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Competitive Intelligence Lead

Alameda, CA

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 a technical investigator who finds the ground truth when others are stuck reading a datasheet. You have a Master’s degree in engineering or science, but you prefer applying that knowledge to the real world rather than staying in the lab. You love the challenge of "demystifying" a competitor's claim by digging into the science and figuring out exactly what they are doing. You are resourceful and creative in how you get answers that help drive sales strategy forward. You’re comfortable evaluating, analyzing and summarizing spec sheets, characterization data, cell teardowns, battery reports. Having experience managing a technical project with a contractor is a plus. You enjoy being the "fact-checker" for the sales team and giving them the tactical advantages they need to win a deal. You feel at home both in technical and business strategy discussions and are capable of adding value in both forums.

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Partner with Sales and Product teams to identify specific customer concerns and competitor claims then translate these into tactical fact-checking actions and product planning inputs that help close deals and guide our roadmap.
  • Convert complex benchmarking data into simple, tactical tools and tricks for the sales team to use when discussing competitor chemistry or hardware.
  • Define the specific technical questions the sales team needs answered and manage the engineering work to get them.
  • Build and maintain first-principles models to demystify competitor strategies, customer bases, cost structures, manufacturing capabilities, and performance trade-offs.
  • Own the end-to-end characterization and testing of competitor products, managing the scope and workflow of both internal scientists and external contractors.
  • Monitor the field for potential competitor infringement on our technology and gather the technical evidence the legal team needs to act.
  • Lead quarterly strategy reviews, condensing high-volume technical data into succinct executive takeaways, clearly distinguishing between the findings that drive our strategy and the technical noise that doesn't.
  • Monitor high-level industry trends and macro shifts to ensure tactical moves stay aligned with the broader market.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements 

  • Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related Physical Science. An MBA or PhD is a plus but not the primary requirement.
  • At least 6 years of experience in technical product management, technical product marketing, or corporate strategy within the battery, EV, drone, or consumer electronics sectors.
  • Proven ability to act as a project manager for technical work, including the ability to keep scientists on task and within scope.
  • Advanced skill in Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and excel-based modeling to determine competitor manufacturing costs and product performance.
  • High level of resourcefulness in sourcing information, samples, and external partners for technical benchmarking.
  • Excellent communication skills with a track record of simplifying complex technical data into clear commercial actions for executive leadership.
  • Fluency in Mandarin is a plus

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

  • Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location
  • This role is based in our Alameda office and involves regular collaboration with our teams in China. Some travel (up to 25%) is required to visit external testing partners, attend industry events and conferences, or support account managers in key customer meetings.

The starting base pay for this role is between $136,000 and $172,000 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, and equity. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. 

#LI-Onsite #LI-PL1

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.

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