Manager, Materials Engineering

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Manager, Materials Engineering? Then we're looking for you! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities

Manager, Materials Engineering

Job Summary

Panasonic Energy is seeking a Manager, Materials Engineering, reporting to the Director of Materials Engineering. This position will lead programs to establish and qualify multiple sources of key battery materials for Panasonic Energy’s North American lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing operations. The Manager will oversee the full material-development and introduction lifecycle, including initial technical feasibility assessment, laboratory evaluation of physical and chemical properties, production-scale trials, qualification, and implementation. The role will lead a technical team and coordinate closely with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders in Engineering, Production, Quality, Procurement, Maintenance, and global development organizations.

Essential Duties

• Lead execution of assigned cross-functional programs to develop, qualify, and implement a resilient North American supply chain for key battery materials.
• Establish program scope, milestones, timelines, decision points, resource requirements, risk registers, and technical reporting expectations.
• Direct material evaluation activities from initial technical feasibility assessment through laboratory analysis, production trials, qualification, and mass-production implementation.
• Coordinate effectively with Production, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, global development teams, and supplier-quality organizations to deliver program objectives.
• Ensure appropriate laboratory capabilities, analytical methods, and resources support the safe, accurate, and timely evaluation of material properties required for development and qualification.
• Lead the development, validation, and implementation of new or improved analytical methods, working internally and with suppliers as appropriate.
• Maintain productive technical relationships with prospective and existing suppliers to facilitate qualification and project execution.
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Procurement teams to plan, execute, and evaluate production trials.
• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of Panasonic Energy’s material-introduction process.
• Provide concise, data-driven updates to senior leadership regarding program status, technical results, risks, decisions, and required actions.
• Identify program risks and elevate technical, schedule, quality, supply, and resource concerns sufficiently early to support effective decision-making.
• Frequent (weekly) communication with teams in Japan regarding development progress, challenges, and paths forward (must be able to work effectively across time-zone differences)
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Recruit, onboard, develop, and retain a technically capable and collaborative team of engineers, supervisors, and other assigned personnel.
• Establish clear responsibilities, priorities, performance expectations, and development plans for the Materials Engineering team.
• Plan and assign work, monitor execution, provide timely coaching and feedback, appraise performance, recognize contributions, and address performance or conduct concerns in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Develop short-term and mid-term team plans aligned with business objectives and material-development priorities.
• Manage resources within approved plans, including team budget, staffing, equipment, and other resources required to meet approved program objectives.
• Build organizational capability through technical mentoring, leadership development, and appropriate delegation.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, technical rigor, continuous improvement, and timely execution.

Travel Requirement

• Up to 25% travel required

PPE Requirements

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

Qualifications

Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Required Education, Certifications, and Licenses

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline.

Preferred Education, Certifications, and Licenses

• Master’s degree in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline is highly desirable. PhD preferred.

Essential Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in engineering, materials science, material development, manufacturing, supplier quality, or a related technical field, including at least 3years of formal people management, supervisory, or substantial technical leadership experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of lithium-ion battery materials, manufacturing processes, or associated supply chains.
• Experience supporting the sourcing, development, qualification, or industrialization of raw materials.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional, geographically distributed, and global teams to execute complex technical programs in a fast-paced environment with evolving business priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop people, delegate effectively, provide constructive feedback, and build team capability.
• Strong program and project-management skills, including resource planning, milestone management, risk identification, prioritization, status reporting, and delivery against deadlines.
• Ability to interpret complex technical data, apply strong analytical and problem-solving judgement, and make sound, timely, and well-documented recommendations or decisions.
• Ability to prepare clear technical reports, project timelines, process flows, and presentations tailored to technical, operational, and executive audiences.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new technical concepts, prioritize competing technical and leadership responsibilities, and deliver results within tight project timelines.
• Ability to drive results while overcoming the challenges associated with collaboration across global teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of direct people-management experience or technical-leadership experience.
• Experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment, particularly lithium-ion batteries, electronic devices, chemicals, or advanced materials.
• Experience with lithium-ion battery materials and cell-manufacturing processes.
• Experience identifying, developing, qualifying, and industrializing new material suppliers from initial sampling through mass production.
• Experience collaborating directly with domestic and international suppliers and global procurement organizations.
• Working knowledge of Six Sigma, design of experiments, statistical process control, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Proficiency with analytical or statistical tools such as JMP, Minitab, Python, or MATLAB.

Physical Demands

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 40%
• Walk: 30%
• Stand: 30%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)

For this position, the required frequency is:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Continuous
• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare

Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You

Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• On-site Food Options : Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events
• Free Shuttle : Rides to and from work!

Where You'll Be

For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.

Who We Are

Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.

Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.

As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.

We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

We Take Opportunity Seriously

At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!

Supplemental Information

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.