Director of Product Manufacturing, Cell

Gotion, Inc.•Manteno, IL

3d•$200,000 - $240,000

About The Position

The Director of Product Manufacturing, Cell will lead end‑to‑end lithium‑ion cell manufacturing operations within the new Gotion Illinois gigafactory. This role will oversee production strategy, technical readiness, capacity ramp‑up, quality, safety, cost optimization, cross‑functional alignment, and team leadership for all cell manufacturing lines. This position requires deep expertise in high‑volume cell production, scaling advanced manufacturing systems, and guiding teams through rapid growth phases.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Chemistry, or related technical field.
10+ years of experience in high‑volume manufacturing leadership; at least 5 years in battery cell manufacturing or a related field (e.g., semiconductors, chemicals, advanced materials).
Proven experience launching or scaling multi‑GW‑scale manufacturing or similarly complex facilities.
Strong knowledge of lithium‑ion cell processes (electrode mixing, coating, calendering, stacking/winding, electrolyte filling, formation, OCV/aging, EOL testing).
Demonstrated leadership in a fast‑paced environment with large and diverse teams.
Experience bringing a gigafactory or greenfield/repurposed manufacturing facility into production.
Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
Knowledge of U.S. regulatory requirements, DOE priorities, and sustainability frameworks.

Responsibilities

Own full operational leadership of lithium‑ion cell production lines from commissioning to steady‑state, high‑volume output (40 GWh annual cell capacity).
Build and manage production teams, including manufacturing engineering, production supervisors, technicians, quality teams, and maintenance.
Create and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with safety, sustainability, and throughput targets.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and data‑driven methodologies.
Ensure compliance with all environmental, health, and safety standards within a high-tech battery plant environment.
Direct the setup, validation, and optimization of cell‑manufacturing equipment (electrode production, cell assembly, formation, testing).
Work closely with R&D, Process Engineering, and Quality to ensure production meets performance, yield, and reliability standards.
Partner with Supply Chain, Facilities, and Maintenance on capacity planning, materials flow, downtime reduction, and overall operational readiness.
Support alignment with state and organizational workforce programs designed to prepare regional talent for Gotion’s advanced-manufacturing roles.
Drive a culture of accountability, quality, safety, and continuous innovation.