Staff Cell Quality Engineer at Peakenergy

Job Title: Staff Cell Quality Engineer Location: Burlingame, California Department: Cell Engineering Experience Level: Staff Level (10+ years) Reports To: Chief Scientist Position Type: Full time, In-Office About the Company Peak Energy is the first American venture to advance globally proven Sodium-Ion battery systems as the storage standard for the new era of renewable energy on a resilient grid. Sodium-Ion is cheap, readily available and safe, making it the leading contender in a rapidly evolving market. Our leadership team is powered by decades of expertise in scaling gigawatt-level innovation at world-class companies such as Tesla, Northvolt, Apple, Powin, Enovix, Zipline, Solid Power, and Fluence. We are backed by strategic investment and product partners such as TDK Ventures and Eclipse Ventures. We are a team of engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, and partners driven by a shared ambition to set the new performance standard for renewable energy and grid resilience. About the Job Peak Energy is seeking a Staff Cell Quality Engineer to lead and establish incoming quality inspection targets and standards for battery cells integrated into energy storage systems and raw materials used in cell manufacturing. This role is critical in ensuring that purchased cells meet performance and safety expectations while also setting quality metrics for electrode rolls and other essential cell components used in cell production. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in cell quality assurance, particularly in cell integration for energy storage systems and cell manufacturing processes. This person will be responsible for defining, implementing, and managing inspection procedures and quality metrics to ensure high-performing and reliable sodium-ion battery systems. This is a Staff-level position requiring deep technical expertise, a high degree of autonomy, and the ability to independently set internal best-in-class standards and processes. The role reports directly to the Chief Scientist and is stationed on-site at Peak Energy’s system factory in Burlingame, California. Key Responsibilities • Develop and implement incoming quality inspection standards for: • Purchased battery cells for system integration. • Raw materials, including electrode rolls, separators, electrolytes, and casings. • Establish quality targets, acceptance criteria, and inspection methods for purchased cells based on performance, reliability, and safety requirements. • Define and implement testing and inspection procedures for raw materials and components to ensure compliance with industry and internal standards. • Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations for non-conforming materials and cells, working with internal teams to drive corrective actions. • Support material qualification and process validation for manufacturing, particularly for incoming electrode rolls. • Develop and maintain statistical process control (SPC) metrics to monitor quality consistency in cell integration and manufacturing. • Collaborate with manufacturing and R&D teams to set quality benchmarks for new materials and processes. • Drive continuous improvement initiatives in material and cell quality within Peak Energy’s manufacturing and integration processes. • Serve as the subject matter expert and technical authority on cell quality evaluation and disposition; partner closely with the Supplier Quality Engineer and manufacturing engineering team to align on cell acceptance decisions, non-conformance disposition, and corrective actions. • Lead the maturation and documentation of internal cell quality processes, establishing best-in-class standards and procedures for incoming cell evaluation and disposition of non-conforming cells. • Own and evolve the cell reliability test and evaluation program, developing and maturing test methodologies that reflect best-in-class industry practices for sodium-ion cell systems. • Develop a deep understanding of cell supplier manufacturing processes and constraints to set practical, well-calibrated cell specifications — avoiding unnecessary overconstraining that limits supplier performance or yield. • Support supplier quality audits and lead root cause analysis for cell quality escapes, representing quality in a statistical and risk-adjusted manner across internal and external stakeholders. Qualifications • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. • 7+ years of experience in quality engineering within battery manufacturing or cell integration for energy storage systems. • Strong background in battery cell quality assurance, including incoming cell inspections and material qualification. • Experience with electrode roll quality control, setting incoming material specifications, and ensuring quality consistency in manufacturing. • Deep understanding of battery manufacturing processes, failure modes, and quality control methodologies. • Proficiency in statistical analysis, Six Sigma, and SPC methods for process control and quality improvement. • Familiarity with industry standards and testing protocols for battery performance, safety, and reliability (e.g., UN 38.3, IEC, UL). • Hands-on experience with metrology, inspection tools, and analytical techniques used in battery quality evaluation. • Strong ability to collaborate across engineering and manufacturing teams to drive quality initiatives. Preferred Qualifications • Experience with sodium-ion, lithium-ion, or other advanced battery chemistries. • Knowledge of Jira, Smartsheet, and other quality tracking tools. • Certification in Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or Quality Engineering (CQE) is a plus. The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $220,000, with actual pay varying based on work location, experience, and skills. Our competitive benefits package includes flexible time off, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a strong 401(k) plan, and equity opportunities. Join us to thrive in a supportive environment while making a meaningful impact in the energy sector! At Peak Energy Technologies Inc., we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us a more capable, innovative, and competitive company. We welcome people who represent diversity in their backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. Peak Energy Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, aiming to reach our company’s full potential by cultivating an inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.