Engineer, Thermal Development

NOVONIX•Chattanooga, TN

20h•Onsite

About The Position

This person will report directly to the Development Engineering Senior Manager and support active expansion of production and research capacity while covering multiple workstreams, including equipment commissioning, production support and troubleshooting, process improvement, and material and product development, all with a focus on thermal technology. In the role of Thermal Development Engineer, you will be joining a world-class Development Engineering team that delivers innovative solutions to tough problems. The Thermal Development Engineer will work with the safety department and Process Engineering to ensure safety is maintained during equipment commissioning and experimentation. The team member will work with the safety department and engineering to assist in safety discussions, audits, FMEA activities, and HAZOP analyses. One of the primary tasks of the Thermal Development Engineer will be to coordinate operational qualification activities, including startup, first material runs, early-stage troubleshooting and optimization, and handover to Operations. These responsibilities will require close collaboration with other members of the Development Engineering Team, Operations, Engineering, EHS, and external parties. The person in this role will become an expert on all thermal processes and equipment. The Thermal Development Engineer will execute these functions with a focus on the interaction between machine performance and material parameters to support product development objectives. Another primary task of the Thermal Development Engineer will be to lead process development activities, working closely with the Process Engineering Team, the Development Engineering Team, and external parties. This includes troubleshooting and optimization of existing equipment, experimenting with alternative modes of operation, and testing/validating alternative materials for equipment components. Again, the need and focus for this role is on thermal processes and equipment. Additionally, the Thermal Development Engineer will analyze and optimize process and equipment parameters to improve existing recipes and develop new products for specific applications and customer needs. The Thermal Development Engineer will assist with formulating new products, planning and executing trials on pilot and production scale equipment including mass production furnaces, and managing shipment of experimental samples to customers. The person in this role may be assigned as a designated contact for certain customers or vendors and as such would be responsible for maintaining positive and productive relationships, communicating project updates, and fostering expansion of production agreements.

Requirements

Strong interest in Research and Development.
Experience with high-temperature equipment and metrology.
Experience with bringing new equipment online and up to a state of normal operation.
Experience with equipment vendor relations.
Ability to prioritize and balance multiple competing demands.
Ability to lead cross-functional troubleshooting efforts with a focus on completing action items.
Team player, able to work effectively with colleagues in other areas and levels of the company.
Laser-focused attention to detail.
Mindset of consistently solving problems proactively.
Exceptionally good written and verbal communication.
Expert ability in Microsoft 365.
Willingness to get a little dirty in the field.
B.S. in Engineering, Chemistry, or related scientific field.
At least 2 years of experience working with thermal systems as well as statistical analysis and data-driven decision making.
At least 4 years of Process Engineering experience with a demonstrated record of resolving equipment issues and developing new products.

Nice To Haves

Six-Sigma Green Belt certification.
At least 1 year of experience working with anode materials and/or lithium-ion batteries.
Knowledge of bulk material processing systems and material transfer.
Proficiency in Minitab.
Proficiency in Tableau or other data visualization tools.
Experience with digitalization in production environments.

Responsibilities

Work with the safety department and Process Engineering to ensure safety is maintained during equipment commissioning and experimentation.
Work with the safety department and engineering to assist in safety discussions, audits, FMEA activities, and HAZOP analyses.
Coordinate operational qualification activities, including startup, first material runs, early-stage troubleshooting and optimization, and handover to Operations.
Collaborate closely with other members of the Development Engineering Team, Operations, Engineering, EHS, and external parties.
Become an expert on all thermal processes and equipment.
Execute functions with a focus on the interaction between machine performance and material parameters to support product development objectives.
Lead process development activities, working closely with the Process Engineering Team, the Development Engineering Team, and external parties.
Troubleshoot and optimize existing equipment.
Experiment with alternative modes of operation.
Test/validate alternative materials for equipment components.
Analyze and optimize process and equipment parameters to improve existing recipes and develop new products for specific applications and customer needs.
Assist with formulating new products.
Plan and execute trials on pilot and production scale equipment including mass production furnaces.
Manage shipment of experimental samples to customers.
Maintain positive and productive relationships with assigned customers or vendors, communicate project updates, and foster expansion of production agreements.
Other duties as assigned