Senior Associate Engineer, Process Quality

Blue Current•Hayward, CA

2h•$95,400 - $127,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Associate Engineer, Process Quality performs day-to-day quality work to ensure measurements are trustworthy and processes remain in control. Working under the direction of senior engineers and the Process Quality manager, this hands-on role performs quality testing and inspection, maintains quality records and control charts, and gathers evidence to support investigations. The role works at the bench and on the manufacturing floor, learning and executing Blue Current’s quality methods and systems. Success involves producing complete, accurate, and timely quality data to support team decisions and continuously improve understanding of process and product performance. The position is based at Blue Current’s headquarters and pilot line facility in Hayward, California. It involves standard weekday business hours, with occasional off-hours availability to support long-running test campaigns, installations, or troubleshooting. Travel is estimated at less than 10% of working time, primarily for domestic vendor or equipment site visits.

Requirements

BS in a relevant field; or AS with at least 2 years of relevant experience; or at least 4 years of relevant experience. Relevant fields include Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a related field, with a focus on batteries or electrochemical devices.
Hands-on experience in a laboratory or manufacturing setting, potentially through an internship, co-op, or academic research, involving measurement, testing, and documentation of results.
Experience following written procedures and accurately recording data where downstream users rely on the record.
Ability to connect manufacturing-floor observations to potential quality or process risks and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Working knowledge of basic statistics applied to process data, including central tendency, variation, and control limits.
Ability to use a spreadsheet or statistical software such as Excel, JMP, Minitab, or R to summarize, chart, and interpret measurement data.
Clear written communication skills sufficient to document observations, record results, and draft procedures others can follow.
Attention to detail and demonstrated commitment to data integrity and record traceability.
Technical curiosity, including questioning unexpected results and using observations and data to determine whether further investigation is needed.
Ability to take direction, ask clarifying questions, and escalate problems rather than work around them.
Demonstrated commitment to maintaining a safe and secure work environment, including following workplace safety protocols, data privacy standards, and confidentiality requirements.
Ability to identify and appropriately escalate potential risks to personnel, customers, or sensitive information.
Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and working styles, while maintaining professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
Ability to prioritize, execute, and follow through on responsibilities with minimal supervision; set measurable goals, meet deadlines, and proactively take initiative to resolve challenges.
Commitment to quality and continuous improvement, sound judgment in evaluating options, and ability to identify effective and scalable solutions.
Ability to quickly acquire new skills, tools, or domain knowledge, and apply creative thinking to solve problems.
Ability to deliver results in resource-constrained environments by making effective use of existing tools, processes, and partnerships, and to adapt to ambiguous or rapidly changing situations.
Commitment to understanding and exceeding internal and/or external customer needs and building strong, trust-based relationships.
Ability to occasionally lift and position equipment and components weighing approximately 30–50 lbs; installation and maintenance work may involve bending, reaching, and working around electromechanical equipment.
Ability to work near electrical test equipment, batteries, and temperature-control systems while following applicable electrical, battery, and laboratory safety protocols.
Ability to perform prolonged screen-based work for test configuration, monitoring, data review, and documentation.
Ability to regularly use PPE, including safety glasses, gloves, and a lab coat; additional PPE may be required depending on materials handled.
Ability to pass a respirator fit test and wear a respirator periodically.
U.S. work authorization without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Coursework or practical exposure to Lean Six Sigma, statistical process control, or design of experiments.
Experience in battery, semiconductor, medical device, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing.
Familiarity with measurement systems analysis concepts such as gauge repeatability and reproducibility.
Exposure to quality management system elements such as document control, change management, or nonconformance handling.
Experience working in a dry room, glovebox, or other controlled-environment laboratory.
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Green Belt.

Responsibilities

Perform routine quality control testing and inspection of incoming materials, in-process components, and finished cells using established test methods and acceptance criteria.
Collect, enter, and verify quality data in established systems; check records for completeness and flag values outside expected ranges.
Maintain process control charts for assigned operations, identify out-of-control signals, and escalate them to the responsible process owner and the Process Quality manager.
Observe process execution, identify gaps between documented and actual practices, and communicate opportunities to improve safety, reproducibility, or quality.
Execute measurement system analysis studies, including Gauge R&R, following established protocols, and document the results.
Draft and revise standard operating procedures and work instructions for quality control methods under senior engineers’ direction, and route them through document control.
Conduct first-pass investigations of nonconforming material and process deviations by documenting observations and evidence, and contribute findings to root cause analyses led by senior engineers.
Inspect incoming supplier materials against specifications, document non-conformances, and track open supplier quality issues to closure.
Compile quality metrics and prepare recurring reports for process owners and the Process Quality team.
Follow and help improve laboratory and manufacturing safety practices, including proper PPE use and material handling.
Perform other duties assigned that are consistent with the scope and level of the position.