Back to jobs
tags.new

Staff Process Design Engineer - Material Handling

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

As a Process Design Engineer within Sila’s Capital Projects team, you will contribute to the development and implementation of first-of-its-kind, auto-scale battery material manufacturing facilities. You are a creative, diligent, and hands-on technical contributor who understands the process lifecycle—from initial feasibility and conceptual design through commissioning.

In this role, you will apply your process engineering toolkit to take next-generation technology and transform it into robust manufacturing units. You will be responsible for the design of unit operations and shepherding those designs through detailed engineering for both new plants and retrofits. You will work seamlessly with multiple internal engineering teams and external partners to drive engineering execution and related procurement, ensuring process systems meet safety requirements, performance specifications, and cost targets. You will join a diverse team that starts with first principles to design and qualify processes for commercial production, collaborating closely with Research, Development and Engineering, Manufacturing, and EHS&S representatives to meet Sila’s manufacturing scaling objectives.

Responsibilities and Duties  

  • Serve as a main point of contact for process engineering inquiries, with a focus on bulk material handling systems (conveying, blending, screening, and packaging), from conceptual design through detailed design, construction, start-up, and initial operation.
  • Execute design projects to close gaps or settle issues encountered in design
  • Shepherd unit operation designs through detailed engineering, generating Heat and Material Balances (HMBs), PFDs, P&IDs, Process Control Narratives, equipment datasheets, and other project and operating documentation.
  • Lead and support process safety deliverables, including HAZOP recommendation closure, MOC changes, safety system designs, and operational alarm management.
  • Identify gaps in capital project execution, commissioning or asset operation through close observation and foresight. Raise these gaps to relevant responsible parties and assist in closure where appropriate.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements 

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
  • 6+ years of industrial experience in process design, commissioning, and operations, preferably within powders, chemicals, or advanced materials manufacturing. Experience with bulk material handling, pneumatic conveying, blending, screening and packaging systems is highly preferred.
  • Strong familiarity with regulatory, safety, and environmental compliance requirements, including NFPA, API, ASME, OSHA, and related standards.
  • Proficiency in process modeling software such as ASPEN, HYSYS, or equivalent simulation tools.
  • Hands-on process design experience including the generation of Heat and Material Balances (HMBs), preliminary equipment sizing, and P&ID development.
  • Practical experience with basic control schemes and a functional understanding of advanced control strategies.
  • Familiarity with safety-critical instrumentation, pressure relief systems, and operational alarm management.
  • Experience navigating risk management protocols, including Management of Change (MOC) and participating in HAZOP studies.
  • Proven ability to work independently as a technical contributor while collaborating effectively within a multi-disciplinary project team.
  • Willingness to travel to project sites and external design offices to support design reviews, construction, and commissioning activities.
  • Demonstrate a conscientious, curious, and deliberate approach to complex problem-solving.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

  • Must be able to remain in a stationary position to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a laptop, copier/printer machine, etc.
  • Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a hard hat, lab coat or coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, and safety shoes
  • Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a periodic basis
  • Move long distances and occasionally kneel or bend
  • Up to 50% travel for work at new production site during construction, commissioning and startup
  • Up to 10% travel during other time periods

 

The starting base pay for this role is between $151,000 and $191,000 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-MY1 #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.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Sila’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.