Director of Test and Reliability

Who we are:

Electra is reinventing iron production to tackle the nearly 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions produced from iron and steelmaking. Its patented process uses chemistry and renewable energy to transform a variety of grades of iron ore into environmentally responsible pure iron at scale. By maximizing the value of Earth’s resources and minimizing our environmental footprint and carbon emissions, Electra is forging a green future from the ground up. With a collaborative culture and passion for disrupting the status quo, careers at Electra offer challenge, reward, and the opportunity to bring to market solutions that dramatically improve the health of the planet. 

What you will do: 

The Director Test and Reliability will lead a team responsible for developing and executing test protocols for a first of a kind electrochemical technology in a start-up manufacturing environment. This is a key leadership role that requires the ability to effectively serve in a player/coach leadership role while driving the test function to scale from early stages to full commercialization. This position requires an individual with exceptional leadership skills, deep technical expertise, and the ability to build productive relationships across the organization. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of test engineers and development engineers, ensuring high performance and professional growth of team members 
• Take full ownership of the organization’s test assets, including the scheduling, maintenance, and continuous improvement of electrochemical test platforms 
• Oversee and direct the performance testing and failure analysis of first-of-a-kind electrochemical cells and related product components 
• Manage the development and implementation of comprehensive testing strategies for electrochemical cells; covering design validation, performance testing, durability, and safety 
• Collaborate with Engineering teams, Research teams, and Manufacturing teams to align testing objectives with company milestones and priorities 
• Implement Verification and Validation (V&V) processes and procedures for released cell designs and to qualify design changes 
• Identify and mitigate technical risks during the development and deployment of designs 
• Drive implementation of solutions to ensure test system resilience and reliability 
• Define and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) and testing protocols 
• Manage the timeline, resources, and budget for test engineering projects 
• Promote a culture of safety within the teams 

What we need you to bring to the team (Requirements):  

• 10+ years' engineering experience in industrial or manufacturing environments (excludes internships, co-ops, and other school projects) 
• 5+ years of experience in a leadership role managing engineering teams 
• Strong understanding of electrochemical cell design, testing, and performance characterization  
• Experience coordinating and executing failure analysis of prototype systems or chemical processes 
• Proven track record in product testing for compliance, reliability, and Verification and Validation 
• Excellent leadership and team management capabilities with experience driving technical teams to success 
• Experience working in start-ups or fast-paced scaling environments 
• Ability to understand and communicate electrochemical cell design, testing, and performance characterization  
• Experience working on complex issues where problems are not clearly defined and where fundamental principles do not fully apply  
• Participates in corporate development of methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for programs, projects and people  
• Ensures budgets and schedules meet company requirements  
• Experience making decisions that have a long-term impact on the overall success of the design