Technology Development Sr Operations Manager

About Blue Current

Blue Current is a manufacturer of Solid-state batteries based in Hayward, California. The company strives to provide engineers and designers with the highest performance and safest battery storage for the future energy economy including electric vehicles, consumer, medical and IoT devices. Blue Current leads with science, data and thoughtful IP across the full battery solution stack. Our team is diverse with deep research, implementation, and go-to-market experience. Our facility is located on San Francisco Bay with thousands of acres of wildlife preserve and miles of trails for recreation.

Summary

Blue Current is seeking a hands-on and driven Technology Development Sr. Operations Manager to lead day-to-day operations at our cutting-edge battery R&D facility. This role is critical in ensuring smooth execution of cell builds, testing workflows, and continuous process improvements. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, operational rigor, and a passion for quality and efficiency in a fast-paced startup environment. You will work cross-functionally with technical teams to bridge R&D and production, helping accelerate our path to commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day lab operations, including electrode casting, cell assembly, and electrochemical testing.
• Manage and mentor a team of ~10 technicians and lab support staff, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct brief daily standups (5–10 minutes) with technicians to align on tasks, resolve issues, and ensure smooth execution of daily operations.
• Lead weekly Operations meetings to plan and prioritize casting, cell builds, testing queues, and other critical R&D activities.
• Develop and implement Quality Assurance (QA) protocols in collaboration with R&D and Analytical teams to ensure consistency and data integrity.
• Drive initiatives to improve process yield, efficiency, and throughput across R&D workflows.
• Collaborate closely with the Advanced Manufacturing (AM) team to identify and bridge process differences between R&D and AM production.
• Track and report key operational metrics, proactively identifying bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.
• Support scale-up activities and tech transfer from R&D to pilot-scale and production environments.
• Manage process engineering efforts, including equipment upgrades, process improvements, efficiency optimizations, and continuing improvement.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of leading R&D operations, high tech manufacturing, or process development teams - preferably in the battery, energy storage, or related high-tech industries.
• Proven leadership experience, with a track record of managing technical teams in fast-paced, hands-on lab or pilot environments.
• Demonstrated history of process development/improvement in chemical or materials industries.
• Strong understanding of quality systems and process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, SPC) applied in R&D or manufacturing settings.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate across cross-functional teams and prioritize shifting tasks effectively.
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Required to wear personal protective equipment when applicable.
• Able to pass a respirator fit test and wear a respirator periodically.
• Able to work in an office, lab, and manufacturing environment with chemicals, moving mechanical parts, and electrical hazards.
  
  

Salary Range - $180,000 - $210,000 USD

Location - Hayward, California

Job Type - Full-time

Salary Range

$180,000—$210,000 USD

Blue Current is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and embraces diversity. We believe that our team is strengthened through hiring and retaining employees with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, ideas, and perspectives. We make hiring decisions based on merit and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender (including pregnancy) gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, disability status or any other protected category in accordance with applicable law.