VP, Battery Foundry Operations

RiseMe; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 234,000 - 308,000; Full time

Job summary

Sila is seeking a VP of Foundry Operations to build and lead battery cell manufacturing from the ground up, driving pilot capabilities to full industrialization and multi-GWh scale production.

Reporting to the COO, this executive will own site selection, plant construction, equipment specs, and the vendor ecosystem, while partnering with R&D and Product to ensure manufacturability and growth. The role requires 15+ years in manufacturing leadership and a track record of global supplier management.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in operational/manufacturing/engineering leadership.
• 5+ years in a Director role or higher leading operational teams.
• Experience scaling battery cell manufacturing to giga scale, serial production.
• Experience with large capital programs ($100M+ CapEx/OpEx) and international OEMs.
• Strong cross-functional and commercial acumen.
• Proven ability to hire, build, and retain multisite engineering and operational teams.
• Agile mindset and ability to thrive in fast-growing environments.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute Foundry Operations strategy from pilot to multi GWh scale production.
• Lead site evaluation, facility design, and equipment selection for pilot and gigafactories.
• Direct equipment specification, line layouts, RFQ/tendering, commissioning, and handover.
• Structure and mentor an automotive-grade manufacturing organization across multiple functions.
• Collaborate with Product and R&D to translate cell specs into scalable production processes.
• Coordinate with Commercial leadership to align capacity with market demand.
• Engage with the Board on CapEx/OpEx, risk, and execution timing.
• Implement KPI-driven systems, SPC, and continuous improvement for OEE and yield.

Skills

Executive leadership

Scale-up experience

Battery manufacturing

Capital project mgmt

Cross-functional acumen

Organizational development

Agile & growth mindset

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering

Ph.D. preferred

Job description

Sila is seeking a VP of Foundry Operations to build and lead battery cell manufacturing from the ground up, driving pilot capabilities to full industrialization and multi-GWh scale production.

Reporting to the COO, this executive will own site selection, plant construction, equipment specs, and the vendor ecosystem, while partnering with R&D and Product to ensure manufacturability and growth. The role requires 15+ years in manufacturing leadership and a track record of global supplier management.