Sr Manager, Process Quality

About Blue Current

Blue Current (the "Company") is the industry leader in the development of silicon solid state batteries. Free of flammable liquid electrolytes, Blue Current's fully dry, inherently safe batteries significantly reduce risks to human and environmental health while providing a higher-performance alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. Blue Current's silicon-based platform is highly adaptable, enabling a cost-effective solution for both the mobility and stationary storage markets. Blue Current's team works out of its state-of-the-art headquarters and pilot line facility in Hayward, California. To learn more about Blue Current, Inc., visit

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Process Quality owns the design, implementation, and operation of all quality systems at Blue Current. This role spans from incoming materials through outgoing products, and interfaces with all teams from early R&D to Advanced Manufacturing. The successful candidate in this role will develop a top-notch quality system, and through operating that process will drive improvements to processes and materials to deliver world-class battery products.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Build and manage a team capable of meeting the business needs of this role. Define KPIs for the quality team that align with company goals.
• Build and manage systems to test, trace, and troubleshoot quality all the way from incoming materials, through to outgoing battery products. This should include vendor validation, IQC, inline metrology, and standardizing test protocols.
• Provide ongoing monitoring, feedback, and engineering support to identify and solve quality problems with materials and processes across the organization
• Partner with R&D, Cell Engineering, and Advanced Manufacturing departments to define quality metrics, implement measurement and tracking systems, and maintain ongoing monitoring in service of process improvements
• Determine critical-to-quality metrics across the cell development and pilot manufacturing pipeline. Monitor CTQ metrics and deploy statistical process control
• Proactively flag problems and lead root cause analysis efforts including FMEAs and metrology R&R, and manage reliability improvement deep dives
• Uphold strong safety, documentation, and data integrity practices
• Other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope and level of this position.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• PhD in relevant field + 3 years relevant experience, MS + 6 years relevant experience, BS + 8 years relevant experience, or 13 years related industry experience

Experience

• Demonstrated experience interfacing between teams in different departments to deliver products, processes, or systems key to all stakeholders
• Proven experience developing quality programs from early research through scale-up and commercialization
• Demonstrated experience developing process improvement programs and quality tracking systems
• Proven ability to build and lead teams in dynamic startup environments

Skills & Knowledge

• Management of a small team of individual contributors in a fast-paced environment with stakeholders across multiple departments
• Mastery of metrological equipment, including aspects of detailed instrumentation specification, facilities requirements, testing logistics with a "high mix" of varied use cases and test conditions, calibration, and repair
• Demonstrated ability to manage complicated programs involving stakeholders from disparate groups (cell engineering, facilities, equipment vendors, senior management, external customers, safety test vendors, etc) to define and complete test programs and ensuring customer satisfaction
• Ability to distill complex and extensive test data into clear reports, through data processing, graphing, and statistical analysis
• Deep familiarity with software solutions for creating and managing quality data, including statistical analysis and machine learning capabilities

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years experience managing teams performing quality systems implementation, process engineering, product quality management, or similar
• Experience managing inter-team projects with open-ended deliverables and meeting goals and tight schedules in a fast-paced environment
• Education and experience with Six Sigma methodologies
• Experience developing quality management systems or their effective equivalents

Core Values - Minimum Qualifications

Safety & Security First

For employees, customers, and intellectual property

• Demonstrated commitment to maintaining a safe and secure work environment, including adherence to workplace safety protocols, data privacy standards, and confidentiality requirements.
• Proven ability to identify and appropriately escalate potential risks to personnel, customers, or sensitive information.

Trust & Respect

Treat everyone with honesty, dignity, and sensitivity. Embrace different perspectives. Be humble.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and working styles.
• Track record of maintaining professionalism, integrity, and discretion in all workplace interactions.

Ownership & Accountability

Take responsibility and action. Set goals and deliver. Don't wait for others.

• Demonstrated ability to independently prioritize, execute, and follow through on responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Proven track record of setting measurable goals, meeting deadlines, and taking initiative to resolve challenges proactively.

Technical Excellence

Always strive for the best solution possible.

• Demonstrated commitment to quality and continuous improvement in delivering work product, solutions, and outcomes within area of expertise.
• Ability to evaluate options critically and apply sound judgment to identify the most effective and scalable solution.

Learn & Be Curious

Think outside the box. Always learning.

• Demonstrated ability to quickly acquire new skills, tools, or domain knowledge in response to evolving business needs.
• Proven track record of applying creative or unconventional thinking to solve problems.

Be Resourceful

Be hungry, frugal, and flexible. Use what you have. Find a way.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in resource-constrained environments by maximizing existing tools, processes, and partnerships.
• Proven ability to adapt and find effective solutions in ambiguous or rapidly changing situations.

Delight Customers

Build stronger relationships with internal and external customers.

• Demonstrated commitment to understanding and exceeding the needs of internal and/or external customers.
• Track record of building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships that drive positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Ability to sit for extended periods at a workstation and use a computer for up to 8 hours per day.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. occasionally
• Required to wear personal protective equipment when applicable
• Able to pass a respirator fit test and wear a respirator periodically
• Able to work in an office, lab, and manufacturing environment with chemicals, moving mechanical parts, and electrical hazards
• Regular business hours required; occasional evening or weekend work may be required during peak periods.

Salary Range

$135,900-$172,000 USD

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Blue Current is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

At-Will Employment & Disclaimer

Employment at Blue Current is at-will. This means that either the employee or Blue Current may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without cause, and with or without advance notice, subject to applicable law. This job description does not create an express or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter the at-will nature of the employment relationship. The duties, responsibilities, and qualifications described herein are subject to change at the Company's discretion and do not represent all tasks that may be required of this role.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.