Mechanical Process Engineer I

About Khemia Metals:

Khemia Metals is an Oakland, CA-based startup, focused on making cheaper and lighter batteries. Copper foil is the third most expensive component and the third heaviest component in lithium-ion cells. We are replacing copper foil with base metal alloy foils. Khemia's foil is a drop-in replacement for copper foil, is >3x lighter and made from >12x cheaper metals. In 2024 the EV industry alone spent >$7Bn purchasing copper foil and the market should grow to >$35 Bn/yr by 2050. Khemia's technology will meaningfully reduce the weight and cost of batteries while using entirely earth-abundant materials.

Khemia Metals was co-founded in 2024 by Dr. Helen Bergstrom & Dr. Daniel Suzuki with the mission of replacing critical materials with earth-abundant alloys to make lighter, cheaper and more sustainable energy storage. Khemia has raised over $6M in venture capital and non-dilutive funding. We are a small but mighty three-person team of builders with backgrounds in chemical and materials engineering, electrochemistry, and process development. We all wear many hats and are willing to roll up our sleeves to jump in where needed. We are looking for additional engineers who are excited to help optimize and scale our new battery foils and see our technology through customer validation and adoption.

What we're working on:

Our team has developed a lightweight alloy foil that matches the performance of copper foils when integrated in lithium-ion batteries for thousands of cycles. We are building a pilot roll-to-roll manufacturing process to produce our alloy foils at ultra-thin gauges to supply testing and early orders with commercial partners. Our goal is to enter customer validation testing with our first-generation alloy foil in 2026 and to build technical confidence with our customers that our technology is a drop-in replacement for copper in their battery cells. Our team continues to work on alloy composition, structure and surface optimization for future generations of alloy foil to meet the needs of different cell chemistries and designs.

What you will do:  

The Mechanical Process Engineer I will work hands on in building, commissioning and operating our pilot foil production line. You will work closely with the CTO on rolling process development on our pilot rolling line, as well as downstream processing including heat treating, foil converting, and surface treatment. We are a small team meaning you will have opportunity to make major contributions to the company's technology.

How you'll contribute :

• Design, plan and execute experiments to optimize our rolling process
• Operate our foil rolling line to produce materials for internal and external testing
• Perform data analysis, write detailed technical reports and present findings to the team.
• Develop and update SOPs for foil rolling, downstream processing and related characterization methods
• Perform basic literature reviews, document and summarize findings
• Own the design and assembly of mechanical assemblies and fixturing prototypes
• Work with vendors to develop complex specifications for process equipment

Qualifications:

• Awarded an BS in engineering (mechanical, electrical, industrial), applied physics or related field or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
• Comfortable working on mechanical assemblies, prototyping, and working around industrial equipment
• Strong understanding of hypothesis-driven experimentation and basic statistical analysis
• Proficiency with CAD/CAM software
• Interested in continually optimizing performance by working hard and paying attention to details
• Strong communicator and collaborative attitude
• Self-starter who is willing to jump in where needed - helping other team members even in areas outside your expertise
• Authorized to work in the US (we can't sponsor a visa for this position)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with roll-to-roll manufacturing or web-handling
• Experience with metal rolling
• Familiarity with basic mechatronics including control and data collection through Arduino, RaspberryPi or similar platforms
• Experience with electrical or mechanical testing equipment and instrumentation 

Physical Demands:

• This position requires the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time while operating equipment
• This position requires the ability to maneuver 50lb loads while setting up and operating production equipment
• This position requires occasional travel to vendor or customer sites

*A note about qualifications:  Studies show that some candidates are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. We do not want that to stop the right person from applying. We know that skills can be learned. We care more about your ability to grow, solve problems, take ownership, and bring your unique background to our team. If you are excited about Khemia's work and you believe you can succeed in this hands-on role, we encourage you to apply even if you do not match 100% of the criteria.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive salary ($65,000 – $105,000 annually) that is commensurate with experience
• Medical, vision & dental insurance for you and your dependents. Khemia covers up to 80% of employee's premium and 75% of employee's dependent's premium
• Employee stock option plan
• 401k retirement plan with employer matching
• Unlimited paid personal time off policy 
  

Location: Oakland, CA
Start Date: As soon as possible
Job Type: Full-time, In Person
Overtime Status: Exempt