Ascend Elements Hiring for Electrical Engineer – Battery Discharge Full Time

Ascend Elements (AE) is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

Job Description: The Electrical Engineer – Battery Discharge, s to the Principal Electrical Engineer. In such a position, the Electrical Engineer – Battery Discharge shall lead front end AME projects focused on the handling, discharge, and disassembly of spent EV batteries for chemical conversion to new battery cathode. The Electrical Engineer is also the subject matter expert on all Li-ion battery discharge. This role will be part of the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering team (AME). The AME team is responsible for scaling our technology from demonstration plant scale to full production scale at multiple brown and green field sites in the US and Europe. In addition to process development, vendor selection, plant design, commissioning and installation, this group leads the technology scaling efforts as next generation technologies are proven in our R&D group.

This position will be based out of one of our US locations, preferably Covington GA, alternatively Westborough Massachusetts, or Hopkinsville Kentucky, or hybrid from US location with ability to travel frequently to Covington and Hopkinsville.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to the operation team with respect to battery discharge.
• Develop new discharge procedures for new batteries using existing battery discharge tools.
• Test and validate new battery discharge tool in collaboration with R&D.
• Support modification and improvement activities of production processes to accommodate unknown state battery material.
• Support company Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) program related to electrical safety. Conduct audits and reviews of electrical equipment, installations, and facilities to ensure compliance with electrical safety codes and standards.
• Provide technical leadership for the facility engineering, as well as manufacturing capital equipment procurement team.
• Prepare technical specifications, lead vendor selection and qualification, review and approve electrical drawings (e.g. single line diagram) provided by EPC or Equipment manufacturer.
• Provide follow-up progress during manufacturing, perform FAT, SAT, installation support, commissioning, optimization, and troubleshooting during operation.
• Lead Electrical interface with EPC firms and construction contractors to effectively design and execute plant / facility electrical engineering equipment.
• Support the production plant’s technical staff to meet plant metrics with robust processes and quality systems based on the APQP tool kit.
• Other duties and responsibilities consistent with the Employees position
• Up to 10% travel on average, as high as 50% during plant commissioning phases. Domestic and international travel will be required.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or applicable engineering field. Advanced degree a plus.

• Experience: 3+ years of experience in electrical design, build out, and optimization of industrial manufacturing plant.

Skills and Requirements:

• Understanding of engineering theory, principles, and performance criteria of Lithium-Ion Battery energy storage systems.
• Knowledge and experience of electrical system design for performance material or similar manufacturing processes, and ability to read, interpret and generate engineering drawings and specifications.
• Experience working in a battery material manufacturing environment or knowledge of battery charge and discharge process within the electric vehicle industry a plus.
• Have knowledge of safety standards such as OSHA, NFPA 70E
• Have experience in electrical safe work practice such as equipment Lockout / Tag out and arch flash labeling requirements.

• Knowledge and hands on experience using APQP tools (or equivalent) including FMEA, SPC, design and process validation as well as Lean and continuous improvement.

• Effective project management for >$300k capital equipment projects
• Experience, judgement, and technical knowledge to drive data-based decisions.
• Skilled user of MS office tools including Word, EXCEL, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project.
• Experienced user of 2D and 3D CAD modeling software including AutoCAD and Navisworks or similar.
• Written and verbal fluency in English.
• Developed soft skills such as leadership, team working, problem solving and communication.
• Clean driver’s license and the ability to drive within the US.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

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