Head of Electrode Engineering

About the role

EnerVenue is seeking a technically exceptional and operationally proven Head of Electrode Engineering to lead the development and industrialization of its nickel hydroxide cathode and nickel-alloy anode electrode systems. This is a rare opportunity to build a world-class electrode manufacturing operation from the ground up inside one of the most well-funded non-lithium battery companies in the world. The successful candidate will own the full electrode lifecycle - from foam substrate selection and Ni-Mo plating chemistry, through active material coating, to finished electrode qualification and will establish a new chemical manufacturing line at the Changzhou facility. This role sits at the intersection of advanced electrochemistry, materials engineering, and industrial manufacturing, and requires someone equally comfortable in a laboratory and on a factory floor. What you'll do

Electrode Development & Engineering

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of the nickel hydroxide cathode and nickel-alloy (Ni-Mo) anode electrodes for EnerVenue's Aqueous Metal Cell (AMC) platform

• Define and control the foam substrate specification such as pore size, porosity, surface density, and alloy composition for both nickel foam and iron foam substrates

• Develop and own the Ni-Mo electroplating process: bath chemistry (NiSO₄, Na₂MoO₄, citrate/ammonium systems), current density profiles, pH and temperature control, and post-plating annealing protocols

• Optimize active material loading, paste formulation, and pressing processes for nickel hydroxide cathodes

• Drive electrode performance: capacity, cycle stability, rate capability, and lifetime, targeting 30,000+ cycles with less than 5% capacity loss

• Establish electrode characterization protocols: SEM, XRD, EIS, BET, XPS, and cycling performance benchmarks

Manufacturing Line Build-Out (Changzhou, China)

• Design and commission a new electrode chemical manufacturing line at the Changzhou facility, from blank spec to production-qualified output

• Select, procure, and qualify electroplating equipment, rectifiers, bath management systems, and post-processing infrastructure

• Establish process control systems, SPC frameworks, and inline quality monitoring for continuous Ni-Mo foam production

• Build and lead a China-based electrode engineering and manufacturing team of 15–30 people across R&D, process engineering, and production

• Work with procurement to qualify domestic Chinese suppliers for nickel foam, molybdenum salts, nickel sulfate, and other plating consumables

• Ensure all manufacturing processes meet relevant environmental, health, and safety standards under China's GB and MEP regulations

Technical Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the internal technical authority on electrode science, plating chemistry, and foam substrate technology

• Partner with the Cell Engineering team to integrate electrode designs into the AMC cell form factor and assembly process

• Collaborate with the Stanford-based R&D team to translate lab-scale discoveries into manufacturable processes

• Establish and manage supplier qualification programs for foam and plating chemical vendors

• Report directly to the CTO; provide regular updates to executive leadership and investors on electrode roadmap progress and manufacturing ramp milestones

Qualifications

Education

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Materials Science, Electrochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field

• Equivalent industry experience (5+ years) with a strong portfolio of electrode product development and manufacturing will be considered in lieu of advanced degree

Core Technical Experience (Non-Negotiable)

• Deep hands-on expertise in nickel-molybdenum (Ni-Mo) alloy electrodeposition

◦ Working knowledge of NiSO₄/Na₂MoO₄/Na₃-citrate or ammonium chloride bath systems

◦ Understanding of co-deposition kinetics, induced co-deposition mechanisms, and Tafel slope analysis for HER catalysis

◦ Experience achieving overpotentials below 150 mV at 100 mA/cm² in alkaline HER conditions

• Demonstrated expertise in porous metal foam development and manufacturing

◦ Experience specifying and/or producing nickel foam or iron foam via electrodeposition, CVD, or sintering routes

◦ Understanding of PPI, porosity, surface density, and pore morphology as they relate to electrode active material loading

• Prior experience developing and manufacturing battery electrodes (cathode and/or anode) for NiMH, alkaline, or metal-hydrogen battery systems

• Track record of taking an electrode from lab-scale development to high-volume manufacturing (>1 GWh/year scale)

Manufacturing & Operations Experience

• Experience designing or commissioning an electroplating or electrode manufacturing production line in a Chinese industrial setting

• Familiarity with Chinese manufacturing supply chains, equipment vendors, and chemical suppliers for battery electrode materials

• Understanding of EHS compliance for electroplating operations under Chinese regulations (MEP standards, wastewater treatment, heavy metal handling)

• Experience managing cross-functional teams in a high-growth manufacturing environment

Language & Location

• Professional working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese required (reading technical documents, supplier negotiations, team management)

• Professional proficiency in English required (communication with Silicon Valley HQ, investor reporting, international publications)

• Based in or willing to relocate to Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with nickel-hydrogen systems

• Publications or patents in Ni-Mo electrodeposition, nickel foam electrode engineering, or alkaline electrochemistry

• Experience with iron-nickel foam substrates as electrode scaffolds

• Familiarity with water electrolysis (alkaline or PEM) electrode technology - Ni-Mo is a key catalyst in this field and skills transfer directly

• Experience with DoE (design of experiments) methodologies for electroplating bath optimization

• Network within the Chinese battery materials supply chain, particularly foam and plating chemical vendors