Career Opportunities
COnovate is a critical phase of scaling the COphite material that will be used in the manufacture of anodes to meet the growing demands of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) industry. You’ll be working across groups with scientists, engineers, technicians, and business partners to support our immediate scaling effort.
We are looking for experience in designing, building, and/or testing new technologies – this is a great opportunity for you to be a part of the next leap forward in LIBs and beyond working with our remarkable new COphite material.
Interested in joining our team? Click below to apply now!
Position Summary
The Lab Technician is responsible for the safe, efficient and effective operation of lab and analysis equipment and processes in support of COnovate research and development of novel COphite nanomaterial. The Lab Technician will perform a variety of activities, including set up of equipment, measurement of experimental data, data entry and review, modification and repair of equipment, and troubleshooting of equipment and experimental results. The position may include shift work and requires the ability to communicate conditions and issues effectively with a wide range of technical staff and management.
ACCOUNTABILITY
• Operate in a safe manner and evaluate and improve the safety of co-workers and equipment throughout prototypleWet Lab facility.
• Understand corporate objectives as they pertain to prototype operations and perform daily tasks in support of these objectives.
• Assess and report unsafe activities via the near miss/incident reporting system.
• Complete and document assigned safety related items.
• Maximize experimental or manufacturing success rate, including experiments, runs and any initial product testing and observation.
• Complete projects, including prototype wet lab equipment and process modifications, experiments, production runs and other assigned projects, in an effective and timely manner.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
• Conduct individual work activities in a safe and environmentally considerate manner, which requires both complying with policy and understanding the impact of individual actions.
• Perform day to day operation of lab systems, including start-up, normal operation, shut-down, emergency operation, and maintenance.
• Develop working knowledge of all lab equipment and utilities, including their functions and hazards, how to safely and properly use them, and the processes and procedures that apply to them.
• Develop working knowledge of all chemicals handled and used, including purpose, hazards, safe handling and proper disposal.
• Complete assigned training, including safety, orientation, job specific, and refresher training, on time as agreed.
• Maintain person and laboratory to established cleanliness and professional appearance standards and take appropriate opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with technical staff and management to achieve successful experiment completion.
• Handle chemicals, including preparation of feeds and intermediates, sampling and storing products and using cleaning solutions.
• Manipulate process parameters, including temperature, pressure and flow, as directed by experimental documentation and communications with the research group.
• Troubleshoot process operation, including equipment and process related issues.
• Accurately collect, review, and enter data through our Uncountable system.
• Maintain equipment, which includes cleaning, investigating problems with, repairing and replacing as necessary.
• Physically modify lab operation by adding or removing equipment, modifying process path, and adjusting settings as directed by research and process development teams.
• Communicate status, performance, issues, modifications and other operational details and issues as frequently as required to maintain positive progress on process development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES
• AS in Manufacturing, Engineering or Physical Science AND 2-4 years of experience in a laboratory environment in a chemical processing industry or equivalent fast passed uncertain environment
OR 6-8 years of experience in a laboratory environment in a chemical processing industry or equivalent fast passed uncertain environment.
• Is flexible and able to adapt fast to priority changes and has sense of urgency.
• Has a pragmatic approach to problem solving and a demonstrated record of creative problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team. Has excellent interpersonal skills.
• Has a passion for innovation with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow instructions (policies, operating procedures, material safety data sheets, experimental run plans, equipment operation manuals). Ability to complete basic mathematical calculations (+-*/, rate of change, deviation, algebra, geometry).
• Proficiency in Excel, Power Point, Word, and Outlook. SharePoint experience preferred but not required.
• Good mechanical skills.
• Basic understanding of chemistry and ability to read, understand, and follow electronics (pressure, temperature, flow, reaction, voltage
• Must possess good written and verbal communication skills in English.
WORKING CONDITIONS
• General working hours of 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday with ability to shift schedule to nights/weekend if laboratory experiments or deadlines require.
• Ability to work in general office cubicle and open research lab environments that may include moderate to loud noise levels.
• Ability to work looking at a computer screen.
• Ability to stand and/or sit while conducting lab responsibilities. Standing or walking up to 8 hours on a 8-12 hour shift, fingering grasping, Talking, Hearing, climbing Ladders, Seeing Typing
• Able to occasionally lift up to 40 lb
• Comfortable working around chemicals, moving parts and other lab conditions.
