Senior Engineering Technician--Process

A123 Systems•Waltham, MA

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled engineering process technician to support the operations of a Lithium-Ion Battery Laboratory. The Process technician will be responsible for the setup, optimization, maintenance and troubleshooting of electrode fabrication and cell assembly equipment and tool/jigs in a lithium-ion battery laboratory or proto line environment. This role involves developing, characterizing, and improving the processes for electrodes (mixing, coating, drying, calendaring, slitting) and cell assembly (stacking, welding, electrolyte filling, assembly, formation) to ensure high product quality, consistency, and uniformity for the R D lab.

Requirements

Associated Bachelor's degree or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field
7+ years of hands-on laboratory experience, preferably in lithium-ion battery R D or related electrochemical systems.
Experience with electrode, cell fabrication, material characterization, quality check and electrochemical testing required.
Familiarity with electrode process (slurry mixing, coating, calendaring, slitting) and cell assembly (stacking/winding, welding, assembly, electrolyte filling, sealing, formation etc.).
Understanding of process control, data analysis, and statistical tools (SPC, DOE).
Basic mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic troubleshooting skills
Experience with PLCs, sensors, and automation is an advantage.
Hands-on experience with dry rooms, gloveboxes, compressed gas systems, and dehumidifier
Strong experience and knowledge in new process development for next generation battery technology
Ability to read technical drawings, P&IDs, and equipment manual.
Plus the capability to handle AUTO CAD drawing
Initiation, responsibility, attention to details and comprehensive analysis are essential; team-player with a positive attitude and the ability to operate with minimal direct supervision is a major plus.

Responsibilities

Equipment Setup and Operation
Assemble coin cells, pouch cells, or cylindrical cells in a dry room or glove box environment.
Install, calibrate, and qualify and operate electrode fabrication and cell assembly equipment such as:
Slurry mixers, coaters, calender and slitter
Stamping, notching, and tab-welding machines
Stacking/winding machines, electrolyte filling, sealers, and formation
Lab. equipment such as hood, glove box, furnace, milling etc.
R D equipment
Establish, update and manage the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for each process and piece of equipment.
Process Optimization/Improvement
Develop and optimize process parameters to achieve desired electrode quality (thickness, porosity, adhesion, density) and cell performance.
Identify key process variables and improve consistency, yield, and efficiency.
Analyze process data to drive continuous improvement and reduce variability.
Develop new concept of process for next generation battery technology
Quality check and Safety compliance
Implement and enforce quality control procedures, including in-line and post-process inspection of electrodes and cells.
Check quality control to confirm the consistency of product
Ensure compliance with laboratory safety procedures and maintain a clean, organized workspace.
Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for any quality or process deviations
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Conduct preventive maintenance and ensure equipment uptime.
Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and process-related issues on electrode, assembly and formation equipment.
Coordinate with vendors for service and technical support when needed.
Manage inventory of equipment and tool asset properly .
Collaboration and Documentation
Record experimental procedures, results, and observations accurately in lab notebooks or digital systems.
Summarize test results; prepare technical reports and presentations for the R D team.
Work closely with materials scientists, cell designers, quality and to align process parameters with material requirements and product specifications.
Maintain detailed records of process parameters, test results, and modifications in lab notebooks.
Support scaling up from lab-scale to pilot or production processes.