Process Engineering Manager

Who You Are

As a Process Engineering manager you will bring technical expertise and leadership that will be critical for meeting our safety, quality and production goals at the Alameda Manufacturing Plant. You will lead a team of driven process engineers solving a diverse set of first of its kind engineering challenges around the development of new and innovative products, equipment reliability and how to scale these learnings to our large scale plant in Moses Lake Washington.

You will use your team to optimize plant performance, develop and execute improvement projects, and grow the capabilities of the team so that we can consistently deliver more of our product to a growing list of customers! As we grow and scale our operations, you will have an opportunity to lead the implementation and improvement of manufacturing systems, processes, and tools that we rely on everyday to stay safe and productive. You will become an integral part of the manufacturing organization so that together we can make materials to power our future!

Responsibilities and Duties  

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of process engineers focused on optimizing safety, quality, and output in the Alameda manufacturing plant.
• Drive process optimization and continuous improvement projects to increase plant efficiency, yield, and material quality across all unit operations.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for manufacturing processes, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), process flow diagrams, and mass/energy balances.
• Collaborate closely with R&D and Equipment Engineering teams to successfully transition new anode material products and manufacturing processes from the pilot scale to commercial scale, ensuring manufacturability and reliability.
• Oversee and manage the collection, analysis, and interpretation of process data (SPC, SQC, Cpk, OEE) to identify root causes of deviations and implement corrective actions.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for troubleshooting complex process-related issues, minimizing downtime and maintaining high-quality output.
• Develop and manage the execution of capital projects for process capacity expansion, equipment upgrades, and infrastructure improvements within the facility.
• Ensure all manufacturing processes comply with internal safety, environmental, and quality standards, as well as external regulatory requirements.
• Act as a key liaison to the Moses Lake Washington large-scale plant, facilitating the seamless transfer of process knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned from the pilot operation.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements 

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in process engineering within a manufacturing environment, with at least 3 years in a leadership/management role. Experience in specialty chemical manufacturing, advanced materials, or battery/anode production is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of driving continuous improvement and process optimization projects using methodologies like Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or similar structured problem-solving approaches.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing process scale-up from pilot to commercial volume, including technology transfer
• Expertise in statistical process control (SPC), process capability analysis (Cpk, Ppk), Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and root cause analysis (RCA) techniques.
• Strong knowledge of safety and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA) and best practices within a chemical or materials processing plant.
• Proficiency in process modeling, simulation software, and data analysis tools (e.g., Python, R, Minitab, JMP, SQL).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting complex technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and develop a high-performing engineering team.
• Experience managing small projects from conception through commissioning.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a daily basis
• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
• Move items up to 50 lbs with the assistance of lift equipment and carts
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
• Reach low shelves or items on the floor
• Enter spaces narrower than 3 feet
• Climb stairs or over containment walls
• Precise and repetitive handling of a range of material quantities
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location

The starting base pay for this role is between $165,000 and $208,000 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-Onsite #LI-FM1