Lead Engineer — Separator

Job description

About the role EnerVenue is seeking a technically strong Lead Engineer — Separator to own separator material selection, qualification, and manufacturing integration for its nickel hydroxide cathode / nickel-alloy anode Aqueous Metal Cell (AMC) platform. This is a hands-on technical leadership role at the heart of cell performance, safety, and lifetime — the separator directly governs ionic conductivity, gas crossover, and short-circuit resistance across a 30,000+ cycle design life. The successful candidate will own the separator technical roadmap end-to-end — from material and supplier selection, through wet-out and conductivity optimization, to converting and in-line quality control at the Changzhou facility — working closely with the Head of Electrode Engineering and the Cell Engineering team. This role sits at the intersection of polymer/membrane science, electrochemistry, and manufacturing, and requires someone equally comfortable in a lab characterizing membranes and on a factory floor debugging a slitting or coating line. What you'll do Separator Engineering & Qualification • Lead selection, qualification, and continuous improvement of separator materials (nonwoven polyolefin, cellulosic, or ceramic-coated membranes) for EnerVenue's AMC platform • Define and control separator specifications: thickness, porosity, pore-size distribution, MacMullin number, ionic (area-specific) resistance, and electrolyte wettability • Optimize separator performance for alkaline electrolyte compatibility, including oxidative and dendrite resistance, gas (H₂/O₂) barrier properties, and long-term chemical stability • Drive separator contribution to cell-level performance targets: cycle life, rate capability, self-discharge, and internal short-circuit resistance, targeting 30,000+ cycles • Establish separator characterization protocols: MacMullin number, Gurley air permeability, puncture strength, thermal shrinkage, wettability/contact angle, and SEM/porosimetry • Own separator-related failure analysis (shorts, dry-out, dendrite penetration) and drive corrective actions with R&D and quality teams Manufacturing & Supplier Integration (Changzhou, China) • Support commissioning of separator converting operations at the Changzhou facility — slitting, winding, and inline inspection — from spec to production-qualified output • Qualify and manage relationships with domestic Chinese separator suppliers and, where applicable, coating/converting equipment vendors • Establish incoming-material inspection, SPC, and inline quality monitoring for separator stock used in cell assembly • Work with Manufacturing Engineering to resolve separator-related yield issues during cell assembly ramp (alignment, wet-out time, handling damage) • Ensure separator sourcing and handling processes meet relevant environmental, health, and safety standards under China's GB and MEP regulations Technical Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration • Serve as the internal technical authority on separator materials and membrane science for the AMC platform • Partner closely with the Head of Electrode Engineering and Cell Engineering team to co-optimize electrode, separator, and electrolyte design as an integrated system • Collaborate with the Stanford-based R&D team to translate lab-scale separator research into manufacturable, qualified production materials • Mentor and, as the team scales, help build out a small separator engineering team in Changzhou • Report to the Head of Electrode Engineering; provide regular updates on separator roadmap, qualification status, and supply risk Qualifications Education • Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field • Equivalent industry experience (4+ years) with a strong portfolio of separator or membrane product development will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree Core Technical Experience (Non-Negotiable) • Hands-on experience developing, qualifying, or manufacturing battery separators (alkaline, NiMH, lead-acid, or lithium-ion nonwoven/microporous membranes) • Working knowledge of separator characterization: MacMullin number, ionic resistance, Gurley permeability, puncture strength, wettability, and thermal shrinkage • Understanding of polymer/nonwoven membrane structure-property relationships as they relate to porosity, pore morphology, and electrolyte transport • Experience with alkaline-electrolyte-compatible materials and oxidative/chemical stability considerations • Track record of taking a separator or membrane material from lab-scale qualification to high-volume manufacturing Manufacturing & Operations Experience • Experience supporting or commissioning separator converting operations (slitting, winding, coating) in an industrial setting • Familiarity with Chinese manufacturing supply chains and separator/nonwoven material vendors • Understanding of EHS compliance relevant to separator handling and processing under Chinese regulations • Experience working cross-functionally with electrode and cell assembly engineering teams Language & Location • Professional working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese required (technical documents, supplier negotiations, team coordination) • Professional proficiency in English required (communication with Silicon Valley HQ, technical reporting) • Based in or willing to relocate to Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China Preferred Qualifications • Direct experience with nickel-hydrogen or NiMH battery separator systems • Publications or patents in separator/membrane materials, alkaline electrochemistry, or nonwoven engineering • Experience with ceramic-coated or composite separator technologies • Familiarity with water electrolysis (alkaline or PEM) membrane/separator technology • Experience with DoE (design of experiments) methodologies for membrane/material optimization • Network within the Chinese separator or nonwoven materials supply chain About EnerVenue, Inc. Named one of the world’s Top Greentech Companies by TIME in 2024 and 2025, EnerVenue builds simple, safer, and flexible energy storage solutions for the clean energy revolution. Based on technology proven over decades under the most extreme conditions, EnerVenue offers a differentiated stationary storage solution that improves upon today’s alternatives. Commercialized from research completed at Stanford University and backed by well-funded investors, EnerVenue is redefining the stationary storage market.