Head of Battery Programs

Role Overview

Ten-Nine Technologies engages in research, development, and manufacturing of advanced battery materials in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Ten-Nine Tech team develops innovative materials that improve the performance and longevity of lithium-ion batteries. Our flagship technology, TENIX, is a drop-in cathode additive designed to unlock better performance across battery chemistries. Drawing on our company’s values of curiosity, generosity, and authenticity, our team is advancing battery technology from the nanoscale up.

The Head of Battery Programs is a critical leadership role responsible for directing technical strategy, ensuring data integrity, and driving team execution across all cell development projects. This position bridges the gap between hands‑on engineering and executive decision‑making, translating complex laboratory findings into high‑level business insights. Acting as a key technical advisor, you will lead a high‑performing engineering team, ensure alignment with corporate milestones, and interface directly with customers and cross‑functional leadership to support business growth.

Responsibilities

Executive Reporting & Strategic Communication

• Synthesize Leadership Reports: Curate and deliver executive‑level reporting on all team projects, filtering operational details to elevate major achievements and critical technical roadblocks requiring executive intervention or strategic decisions.
• Extract Cross‑Project Insights: Analyze data across multiple initiatives to highlight high‑level conclusions, systemic trends, and strategic technical directions.
• Bridge Stakeholder Communication: Act as the primary conduit for technical insights, questions, and key milestones between the Cell Development team, Business Development, Executive Leadership, and external stakeholders.

Project Accountability & Technical Oversight

• Direct Experimental Strategy: Plan, prioritize, and allocate resources for all experimental trials—including formulation, cell construction, and testing protocols—ensuring strict alignment with company‑wide goals.
• Enforce Rigorous Data Quality: Review, edit, and create advanced analytical charts, compilation plots, and technical analyses to cross‑check errors, establish technical direction, and ensure data quality and consistency across programs.
• Validate Experimental Results: Review comprehensive reports alongside Project Leads, auditing experimental variables, verifying data accuracy, and evaluating data quality, variability, statistical significance, and replication requirements.

Team Leadership & Operational Management

• Manage and Mentor Talent: Conduct regular technical and personal check‑ins with direct reports to provide continuous feedback, evaluate workloads, and support professional development.
• Optimize Resource Allocation: Monitor team‑wide workload balance, stepping in as a cross‑project technical resource to provide targeted support on high‑priority tasks as needed.
• Drive Performance & Morale: Conduct formal performance evaluations, set clear operational expectations, manage promotion or corrective recommendations, and systematically resolve recurring team pain points to maintain high morale.
• Maintain Safety & Infrastructure: Oversee laboratory environments to ensure the team operates safely and effectively, while verifying that equipment is well‑maintained and scalable for forecasted capacity and quality demands.

Commercial & Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Enable Business Development: Provide deep technical expertise to the Business Development team during client acquisitions, complex technical evaluations, and partnership strategy sessions.
• Manage Customer Technical Relations: Interface directly with active and prospective customers to communicate trial execution plans, navigate technical feedback, and present complex test results.
• Support Marketing Initiatives: Provide validated technical conclusions and data‑driven content for marketing collateral, while reviewing final marketing materials for technical accuracy.

Qualifications and Education

Required

• Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in battery technology, energy storage, advanced materials, or a closely related field, including significant experience leading technical teams and development programs
• Strong understanding of battery materials, battery cell chemistry, electrochemical datasets and translation results info clear conclusions.
• Proven experience managing and mentoring scientists and/or engineers, including setting priorities, allocating resources, and driving accountability across multiple technical programs.
• Collaborative, solutions‑oriented leadership style consistent with Ten‑Nine Technologies’ value of curiosity, generosity and authenticity.

Preferred

• Advanced electrochemical data analysis, visualization, and interpretation capabilities
• Exceptional technical leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience with cathode active materials, cathode additives, and/or advanced lithium‑ion chemistries
• Experience working in a fast‑paced R&D, startup, or commercialization environment
• Familiarity with scaling battery technologies from laboratory experimentation toward commercial application
• Experience supporting customer‑facing technical programs, joint development projects, or external technology evaluations.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means translating company priorities into clear technical direction and delivering against key milestones on time and with confidence. The Head of Battery Programs will serve as a trusted technical partner to executive leadership, bringing sound judgment, clear recommendations, and proactive solutions to complex challenges. They will build accountability across the Battery & Cell Development team while maintaining the rigor and quality expected of Ten‑Nine’s technical work. Ultimately, success means anticipating what’s needed, solving problems before they become roadblocks, and consistently moving the company’s technical and commercial objectives forward. To be successful as the Head of Battery Programs, you must be a leader who steps up when it matters, takes ownership of the outcome, and can be counted on to deliver.

Location

Tulsa, Oklahoma | Global/Remote Options Available

Why Join Us

• Be part of an innovative startup at the forefront of energy storage, combining materials science with data engineering.
• Contribute directly to the development of sustainable, domestically produced energy solutions with global impact.
• Work closely with world‑class scientists, engineers, and industry leaders to shape the future of batteries.
• Grow your career in a fast‑paced environment where data‑driven insights fuel breakthrough innovation.