Pilot Production Manager

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?

Who You Are

As a Pilot Production Manager you will be responsible for the execution, and reporting of manufacturing operations of our innovative Silicon Anode production lines. You will drive operational improvements and support the growth of the people, processes, and systems at the facility, ensuring on time delivery of Sila’s material to high profile customers. The role will be based in Alameda, CA.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Operational Leadership & Improvement: Lead and optimize Alameda manufacturing operations, driving discipline, and strategic initiatives. Directly oversee projects like Lean implementation and continuous improvement with material flow to align with company goals.
• Asset Ownership & Reliability: Act as the plant asset owner, managing MOC processes and partnering with engineering and maintenance to maximize equipment reliability and rapid incident recovery.
• Culture & Workforce Development: Build a safe, high-performing team through structured hiring, training, transparent feedback, and a strong culture of safety, quality, and empowerment.
• Organizational Optimization: Streamline workstreams, troubleshooting methodologies, and operational systems to establish an efficient, scalable, and highly effective production environment.
• Production Planning & Financial Oversight: Partner with supply planning to further develop production planning systems and collaborate with Finance to minimize manufacturing variances, report COGS, and monitor/report out on inventory levels.
• Goal Alignment & Performance Management: Set clear expectations, allocate responsibilities, track progress against key metrics, and support direct reports in navigating operational roadblocks.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (engineering preferred) or equivalent direct operations leadership experience. Minimum 7 years of industrial work experience (including management of non-exempt personnel).
• Industry Domain Expertise: Strong background in chemical or materials manufacturing, with a solid grasp of industrial manufacturing operations.
• Lean & Continuous Improvement: Deep understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and a proven track record of applying them to production processes.
• Leadership & Talent Development: Strong mentoring, coaching, and training skills focused on empowering individuals, developing talent, and driving safe operating behaviors.
• Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting: Hands-on, solution-oriented approach to diagnosing issues and resolving operational challenges directly on the line.
• Communication & Facilitation: Strong communication, listening, and influencing abilities, with strong initiative in leading meetings and driving organizational alignment.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes.
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time.
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location.

The starting base pay for this role is between $165,000 and $208,000 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, and equity. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

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Working at Sila

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.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Sila’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.