Advanced Manufacturing Engineer

Overview

Navitas is ready to invest in you! We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Advanced Manufacturing Engineer in Ann Arbor, Michigan to relocate, improve, and automate our lithium-ion battery formation equipment to our Center of Excellence manufacturing facility.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the analysis, design, and optimization of lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes to improve cycle times, yield, quality, and cost efficiency.
• Implement and champion continuous improvement initiatives using methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen, with a focus on the specific challenges and demands of battery manufacturing.
• Lead root cause analysis for production issues related to battery cell quality, capacity degradation, and safety concerns, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Oversee development of key documents for new processes, such as PFMEA, Work Instructions, Preventative Maintenance Schedules, Spare Parts, etc.
• Lead and manage complex engineering projects related to lithium-ion battery manufacturing, from concept to implementation, ensuring alignment with cost, quality, and timeline objectives.
• Evaluate, source, and implement advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturing equipment to support scaling production and increasing efficiency. This includes equipment for cell assembly, electrode coating, battery formation, testing, and packaging.
• Collaborate closely with battery equipment suppliers to assess equipment capabilities, performance, and compatibility with existing production systems.
• Lead the selection, installation, and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment specific to lithium-ion battery production, ensuring it meets stringent performance, safety, and efficiency standards.
• Assess lifecycle costs of manufacturing equipment, including maintenance, spare parts, and energy consumption, to drive cost-effective purchasing and investment decisions.
• Evaluate automation solutions and robotics specifically suited for battery assembly and testing, to enhance production capacity and quality control.
• Collaborate with Production, Design Engineering, Quality Assurance, Safety, R&D, Supply Chain, and other teams to ensure seamless operations and integration of new technologies into the battery production process.
• Partner with the procurement team to evaluate suppliers and support the selection of new materials, raw materials, and equipment, ensuring they meet industry-specific requirements for lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
• Review new part prints from the Design Team and suggest improvements for manufacturability (Design For Manufacturing & Assembly).
• Identify requirements for moving the pack line equipment, such as layout and utilities.
• Ensure that all manufacturing processes comply with environmental, health, safety, and regulatory standards specific to the battery manufacturing industry, including lithium-ion battery safety regulations and industry certifications (e.g., UN38.3, UL).
• Promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement, ensuring best practices are followed across all operations, particularly in relation to the handling of materials and processes that involve battery cells and electrolytes.
• Utilize data analysis and performance metrics to drive decisions that improve manufacturing performance, focusing on key indicators such as battery capacity, energy density, cycle life, and defect rates.
• Oversee the collection and interpretation of key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor the efficiency and quality of the battery manufacturing process
• Follow Company Policies and Procedures
• Physical presence on the job is essential and necessary
• Other duties as assigned by management

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and in Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, within the lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be comfortable supporting US-military funded work and building products for military testing and use.
• Knowledge of lithium-ion battery production processes, battery formation such as charging, discharging, capacity, cycle life, and safety testing is preferred.
• Proven experience in sourcing, evaluating, and implementing manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with high-volume manufacturing processes, such as automated assembly lines, robots, conveyors, PLCs, MES data collection systems, and testing preferably related to battery cell production.
• Proven experience working with cross-functional teams and managing complex projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts and smart manufacturing, particularly in battery production.
• Experience with CAD software, ERP systems, and data analysis tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex manufacturing issues and implement practical solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Up to 20% travel, including supplier visits, equipment FATs.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS: To conform to U.S. Government International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) the individual must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

East Penn Benefits

Navitas/East Penn offers excellent benefits:

• Competitive compensation
• Group health insurance that includes high quality medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage with a low employee premium
• Retirement Savings Plan with company match and a 3% employer contribution
• Paid company holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Employee assistance program
• Fitness Discounts
• Promotional opportunities

At Navitas/East Penn, our employees are our culture; our employees will always be the heart of the company. We are a private, family-owned enterprise committed to cultivating an atmosphere that honors the contributions of everyone. We want our employees to have long-term careers, and many do. More than 38% of our workforce has over a decade of service. Our open-door management policy, comprehensive benefits package, employee appreciation and recognition events, and career advancement opportunities are just some of the ways we show our employees how incredibly valued they are.