Head of Process Engineering, Vandrel Industries, Inc.

Interplay • New York, NY

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Vandrel Industries, Inc. is rebuilding America's high-performance magnet wire supply chain by designing and manufacturing PEEK-insulated copper conductor in modular micro-factories. This wire is crucial for defense and aerospace platforms, EV traction, and grid and stationary storage. Currently, insulated magnet wire is produced by a limited number of European and Asian suppliers, creating a gap for US programs requiring higher voltage, temperature, or power density. The team at Vandrel is small, senior, and hands-on, dedicated to closing this gap.

Requirements

• 10+ years in polymer extrusion, wire and cable manufacturing, or high-performance coatings, with at least 5 years in a senior technical leadership role.
• Hands-on experience with high-temperature thermoplastics; PEEK, PEKK, PAEK, or comparable semi-crystalline engineering polymers strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record taking an extrusion or coating process from pilot into production, including yield, cost, and long-term reliability.
• Deep understanding of the copper-to-polymer interface: surface prep, adhesion chemistry, thermal behavior, aging.
• Ability to specify and qualify capital equipment from first principles, and to partner with vendors on PEEK-capable tooling.
• Operator mindset: comfortable in PPE, at the crosshead, solving a defect at 2am if that is what the line needs.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with IEC 60317 and NEMA MW 1000 magnet wire standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and operation of Vandrel’s pilot extrusion line for PEEK-insulated copper magnet wire across target conductor gauges, from resin handling through finished, wound-ready wire.
• Drive surface preparation, oxidation control, adhesion strategy, and bond verification for the copper-to-PEEK interface.
• Select, source, and commission extruders, crossheads, dies, cooling, spooling, and inline metrology, working with vendors to configure equipment for PEEK processing.
• Set standards for dielectric strength, pinhole rate, elongation, partial discharge behavior, thermal cycling, and fluid compatibility, and establish the metrology to prove them.
• Take the process from pilot through first commercial runs, focusing on yield, throughput, and building Vandrel’s process intellectual property, trade secrets, and patentable methods.
• Translate line design into a modular, repeatable layout to support Vandrel’s micro-factory deployment model.
• Integrate AI-driven computer vision and acoustic sensors to create a 'Digital Birth Certificate' for every spool, ensuring meter-by-meter traceability for clients.
• Hire and lead process engineers, technicians, and quality staff, fostering a technical culture where senior personnel work alongside operators.

Benefits

• Compensation is benchmarked to senior technical leadership at venture-backed hard tech companies.
• Base salary is competitive.
• Equity is material and scales with experience and scope of ownership.
• Potential for a co-founder-level package including co-founder equity, commensurate title, and authority for candidates ready to anchor the technical side from day one.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed