Senior Process Engineer

Company: Natron Energy
Location: Santa Clara
Posted on: May 10, 2022

Job Description:

Natron is seeking a Process Engineer to support production and ramp up of its battery cell pilot line. Critical activities include process development, yield improvement, troubleshooting, introducing and qualifying new processes and equipment, determining robust operating conditions for all processes to facilitate transfer to contract manufacturers, and assisting contract manufactures with absorbing Natron processes. Key process steps include precision punching of electrodes, ultrasonic welding, pouch forming, vacuum sealing and electrolyte dispensing. Tenacious commitment to continuous improvement with thoughtful, collaborative and disciplined execution is a must.

Responsibilities:
Initiate and lead projects for process improvement in the fabrication/assembly of battery electrodes and cells.
Support new product introduction and sustaining product process optimizations.
Work effectively with cross functional teams to implement new equipment, fixtures, and procedures to improve quality, yield, uptime, cycle time and throughput.
Perform DOE, process capability, PFMEA, cycle time studies and line balancing activities.
Develop, update and maintain process documentation and SPC based manufacturing control plan for good manufacturing execution and product transfer to other sites.
Analyze and plan workforce utilization, space/tools requirements, workflow, design layout of equipment and workspace for maximum efficiency in accordance with Lean manufacturing principles
Work with other engineering team and Data Team members to determine root causes of product defects, poor product performance, line down time.
Automate data collection for manufacturing execution and process control
Perform DF(X) design for manufacturing/test/Assembly analysis on existing and new products.
Assist directly with the transfer of processes and product manufacturing to contract manufacturers, including on-site support of contract manufacturers from time to time.

Experience and Skills:
Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, physics, or a related field.
Over 5 years engineering experience in manufacturing batteries or other electrochemical hardware devices
Fluency in Six Sigma problem-solving method and tools including DOE, fishbone, FMEA, Control Charts and statistical analysis.
Demonstrated experience solving process yield, throughput and product quality problems.
Experience with factory automation and MES data collection system implementation.
Experience in Providing DF(X) design for manufacturing/test/Assembly feedback.
Experience working closely with contract manufacturers and suppliers is a plus.

Logistics:
This is a regular, full time position.
Employees must work on site in Santa Clara.
Compensation is competitive with other Bay Area manufacturing/process engineer positions.

About Us:
Natron Energy is the future of industrial power. Our battery products solve problems for the world's largest industrial power customers including data centers, telecom networks, EV charging stations, and supply chains, which represent $30 Billion/year of addressable markets. Natron has signed sales agreements for over $50 million/year for its first commercially released and shipping product. We have supply chain contracts in place to scale up production by 100x over the next 2 years to meet our customers' volume demands. Natron's fully differentiated technology is based sodium ions, not lithium. Our patented Prussian blue electrode materials, which deliver 6x higher power and 100x longer cycle life than incumbent products, have no risk of fire or explosion and are fully certified by UL. Natron batteries do not use rare earth elements or conflict minerals, and are constructed using some of the most widely available commodity elements on earth. We are shipping commercial product today, and need help building the next great battery company. A position at Natron offers you the opportunity to move the entire energy storage industry forward while supporting once in a generation transformations of data networks, the electric grid, and supply chains.

Natron is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Note: Natron's workplace is fully compliant with national and local COVID-19 health orders and best practices. This includes strict practicing of social distancing and PPE including masks at all times in the workplace. As of September 2021, 100% of Natron's on-site employees have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Keywords: Natron Energy, Santa Clara , Senior Process Engineer, Engineering , Santa Clara, California