Director New Cell Prototyping

Forge Nano•Thornton, CO

16h•$120,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Forge Nano Inc, a fast-growing materials company with a focus on manufacturing nano-scale coatings across a wide range of markets including lithium-ion batteries. The Director of New Cell Prototyping will be responsible for leading the transition of cell designs from R&D into prototype production, ensuring smooth integration of innovative materials and designs into the company’s prototype line. This role requires both strategic leadership and hands-on oversight, balancing technical direction with operational excellence. The Director will collaborate closely with the VP of Energy Storage, Prototype Line Project Manager, and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality prototype cells on time and in alignment with company objectives.

Requirements

Ph.D. or M.S. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline. or 10+ years of experience in lithium-ion or next-gen battery prototyping and scale-up space with demonstrated leadership.
Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams.
Deep technical understanding of electrode design, cell architecture, and production workflows.
Familiarity with ISO 9001 systems and industrial SOP development.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

Convert design priorities into actionable plans, timelines, and milestones.
Interface between R&D scientists and operations teams to translate cell designs into manufacturable prototypes.
Work with electrode (anode/cathode) and assembly leads to refine process improvements and protocols.
Assess prototype equipment needs, prepare justifications, and recommend capex purchases to VP.
Supervise the Operations Manager to ensure smooth day-to-day execution.
Review line performance metrics (yield, capacity, CARs) and guide corrective actions.
Meet regularly with Ops Manager to understand challenges, resolve issues, and provide direction.
Co-develop and review SOPs and documentation with the Ops Manager to maintain ISO 9001 compliance.
Implement quarterly KPIs for the prototype line and maintain a performance dashboard.
Report prototype status, risks, and key learnings to the VP of Energy Storage.
Coordinate across teams to ensure alignment on goals, resources, and project timelines.
Serve as a bridge between engineering and operations for smooth project execution.
Partner with the Project Manager to track deliverables, milestones, and resources