Why COnovate? COnovate is commercializing a remarkable, fundamentally distinct material called graphene monoxide—GmO, as discovered at the UWM, is the world’s first solid form carbon monoxide at room temperature. The unique chemical structure of GmO enables greater lithium uptake needed for higher performing, safer and faster charging batteries. These COPHITETM materials offer battery manufacturers an evolutionary strategy for significantly improving battery performance and safety since they offer a drop-in solution for the current graphite-based manufacturing infrastructure. Unlike graphene which is difficult to make economically, our current lab demonstrations are utilizing proven manufacturing techniques that should be scalable and cost-effective. We have also utilized multiple carbon feedstocks, including bio-sources that can be a supply chain game changer. We intend to lever these advantages to provide GmO material to battery makers to enable them to deliver next generation batteries.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are currently seeking a Senior Battery Cell Materials Engineer with practical experience in EV batteries and passion to advance battery cell technology. This position requires strong scientific background in electrochemistry, cell materials, and cell design application. Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches their work with vigor and determination. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in their respective fields, and possess the ability to learn quickly and to strive for perfection within a fast-paced environment.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Activities include, but not limited to,
Develop, implement and adhere to COnovate’s EHS policies and procedures, participate in EHS programs and conduct work activities in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
Build, organize, and lead the battery development team which is tasked with demonstrating cost-effective COphite material as an active anode material.
Oversee Fabrication of electrodes with COPHITE active anode materials and additives.
Establish and Oversee interactions with outside entities to manufacture and test half-cells, full coin cells and larger format pouch and cylindrical cells.
Ability to understand, and interpret and act on electrochemical tests on the electrodes.
Prepare reports for battery cells, including detailed test procedures with, timing plans.
Full understanding of cell fabrication and battery tests (both in-house and at external labs), understanding of test equipment operation, ability to interpret and validate results, summarize data and prepare reports.
Cycle cells under multiple conditions; monitor and collect details of cell operation, including reproducibility of electrochemical characteristic.
Draw concise, logical, written conclusions from experiments based on data analysis and develop a research plan to address remaining challenges and needs.
Compiling, tabulating, and curating materials parameters, characterization results, and battery performance data, including conditioning of input and output data.
Identifying Key Property Indicators and evaluation of input parameter space mapping to output parameter space.
Using Machine Learning algorithms to develop predictive models of input-to-output mapping.
Develop critical analysis of learning models with progressive/iterative data infusion.
Periodically summarizing Provide summaries of results and status of MI/ML validation efforts to relevant individuals in COnovate management and advisors, including group discussions.
Interact with laboratory technicians, scientists, and engineers daily to ensure statement of work tasks are completed within the agreed upon timeframe. Report work progress in both oral and written form.
Act as key technical advisor for other managers and external parties concerning commercialization projects, and process development operational decisions.
Coordinate work of internal and external resources to support advancement of process.
Represent the company to external stakeholders and the board of directors in assigned technical matters of high significance.
Contribute to COnovate briefings.
KNOWLEDGE /SKILLS/ ABILITIES
BS in Engineering or Physics required; major in Chemical or Electrical Engineering preferred and 2 years minimum experience in battery cell validation in R&D, Production environment.
Is flexible and able to adapt fast to priority changes and has sense of urgency.
Two years’ experience in a battery product assembly with manual or semi-automated equipment in a laboratory environment, or in product testing.
A strong background in battery materials and electrochemistry is highly desired.
Has a pragmatic approach to problem solving and a demonstrated record of creative problem solving.
A demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team and with third parties. Has excellent interpersonal skills.
Has a passion for innovation with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Must possess good written and verbal communication skills in English.
WORKING CONDITIONS
General working hours of 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday with ability to shift schedule to nights/weekend if laboratory experiments or deadlines require.
On Site expectation: As required for electrode/battery fabrication, assembly, and testing (up to 3days/week)
On Site expectation: Materials synthesis: to develop working knowledge of synthesis variables and processing steps that affect battery performance, and to supplement materials synthesis for battery materials. (up to 2days/week)
Ability to work in general office cubicle and open research lab environments that may include moderate to loud noise levels.
Ability to work looking at a computer screen.
Ability to stand and/or sit while conducting lab responsibilities.
Able to occasionally lift up to 40 lb
Comfortable working around chemicals, moving parts and other lab conditions.
Position may require occasional travel to conferences or product trials.