Mechanical Engineering Supervisor, Battery

KULR Technology Group is a publicly traded company (NYSE: KULR) with a vibrant startup dynamic, headquartered in San Diego, CA. Our mission is developing energy management platforms to accelerate the global transition to a circular electrification economy. We create sustainable solutions that benefit humanity using space proven engineering, making the world of batteries and electronics cooler, lighter, and safer. We operate in four verticals: e-mobility, environmental/energy storage, industrial/consumer tools, and aerospace/defense. Our technologies have been deployed by NASA, including applications on the Space Station and Mars Rover.

Job Title: Mechanical Engineering Supervisor (Battery)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: $96,800 – $147,800

Reports to: Director of Mechanical Engineering 

Location: Onsite

KULR Technology Location: Webster, TX

Travel: Occasional Travel Required

Position Overview: 

Leads and guides an engineering team focused on developing next generation lithium-ion battery architectures to achieve project success. Manages and mentors engineers and fosters a collaborative and innovative work environment.  Leads by example, as such there is no task beneath this role including continued hands-on support for CAD development, hardware build-up, and testing. Ensures successful delivery of high-quality products within specified timelines.

Collaborates with cross-functional teams, including product management and quality assurance, to align engineering efforts with overall project goals. Sets clear objectives, providing technical guidance, and ensuring that the team follows best practices and engineering standards. Leads the recruitment process and identifies and attracts top engineering talent to strengthen the team.

Functions: 

• Manages design, testing, analysis, and build-up of KULR battery architectures, 
• In-line participation for development activities when needed, including, but not limited to: CAD development, test article build-up, and test execution and data reduction.
• Provides team leadership, and management.
• Leads a team designing parts, assemblies, tools, or other mechanical equipment associated with lithium-ion batteries. 
• Responsible official for design review material development and review execution.
• Responsible for overseeing projects and ensuring mechanical engineers take full advantage of modeling and manufacturing tools available to them and work collaboratively to complete projects. 
• Ensures projects follow organizational best practices for design, prototyping, and testing. 
• Manages budget and schedule.
• Full responsibility to manage design progress through KULR Product Design Process (PDP) – sometimes referred to as New Product Introduction (NPI) in other organizations.
• Initiates and maintains cross-department communication with manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and quality teams.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  This position will supervise 2-10 staff.

Supervisor duties to include:

1. Screens applications, interviews candidates, and recommends individuals for hiring.
2. Trains and assigns work to new and continuing employees.
3. Delegates tasks and provides effective direction to team members to produce substantial business results.
4. Independently conducts frequent performance feedback weekly, quarterly and annually, to include annual performance evaluations.
5. Makes recommendations for salary increases, merit increases and reclassifications.
6. In conjunction with HR, determines corrective action as needed for direct reports.

Requirements

Education & Experience: 

• B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, or Electrochemical Engineering (required)
• 2+ years of experience with design and manufacturing experience of lithium-ion battery systems required. 3+ years of experience desired.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in mechanical engineering.
• Cross-system experience involving, or interacting with, the design of lithium-ion battery structural, mechanical, and electrical systems (required).
• Previous hands-on experience involving build-up and check-out testing of prototype battery systems and sub-systems.
• Preferred:
  • Graduate degree in STEM field (desired)
  • Certifications in PMP, project management, or alterative (desired)
  • Prior experience with high voltage systems (desired)Prior experience or knowledge of battery safety and thermal runaway protection measures (desired).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Ability to sustainably grow a team to meet increasing product demand.
• Direct experience with Li-ion battery prototype manufacturing and assembly methods.
• Direct experience involving either COTS or Custom Battery Management Systems (BMS).
• Applied Mechanics | Design Engineering | Design Optimization | Design Review | Engineering Management | Mechanical Engineering | Project Controls | Prototyping | Requirements Engineering/Analysis | CAD Software | Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) Software
• Demonstrated ability to influence others, build effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to accomplish business objectives.  
• Demonstrated ability to assume personal accountability, address limitations, exhibits honesty and respect towards others, the company and oneself. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, assessing business needs and using problem solving skills to address challenges.  
• Demonstrated ability to serve and actively contribute as an active team member on the immediate team and the larger organization. Ability to support the team effort without necessarily taking the lead. 
• Able to generate new insights into situations and encourage innovation to generate successful outcomes.  Creates, designs, and implements programs or processes.  
• Ability to achieve measurable goals and results to support of organizational success. 
• Ability to understand and analyze underlying organizational issues.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to build effective relationships to achieve business results. 
• Strong demonstrated written and verbal communication skills to work effectively with a wide range of individuals in a diverse community. 
• Cooperative spirit within a team of diverse cultures while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines and frequently changing priorities. 
• Intermediate use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook.  

Physical Demands/Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee may encounter while performing this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Office Work Environment

Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, which permits the employee to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person. Sufficient manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate a personal computer and other office equipment. Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to work in an office setting and at a computer workstation as needed.

• Standing for long periods of time, climbing up and down ladders, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching are generally required to perform the functions of this position.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. unassisted.
• Noisy environments. Occasionally
• Hazardous conditions. Occasionally
• Small and/or enclosed spaces. Never
• Operating machinery and/or power tools. Constantly
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers. Occasionally
• Adjusting or moving objects up to 50 pounds in all directions. Occasionally
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods. Constantly
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another. Occasionally
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing Constantly
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces. Occasionally
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds. Constantly
• Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds. Occasionally
• Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more. Occasionally
• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like. Occasionally

Special Conditions: 

• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.
• Must have a current, valid driver’s license.
• Must be able to provide own transportation between work locations. 
• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.

Disclosure And Acknowledgement: 

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other associates.  

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by the supervisor in compliance with federal and state Laws. 

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.