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: Automation Engineer.
In such position, the Automation Engineer shall work in the Automation team responsible for the overall process automation design and optimization of Ascend Elements manufacturing facilities which include handling, discharge, and disassembly of spent EV batteries, shredding of such batteries, and chemical processing of this shredded material into new battery cathode.
The Advanced Manufacturing Engineering 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 our Massachusetts Headquarters or potentially from our 1st plant in the Southeast of the US, Covington GA or Hopkinsville KY.
Job Responsibilities
Provide process automation technical leadership for capital projects, including technical specification and standard creation, vendor selection and qualification, instrumentation and control system design review and approval, FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, startup, and process optimization.
Interface with EPC firms and construction contractors to effectively design and execute plant automation and data management systems
Lead efficiency improvement automation projects in multiple brown and green field sites.
Modify and debug process control systems to achieve continuous process optimization and downtime reduction.
Interface with R&D team and contractors to implement automation systems of new processes
Work with Quality team on quality control data management
Support the production plant’s technical staff to meet plant metrics with robust processes and quality systems based on the APQP tool kit.
Lead RCA (Root Cause Analysis) and troubleshooting effort to resolve process controls upset and product quality deviations
Liaise IT team and contractor on providing enterprise production data reporting and analysis to corporate management
Other duties and responsibilities consistent with the Employees position
Up to 20% travel on average (if based in Westborough), as high as 50% during plant commissioning phases
Education: Bachelor’s degree or technical diploma in Electrical, Process Controls, or Chemical Engineering with automation experience.
Skills and Requirements:
5+ years of experience in controls design, programming, and troubleshooting of industrial manufacturing plant
Knowledge of control system design for performance material or similar manufacturing process, and ability to read, interpret and generate engineering drawings and specifications
Experience with Control panel design and low voltage electrical system
Knowledge of Siemens and Allan Bradley programming is a plus
Knowledge of and hands on experience using APQP tools (or equivalent) including FMEA, SPC, and design and process validation as well as Lean and 6 Sigma tools.
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, Outlook, Project, Autocad
Written and verbal fluency in English
Ability to travel domestically and international.
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