Senior Staff Quality Engineer, Manufacturing

at Sila

Alameda

About Us

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

Who You Are

You are an analytical problem-solver who thrives in the dynamic environment of a manufacturing floor. You champion the Quality Management System. You love figuring out why problems exist and identifying solutions to prevent them from happening again.

You are a visionary Senior Staff Quality Engineer with expertise in a regulated QMS environment (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or GMP). You’re a natural collaborator, who knows how to speak the language of different teams–whether you’re talking tolerances with Equipment Engineers, discussing process capability with Process Engineering, aligning on data with Quality Control, or supporting the fast-paced demands of Operations. You balance a high standard for quality with a practical understanding of manufacturing throughput.

Responsibilities and Duties

Problem Solving & Investigation Stewardship

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Leadership: Serve as an expert Root Cause Analyses (RCA) facilitator and own end-to-end stewardship of major manufacturing quality event investigations.
R&D & Internal Customer Interface: Serve as the core Quality partner for R&D and NPI teams, managing the feedback loop to smoothly transition new products/process into stable, high-yield manufacturing

Operational Quality & Data Governance

SPC and SQC Governance: Oversee Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Statistical Quality Control (SQC) frameworks, leveraging data reviews to proactively optimize manufacturing yield.
Cross-Functional Operations: Partner with Manufacturing Process Engineering, Equipment Engineering, Quality Control, and Operations teams to lead Material Review Board (MRB) dispositions and align daily production with quality standards

Manufacturing Excellence & Continuous Improvement

Proactive Floor Governance & Cleanliness: Establish a systematic routine for manufacturing floor walks and process audits to identify risks early.
Workflow Simplification & Yield Optimization: Lead continuous improvement projects to streamline Sila’s manufacturing and QC systems/workflows, balancing strict compliance with operational throughput to maximize quality yield.

QMS, Compliance & Leadership

Audit & QMS Leadership: Execute Sila’s internal audit program and lead/support readiness efforts for external quality certification and surveillance audits.

Executive Reporting & Culture: Track and report key quality performance metrics while driving quality culture and QMS awareness training to Manufacturing teams

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

Experience: Minimum 10 years of quality engineering experience within an established Quality Management System (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or GMP). Deep background in material or chemical manufacturing operations is highly preferred.
Systemic Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Advanced proficiency in data driven RCA tools (8D, 5 Whys, FMEA, statistical process control) to diagnose complex variations that drive effective and lasting Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA).
Standards & Auditing: Demonstrated expertise with ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949. Auditing experience, including leading internal audits to ensure continuous site readiness.
Strategic Leadership: Ability to effectively advocate for quality initiatives and drive cross-functional change. Must be able to distill complex quality metrics and technical findings into clear, compelling narratives for all levels of the organization
Cross-Functional Leadership & Facilitation: Proven skill in leading and structuring critical meetings to ensure efficiency and clear, accountable outcomes. Must be adept at mediating conflicts and building consensus among diverse functional groups.
Mentorship & Development: Experience in coaching and mentoring junior staff or peers on quality principles and QMS procedures, providing constructive and empathetic feedback to foster professional growth.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location

The starting base pay for this role is between $156,000 and $197,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. #LI-PL1 #LI-Onsite

Working at Sila

We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.