Director of Facility Development & Infrastructure

Position: As the Director of Facility Development & Infrastructure, you will lead the facility, building, and infrastructure execution for our 2GWh high-volume battery manufacturing expansion, supported by a major U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Grant. You will oversee the complete facility lifecycle-from initial site retrofit and structural upgrades to utility matrix modeling, EPC partner direction, permitting, commissioning, and long-term facility operations & maintenance (O&M). Reporting directly to the Chief Manufacturing Officer, you will serve as the primary engineering lead directing external EPC contractors and utility providers while ensuring our plant infrastructure seamlessly integrates all manufacturing equipment (including cathode dry process, anode wet process, cell assembly, and formation/aging). Core Responsibilities: EPC Management & Facility Retrofit • EPC Partner Direction: Directly manage and supervise EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractors and general contractors. Drive execution schedules, CAPEX budgets, work quality, and site safety standards. • Building Upgrades & Retrofit: Lead structural modifications, equipment foundation pad installations, structural reinforcement, and process area build-outs for the 2GWh battery manufacturing facility. • Layout & Architectural Integration: Collaborate with EPC firms and internal engineering teams to review 3D CAD models, refine architectural/engineering drawings, and optimize personnel/material flow and safety zoning. Battery Infrastructure & Utility Engineering • Critical Environmental Infrastructure: Lead the design, installation, and commissioning of high-performance Dry Rooms and Dehumidification Systems (DHU) to meet ultra-low dew-point requirements for cathode dry processing and cell assembly. • Utility Matrix & Modeling: Establish and finalize the comprehensive plant Utility Matrix (electrical power, steam, cooling water, compressed air, DI water, process exhaust) with equipment vendors and EPC partners. • Utility Capacity & Grid Connection: Negotiate with local utility providers to secure required power grid capacity, gas, and water supply. Calculate and implement appropriate utility safety margins and peak load capacities for future expansion. • Facility Systems Integration: Oversee supporting infrastructure including Chillers, Coolers, HVAC, Scrubbers, Dust Collectors, Process Piping, and CDA systems. Permitting & Regulatory Compliance • Full Permitting Ownership: Lead the preparation, submission, and approval of all required local, state, and federal permits, including Building, Fire, Environmental (Air/Water), HazMat, and Utility permits. • Safety & Code Compliance: Ensure all engineering designs, fire protection plans, and hazardous material handling protocols comply with US safety regulations (e.g., OSHA, NFPA, Fire Marshal/AHJ codes, and environmental standards). • DOE Compliance: Align facility milestone tracking and reporting with DOE grant requirements, Earned Value Management (EVM), and project schedule/cost indices. Facility Operations & Maintenance (O&M) • Infrastructure Life-cycle Ownership: Establish long-term Facility O&M strategies, Preventive Maintenance (PM) schedules, and building management protocols post-construction. • Uptime & Reliability: Monitor utility uptime, power quality, and energy efficiency to maintain zero-downtime environmental controls for manufacturing operations. Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration • Executive Alignment: Work directly with the Chief Manufacturing Officer and executive leadership to align facility construction timelines with company-wide commercialization and scaling roadmaps. • Cross-Functional Scale-Up: Work closely with Equipment Engineering, Process Technology, and Production teams to ensure seamless utility interfaces, physical floor space allocation, and equipment hook-up readiness. • Vendor & Contractor Alignment: Act as the central interface between internal leadership, external EPC partners, equipment suppliers, municipal authorities, and utility companies. • Hands-on Field Leadership: Lead from the floor during construction, hook-up, and commissioning phases to proactively resolve technical constraints and engineering bottlenecks. Required Experience & Qualifications Education: • Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Civil/Architectural Engineering preferred). Experience: • 15+ years of experience in manufacturing facility development, building infrastructure, and engineering management within High-Tech/High-Volume Manufacturing industries (Lithium-ion Battery, Semiconductor, or Cleanroom/Pharma industries preferred). • Direct experience managing large-scale EPC contractors, facility retrofits/greenfield projects, and utility infrastructure commissioning. • Proven track record in designing and validating Dry Room / DHU systems and ultra-low humidity environments. • Deep experience in constructing plant Utility Matrices, negotiating power/utility grid capacity with local utility companies, and managing industrial HVAC/process utilities. • Demonstrated history of navigating US local and state permitting processes (Building, Fire Marshal/AHJ, Environmental, HazMat). • Direct experience or familiarity with ongoing facility Operations & Maintenance (O&M) and building management frameworks. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience working on US Federal/DOE grant-funded projects or government-backed infrastructure expansion programs. • Experience in facility design for dry electrode process and battery cell manufacturing lines. • Professional certifications such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM) or Professional Engineer (PE). Soft Skills & Work Style: • Strong leader with a proactive, "hands-on" approach on the construction floor. • Exceptional communication, negotiation, and vendor management skills to direct EPC partners and extract high performance from contractors. • Strategic problem solver capable of managing complex dependencies and tight regulatory/project deadlines. Benefits & Location: San Leandro, CA. Full-time, onsite. Salary range of $160,000-200,000 with stock incentives . Dental, vision, healthcare and 401(k) benefits are included. Applications will be screened as received.