Who You AreSila is seeking a high-impact NPI Program Manager to lead new battery cell product development and qualification with key manufacturing partners. Positioned at the intersection of internal R&D, operations, and external suppliers, you will drive high-velocity execution to deliver mass-production-ready cell products.
Responsibilities and Duties Strategic NPI & Partner Management- Lead end-to-end NPI execution, driving qualification for new suppliers and external manufacturing partners (OEMs).
- Manage cross-border partner relationships, navigating cross-cultural and organizational dynamics to keep programs on schedule.
- Coordinate cross-functional deliverables between R&D, Product Management, Operations, and Quality.
Product Risk Management & Quality Engineering- Develop and steward DFMEA and PFMEA frameworks for cell designs and manufacturing processes.
- Support the qualification of new battery materials, cell designs, and advanced manufacturing methods.
- Ensure products meet global battery safety and certification pathways (e.g., IEC, UL, GB/T, KC, PSE).
Program Documentation & Operational Readiness- Own core NPI documentation, including Engineering Bills of Materials (BOMs), design specifications, and partner Statements of Work (SOWs).
- Hand off mass-production-ready cell products to Operations for scale-up.
- Present technical updates, risks, and status reports to executive and engineering stakeholders.
Knowledge and Skill Requirements Essential Technical Expertise- Experience: 6+ years in high-tech, hardware product development (batteries, semiconductors, chemical processing, or automotive). Direct experience with lithium-ion battery manufacturing and cell qualification is strongly preferred.
- Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrochemistry, or a related field.
- Process Knowledge: Practical understanding of cell manufacturing processes, risk analysis (FMEA), and global safety/certification frameworks.
Key Competencies- Cross-Functional Leadership: Proven ability to align diverse engineering, operations, and commercial teams around high-velocity timelines.
- Communication: Clear verbal and written presenter, comfortable translating technical details for both technical teams and executive leadership.
Preferred Qualifications- Fluency in Mandarin, Korean, or Japanese (to support Asian manufacturing partner interfaces).
Physical Demands and Working Conditions- Travel: Up to 10% international travel to partners across Asia, North America, and Europe.
- On-Site & Lab: Ability to wear required PPE (lab coat, safety glasses, steel-toe shoes) and navigate manufacturing or laboratory environments.
The starting base pay for this role is between $151,000 and $191,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila's competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
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