VP of R&D

About Blue Current Blue Current is a manufacturer of Solid-state batteries based in Hayward, California. The company strives to provide engineers and designers with the highest performance and safest battery storage for the future energy economy including electric vehicles, consumer, medical and IoT devices. Blue Current leads with science, data and thoughtful IP across the full battery solution stack. Our team is diverse with deep research, implementation, and go-to-market experience. Our facility is located on San Francisco Bay with thousands of acres of wildlife preserve and miles of trails for recreation.

Summary

Do you have experience leading research and development efforts within the battery, fuel cell, or capacitor industries? Are you hungry for a role where you will have an immediate impact across the company and in the industry? Batteries are the single most critical part of the new energy economy for EVs, grid storage, consumer and IoT. Blue Current has developed a solid-state solution that exceeds the best batteries in the industry. The company is well funded and has a deep IP portfolio with dozens of patents granted and pending. Now we need you to drive the next level of innovation in our cell development.

Description

As VP of R&D, you will be focused on leading a team of researchers developing new solid state battery cells. A background in materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, or a related field is required. Additional experience leading a team of researchers is required. This position will offer hands-on, fast paced work on a growing team that has a shared passion to change the energy storage landscape.

Responsibilities

• Manage overall research and development efforts and drive technology improvements to reach cell performance goals
• Guide team leaders within the R&D organization – support them in professional growth and in their projects, providing feedback and mentorship
• Help set technical direction for R&D teams, making sure that projects are properly scoped and are meeting timelines and deliverables
• Help drive technical projects forward – supporting and guiding the team in technical data analysis, problem solving, failure mode and root cause analysis, and utilization of DOE/statistics to make decisions
• Work with cross-functional teams to set a cadence for R&D to deliver new cell formulations according to technical roadmap
• Drive intellectual property efforts for the R&D team, submitting new patent applications and trade secrets, and helping with patent examination processes
• Work with other members of the leadership team to set technical strategy for the company

Requirements

• PhD/MS in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or similar field with a focus on batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, or other electrochemical devices
• 10+ years of industry R&D experience developing and testing battery cell materials is highly preferred.
• Experience developing battery cell technologies with solid electrolytes is preferred
• Experience performing and analyzing electrochemical tests of battery cells to meet end-user requirements
• Familiarity and experience working with analytical tools such as SEM, TGA, FTIR, Raman, XRD, DSC, and others.
• Experience submitting patent applications, invention disclosures, and evaluating patent landscapes
• Experience leading a team of researchers, setting goals, giving team members feedback, and supporting others in their personal growth.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and experience working with team members to overcome technical challenges
• Proactive leader of lab and work safety policies

Blue Current is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and embraces diversity. We believe that our team is strengthened through hiring and retaining employees with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, ideas, and perspectives. We make hiring decisions based on merit and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender (including pregnancy) gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, disability status or any other protected category in accordance with applicable law.