry, coating, calendaring, assembly, formation ).
• Ability to interpret electrochemical, cycling and degradation data.
• Experience managing multiple technical programmes or customer projects.
• Strong communication skills with customer engineering/scientific teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple customer development programmes with defined scope and milestones.
• Coordinate introduction of customer materials into the development process.
• Plan cell builds and manage testing requirements to meet timelines.
• Act as the primary technical contact for customers and translate data into conclusions.
• Investigate root causes when results differ from expectations with cross-functional teams.
• Deliver programmes on time, coordinating cell development and pilot-line activities.

Skills

Hands-on experience

Li-ion manufacturing

Data interpretation

Program management

Customer interaction

Effective communication

Education

Chemistry or Electrochemistry degree

Job description

Technical Program Manager – Custom Battery Cell Development

We are working with a highly innovative battery technology business that is looking to appoint a Technical Program Manager to support a growing portfolio of customer-led cell development programmes.

This is not a traditional project management role.

The position sits directly between cell development, pilot manufacturing and the customer, taking technically complex battery programmes from initial material evaluation through cell build, testing, validation and final delivery.

The company operates a highly flexible, chemistry-agnostic cell development environment, working with external customers to develop and manufacture custom cells incorporating next-generation cathodes, anodes, separators and electrolyte technologies, alongside the development of its own proprietary cell technology.

We are particularly interested in speaking with people who have built their career within battery cell development, electrochemistry or materials science, but who now want to move into a broader role combining technical understanding, programme ownership and customer interaction.

You will manage multiple customer development programmes simultaneously, taking responsibility for scope, timelines, technical milestones and delivery.

Working closely with the internal cell development and pilot-line teams, you will coordinate the introduction of customer materials into the development process, plan cell builds, manage testing requirements and ensure programmes continue to move forward against agreed timelines.

You will also act as the primary technical contact for customers, discussing results, managing expectations and helping translate electrochemical and cycling data into clear technical conclusions and next steps.

When cell builds or testing results do not perform as expected, you will work alongside the technical team to understand the root cause, separating material-related issues from manufacturing or process variables.

We are looking for someone with:

• A degree in Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or a related discipline.
• Hands-on experience within cell development, cell testing, pilot production or battery R&D.
• A strong understanding of lithium-ion cell manufacturing processes, including slurry preparation, coating, calendaring/compaction, cell assembly, formation and testing.
• The ability to understand and interpret electrochemical, cycling and degradation data.
• Experience managing multiple technical programmes, development projects or customer projects simultaneously.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to work directly with customer engineering and scientific teams.

Experience within electrolytes, interfacial chemistry or advanced battery materials would be particularly interesting.

This would suit someone who understands battery cell development at a technical level but wants to move beyond a purely laboratory-based position and take much greater ownership of customer programmes, technical delivery and project execution.

For further information, or to discuss the opportunity confidentially, please get in touch.