Scale Up Engineering Technician - Oct 2026
About The Position
Wildcat Discovery Technologies is seeking a hands-on, safety-focused, detail-oriented Scale-Up Engineering Technician to support the development and scale-up of advanced battery materials. The technician will work with engineers, scientists, and other technicians to execute pilot- and large-scale manufacturing processes, operate and maintain process equipment, collect process and analytical data, and support continuous improvement of scale-up operations. Wildcat Discovery Technologies is a San Diego, California-based materials R&D company transitioning its focus from battery research and development to material supply supported by artificial intelligence. The company develops and manufactures materials for lithium-ion batteries. The role involves working with chemical processes, powders, liquids, slurries, and industrial or pilot-scale equipment. It requires adherence to approved procedures, batch records, experimental plans, EHS practices, chemical-handling requirements, PPE requirements, and equipment safety procedures. The technician must be able to safely lift up to 50 pounds and obtain respirator certification and use a respirator for specific job tasks.
Requirements
- Working knowledge of chemical laboratory and/or pilot-scale manufacturing operations.
- Ability to safely operate and troubleshoot mechanical and chemical-processing equipment.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and willingness to work hands-on with process equipment.
- Understanding of basic chemical handling and laboratory safety practices.
- Ability to follow detailed SOPs, work instructions, batch records, and experimental plans.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation and data integrity.
- Ability to recognize abnormal process conditions and escalate problems appropriately.
- Comfort working with powders, liquids, slurries, chemicals, and process equipment.
- Ability to learn new equipment and processes quickly.
- Basic computer proficiency for data entry, documentation, and process tracking.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work independently after appropriate training while recognizing when engineering or management support is required.
- Ability to safely lift up to 50 pounds.
- Must obtain respirator certification and use a respirator for specific job tasks.
- One to three years of relevant laboratory, manufacturing, or process-equipment experience preferred; relevant hands-on laboratory, pilot-plant, manufacturing, or chemical-processing experience may be considered in combination with education.
Nice To Haves
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, engineering technology, or a related scientific or technical discipline.
- Experience operating pilot-scale or manufacturing equipment.
- Experience with wet or dry milling/grinding.
- Experience with slurry preparation and mixing.
- Experience with spray drying.
- Experience with vacuum or oven drying.
- Experience with furnace operations.
- Experience with powder handling.
- Experience with pumps and liquid-transfer systems.
- Experience with preventive maintenance and equipment troubleshooting.
- Experience executing SOPs and batch records.
Responsibilities
- Execute pilot-scale and large-scale inorganic material processing according to approved procedures, batch records, and experimental plans.
- Operate equipment for processes such as mixing, milling or grinding, filtration, washing, drying, spray drying, calcination, sieving, and powder handling.
- Prepare raw materials, solutions, slurries, and process intermediates according to specified recipes and procedures.
- Set up, start, operate, clean, shut down, and routinely inspect equipment.
- Monitor and record critical process parameters, including temperature, pressure, flow rate, mixing speed, milling conditions, and equipment operating parameters, as applicable.
- Collect representative in-process and final-product samples for analytical testing.
- Document batch information, equipment settings, observations, deviations, sample information, and process results accurately.
- Identify process or equipment issues and promptly communicate unexpected observations to engineers and management.
- Troubleshoot routinely and support basic equipment maintenance, particularly for pumps, liquid-transfer systems, tanks, mills, dryers, furnaces or ovens, and related process equipment.
- Support equipment commissioning, process trials, qualification activities, and scale-up runs.
- Maintain organized work areas and appropriate housekeeping and material labeling.
- Follow established EHS practices, chemical-handling requirements, PPE requirements, and equipment safety procedures.
- Prepare and stage materials and equipment for upcoming production runs.
- Collaborate with technicians, engineers, research associates, scientists, Analytical/QC, and other cross-functional teams.
- Meet project timelines while maintaining a strong focus on safety, data quality, material traceability, and process consistency.
- Identify opportunities to improve equipment utilization, workflow, process reliability, safety, and operational efficiency.
- Perform other laboratory and scale-up activities as needed to support program and business objectives.
Benefits
- Generous vacation accrual.
- Eight-day company closure at the end of the year.
- Full health insurance coverage with low employee out-of-pocket premiums.
- 401(k) with company-paid match.
- Professional growth with exposure to the fast-developing energy storage industry.
- Company culture valuing positivity, meritocracy, collaboration, openness, and innovation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
