R&D Mechanical/Materials Engineer

almost 3 years ago
Full time role
Emeryville, CA, US... more
Emeryville, CA, US... more

Company

Sila Nanotechnologies is an electronics company that offers new battery materials chemistry. It works directly with leading consumer electronics and ...

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Job Description

WHO YOU ARE

You’re a hands-on, multidisciplinary engineer who knows how to build, debug, and analyze complex experimental hardware to help make, and characterize, novel materials. You thrive collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, learning and exploring technical concepts outside of your primary expertise. You’re able to move seamlessly from zoomed-in discussions about component-level details to zoomed-out discussions about how reactor design and instrumentation affects chemical processes. You can navigate a rapidly-changing research organization and bring structure to open-ended scientific questions. In this role, you’ll collaborate to invent and prototype reactor hardware and techniques that empower a diverse team to develop next-generation Li-ion battery materials.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

  • Work with a cross-functional team of engineers and scientists to develop new battery materials. Own the equipment piece of the puzzle: propose, build, iterate, and debug chemical reactors for improved material synthesis.
  • Close loops. The nature of the reactors and analytical tools you work with in this role is that they’re never truly complete or handed off. Test your machines; work as both a designer and an end-user. Integrate sensors and analytical devices into reactors to provide insight into chemical processes.
  • Take on project management responsibilities and work across teams to help set goals, priorities, and timelines.
  • Organize, document, communicate. Distill design decisions and experimental outcomes into actionable communication tailored to your audience.
  • Identify safety hazards and work proactively to implement safety improvements.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

  • M.S. (or equivalent experience) in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a related discipline and at least 3 years of work experience in an engineering role. 
  • Second-nature familiarity with automated equipment in lab settings. Ability to spec, design, build, test, and commission new machines. Ability to troubleshoot and upgrade existing machines (mechanical and electrical) and working knowledge of lab & production instrumentation.
  • Experience analyzing real thermal/mechanical/chemical systems and applying your analysis to hardware and process improvements. 
  • Proficiency in mechanical assembly design and 3D CAD (ideally SolidWorks). Experience designing parts and getting them fabricated by external shops.
  • Experience working in a laboratory or R&D environment. Experience with vacuum systems, chemical vapor deposition processes, semiconductor, or photovoltaic processes is ideal.
  • Programming experience (C, C#, Python, .NET, MATLAB, or IEC 61131 PLC automation preferred).
  • Strong communication skills. Ability to listen and convey technical concepts to a diverse audience.
  • Experience in collaborative problem solving: sharing knowledge, ideas, resources, and long-term plans in order to solve complex technical problems.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a periodic basis
  • Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
  • Move items up to 50 lbs with the assistance of lift equipment and carts
  • Move long distances (such as from building to building)
  • Can travel both domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time

 

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