SENIOR MANAGER OF R&D - East Penn Manufacturing - Deka Batteries

Navitas Systems LLC, a leader in comprehensive energy storage solutions, was formed in 2011 with the merger of MicroSun Innovative Energy Storage Solutions and MicroSun Electronics, and the acquisition of lithium battery company A123 Systems’ Government Solutions Group. In 2019, East Penn Manufacturing, one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers, acquired majority interest in Navitas Systems. In SEVEN remarkable decades, East Penn has grown from a one-room shop with a product line of five automotive batteries to one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers with over 10,500 full-time employees, 515 product designs, operations around the world, and hundreds of awards for industry excellence.

At our Navitas facilities we engage in the research, design, development, and manufacture of advanced lithium cells and energy storage products and systems for both commercial customers and U.S. Government/military customers. We invest in our people, they are and always will be the heart of this company. Are you ready to join a family-owned enterprise committed to honoring the contributions of everyone? Then Navitas is the right place for you.

Navitas is ready to invest in you!  We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager of R&D in Ann Arbor, Michigan that will propose, plan, direct, and execute R&D group programs and leads their group in the creation, development, characterization/testing, and delivery of: energy storage (battery) materials; process technologies; electrode and other cell subcomponent embodiments; and/or custom lithium-ion cell designs and cells. The Senior Manager of R&D will serve as the main technical point of contact with R&D group customers.

• Generate and propose technical and programmatic (schedule and budget) solutions and R&D programs in response to government and commercial business opportunities.
• Generate and direct work plans, test plans, and work requests.
• Manage programs within budget and ensure on time delivery of project milestones.
• Present data and conclusions internally and to customers.
• Give papers and technical presentations at conferences.
• Author reports and other written deliverables for R&D programs.
• Ensure that the group maintains a clean and organized work area.
• Ensure that group equipment/assets/properties are maintained.
• Comply with Navitas policies and procedures.
• Read and comprehend instructions and follow established procedures
• Performs in a manner that will prevent errors and omissions.
• Provides advisory support and assistance to the department manager as needed.
• Responsible for meeting team targets and key performance indicators
• Participate in activities needed to support the management functions of the team.
• Follow all safety guidelines and operate in a safe manner
• Physical presence on the job is essential.
• Other duties as assigned by management
• Multiple direct reports (research scientists, scientists, engineers, technicians) will be managed.
• Manage career development and coach reports.

Education and Experience

• Ph.D. in chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical engineering, physics, materials science, materials engineering, or similar degree areas.  M.S. will be considered with an appropriate history in the battery industry (min. 10 years) and appropriate track record.
• Ph.D., with graduate and/or postdoc work in the battery or electrochemical energy storage fields is preferred.
• 15 years minimum total career experience with 10+ years of battery or electrochemical energy storage industry work beyond any graduate or postdoc work.  
• 10+ years of battery industry-related experience, including acquisition and management of US Government (DOE, DOD, etc.) funded R&D programs preferred.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Travel several times per year to customer sites, kickoff and review meetings, conferences, etc.
• Candidates must be comfortable supporting US military-funded work and building products for US and ally military testing and use.
• Technical ideation and technical solution generation and IP generation.
• Track record of technical proposal writing with successful acquisition of programs.
• Knowledgeable of the current state of battery science and technology and the field of players.
• Proficiency in Electrochemistry and battery science/engineering theory and methods.
• Proficiency in Materials synthesis and processing methodology and equipment.
• Proficiency in Analytical chemistry and/or materials analysis methodology and equipment.
• Familiarity with electrode mixing, coating, and processing methodology and equipment.
• Familiarity with lithium-ion cell assembly, welding and manufacturing methods.
• Familiarity with battery and electrochemical test equipment (Maccor, Bitrode, Arbin, Neware, Solartron, Gamry, etc.) programming, operation, methodology, and data analysis.
• Project management/leadership skills.
• Cost estimation
• Customer communication and handling.
• Proficiency with Microsoft office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Good interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction, and also as part of management and technical teams.
• Successful candidates will be both quality and detail oriented, be team oriented and flexible. They will possess good interpersonal skills, be good in written and verbal communication and be able to interface with customers, co-workers and management.
• Equipment sourcing, set up, maintenance and troubleshooting preferred
• Design of Experiments (DOE) or Robust Engineering training preferred
• Government funded program management experience, i.e. DOD, DOE, etc. is strongly preferred.
• Membership and participation in professional organization(s) such as ECS, MRS, etc. preferred
• Professional network including university, US national laboratory, and industry partners and contacts preferred

ITAR REQUIREMENTS: To conform to U.S. Government International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) the individual must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Navitas/East Penn offers excellent benefits:

• Competitive compensation
• Group health insurance that includes high quality medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage with a low employee premium
• Retirement Savings Plan with company match and a 3% employer contribution
• Paid company holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Employee assistance program
• Fitness Discounts
• Promotional opportunities

At Navitas/East Penn, our employees are our culture; our employees will always be the heart of the company. We are a private, family-owned enterprise committed to cultivating an atmosphere that honors the contributions of everyone.  We want our employees to have long-term careers, and many do. More than 38% of our workforce has over a decade of service. Our open-door management policy, comprehensive benefits package, employee appreciation and recognition events, and career advancement opportunities are just some of the ways we show our employees how incredibly valued they are.

EOE/VEVRAA