Director of Cell and Process Engineering

				Overview:

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Director of Cell and Process Engineering? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities:

Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey

Summary:

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we're building the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you'll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.

Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.

Job Summary: 

The Director of Cell and Process Engineering leads the cell and process engineering organization within a high-volume lithium-ion battery manufacturing environment. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across multiple engineering teams responsible for process design, optimization, and technology deployment. The Director develops and implements strategies that improve production capability, quality, and efficiency while ensuring alignment with site and corporate objectives. Through effective leadership, collaboration, and technical excellence, this position drives innovation, standardization, and continuous improvement to support the company's growth and long-term manufacturing success.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

* Lead the Cell and Process Engineering organization, overseeing multiple engineering teams, and ensuring alignment with business objectives
* Develop and execute engineering strategies and roadmaps that improve process capability, scalability, and competitiveness
* Drive excellence in process standardization, automation, and manufacturing system integration
* Establish and monitor KPIs and operating systems to ensure data-driven management of complex manufacturing processes
* Oversee capital and resource planning for major process initiatives and equipment upgrades

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

* Partner with senior leadership to translate business goals into actionable engineering objectives and programs
* Guide innovation initiatives focused on next-generation materials, chemistries, and manufacturing technologies
* Champion continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM) to enhance productivity, quality, and cost efficiency
* Ensure alignment between corporate best practices, site operations, and evolving production strategies
* Promote the use of data analytics and modeling tools to enable predictive and informed decision-making

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

* Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-layered team of managers, engineers, and technical specialists
* Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and professional growth
* Establish workforce development plans, succession strategies, and cross-training programs to strengthen technical capability
* Promote knowledge sharing, consistency, and adoption of best practices across engineering teams

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

* Collaborate closely with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain functions to ensure readiness and smooth introduction of new products and processes
* Represent the Cell and Process Engineering function in cross-functional planning, audits, and customer or partner engagements
* Provide technical guidance on process scalability, manufacturability, and investment priorities
* Coordinate with peer engineering groups to ensure standardization and leverage shared expertise across departments

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

* Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements (ISO, IATF, OSHA, etc.)
* Apply structured risk management frameworks (FMEA, FTA, DRBFM) to identify and mitigate potential risks
* Oversee process control systems and verification measures to ensure product quality and traceability
* Promote a strong culture of safety, compliance, and environmental responsibility across all engineering activities

Supervisory Responsibilities:

* Leads the Cell and Process Engineering team through both direct supervision and indirect influence

Travel Requirement: 

* This position may require up to 20% domestic travel and occasional international travel to support cross-site collaboration, supplier engagement, and industry events

Education, Certifications, & Licenses:

Required:

* Bachelor's Degree in Chemical, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline

Preferred:

* Master's or Ph.D. in Chemical, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
* Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt
* Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE - ASQ)
* Lean Manufacturing Certification (e.g., Lean Leader)
* Project Management Professional (PMP - PMI)
* Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE - SME)

Essential Qualifications:

* 10+ years of progressive experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or product development within high-volume manufacturing environments
* Proven experience managing multiple engineering teams or functions with accountability for planning and performance
* Demonstrated success developing and executing technical strategies that improve production capability, efficiency, and quality
* Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders
* Recognized expertise in process optimization, automation, and manufacturing system integration
* Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving (DOE, SPC, MSA)
* Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing budgets and capital projects
* Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering/data systems (e.g., MES, SCADA, SQL, Tableau, Ignition)
* Alignment to Panasonic's seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Preferred Qualifications:

* Leadership experience in large-scale battery, electronics, or precision manufacturing industries
* In-depth knowledge of lithium-ion cell design, materials, and manufacturing processes
* Experience implementing Industry 4.0 or digital manufacturing initiatives
* Strong understanding of ISO, IATF, OSHA, and other regulatory standards
* Proficiency in both English and Japanese, enabling effective communication with domestic and international stakeholders

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

* To ensure health and safety in the workplace and for employee protection, wearing PPE is a possibility and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. A respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Qualifications:

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

* Sit: 40%
* Walk: 30%
* Stand: 20%
* Lif
			

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Panasonic Corporation of North America