We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?
Sila 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 DutiesStrategic 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.
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).
- 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.
#LI-PL1 #LI-Onsite
We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.
Skills Required
- 6+ years of experience in high-tech hardware product development
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrochemistry, or a related field
- Practical understanding of cell manufacturing processes
- Experience with risk analysis and FMEA
- Understanding of global battery safety and certification frameworks
- Proven cross-functional leadership across engineering, operations, and commercial teams
- Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills
- Direct experience with lithium-ion battery manufacturing and cell qualification
- Fluency in Mandarin, Korean, or Japanese
What We Do
We are Sila—a next generation battery materials company dedicated to accelerating energy transformation for a more sustainable future. Our next-gen anode material is the first significant chemistry improvement to lithium-ion batteries to reach the market in 30 years. Our silicon anode material is a simple drop-in replacement to graphite and significantly boosts the energy density of lithium-ion batteries without compromising performance. Today, Sila science powers innovative consumer electronics. Tomorrow, it will fuel our EV future and the electrification of everything. We work directly with leading consumer electronics and automotive OEMs to help accelerate product roadmaps, and partners with battery manufacturers commercial cell production. Our partners include BMW, Daimler, and ATL. Sila Nano’s first products significantly increase the energy density of state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. Our materials are manufacturable economically at scale and are drop-in replacements to existing battery manufacturing processes.
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