Senior NPI Specialist - Battery Cell

Our Story and Why We're Growing

We are proud to announce the launch of Volkswagen Group’s largest cell factory, PowerCo, in St. Thomas. This is more than just a job – it’s a unique opportunity to shape the future of sustainable energy. Join us as we ramp up operations and help build a world-class company.

At PowerCo, we believe in fostering an environment where ambition meets collaboration, and where flexibility and creativity thrive.  You'll be part of a diverse, talented team that is shaping the future of battery production. You’ll have the chance to advance your career while working alongside passionate colleagues who share a vision of making a lasting impact on the world.

Are you ready to be part of something exciting? Power up your career with us!

About the Role

Reporting to the R&D Manager, The New Product Introduction (NPI) Senior Specialist will play a key role transferring battery cells from development phase into mass production. As part of the Technology Department, NPI works as an interface unit to combine needs of the product with needs of the series manufacturing process. The NPI Senior Specialist focusses on solving issues along the production process chain by working in cross-departmental teams with the goal to enable a stable and high-quality series production of battery cells for different customers.

This is a flex hybrid work structure, where employees can work both remotely and on-site at our St. Thomas location.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic point of contact between multiple departments (including operations, quality, and engineering) to drive alignment and ensure seamless communication across teams, ensuring the timely execution of company-wide initiatives.
• Own the development and execution of project timelines, managing complex schedules to guarantee that critical milestones are met while maintaining flexibility for adjustments as needed.
• Lead cross-functional task forces by coordinating efforts across departments, facilitating collaboration to deliver high-impact projects on time and within scope.Ensure that intermediate products meet the necessary specifications by aligning the work and expectations across various departments involved in the production process.
• Identify and assess key risks in the development process, proactively recommending and implementing strategies to mitigate those risks and ensure continuous progress toward project goals.Drive timely decision-making by engaging with key stakeholders and ensuring that decisions are made within the necessary timeframes.
• Conduct in-depth analyses using Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FACA) and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to identify product or process failures and develop proactive corrective actions.
• Lead the lessons learn from production toward improvement of design and execution of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to anticipate potential system weaknesses and guide the creation of robust mitigation strategies.
• Provide strategic oversight on process optimization, conducting thorough analyses of process gaps, proposing improvements, and validating technical solutions to meet both efficiency and quality standards.
• Champion the development of a technical decision-making framework, proposing and refining a standardized decision matrix to streamline problem-solving across teams, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
• Oversee and mentor the execution of Design of Experiments (DoEs) and material sampling activities to ensure reliable data collection and statistical rigor in the evaluation of new processes.
• Spearhead the release process for materials and components, ensuring that all materials meet stringent quality and technical requirements prior to their use in production.
• Guide troubleshooting and problem-solving efforts related to material changes or specification adjustments, ensuring that issues are resolved promptly to minimize disruption and ensure continuity of operations.
• Provide expert guidance to manufacturing teams, helping them optimize yield rates and maintain performance excellence by offering targeted technical support and process improvements.
• Make decisions regarding production deviations at multiple steps in the manufacturing process, ensuring that any deviations from the defined parameters are handled effectively within the scope of the project.
• Lead technical evaluations of production deviations, analyzing the impact of any anomalies and recommending data-driven solutions to resolve issues while ensuring compliance with production goals.
• Technical supervise the escalation and evaluation of production deviations that occur at various stages of manufacturing, ensuring that all deviations are addressed with appropriate technical solutions.

What you bring to the Team

• Master’s degree in chemistry, material, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering or equivalent
• More than 5 years of development experience in automotive cell manufacture with project been through mass production; Experience on projects went through SOP/mass production phase
• Knowledge of battery cell design and materials enable mass production
• Strong understanding of development associated cell manufacture process, equipment and quality control process.
• Able to multi-task and to determine and shift priorities.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make actionable recommendations.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to interact cross-functionally and present findings to stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Occasional travel in Canada, as well as internationally (up to 40%)
• Able to maintain flexible work hours to account for time zone differences with Europe, and the ability to work overtime on occasion to meet ramp-up deadlines.

Power Perks

•    Attractive Remuneration: We offer a competitive and attractive remuneration that reflect your skills, experience, and contributions.
•    Vacation Allowance: We offer our employees competitive paid time off. Plus, you don’t need to take any vacation days from December 24 to December 31.
•    Opportunities for development
•    Relocation Support
•    Opportunities to participate in exciting company events that give back to the community.
•    Competitive employer paid benefits and overall compensation package with extended health care, dental, vision and mental health support.
•    Pension and Retirement Savings: We contribute the equivalent of 5% to a Registered Pension Plan and matching contribution to a retirement savings plan.
•    And much more!

*This is a flex hybrid work structure, where employees can work both remotely and on-site. However, please note all hybrid work arrangements are subject to the terms and conditions of our hybrid work policy as may be amended from time to time.

Please note that we appreciate the interest of all candidates, however only those under consideration will be contacted.

We believe that the best results are created in a diverse and inclusive environment.
Therefore, all qualified applications will be considered for employment regardless of age, race, religion, gender (identity), sexual orientation, national origin or disability.

PowerCo Canada Inc. is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities including during the application process. If you require an accommodation because of a disability, we will work with you to determine what reasonable accommodation may be available to meet your needs whether it be as an applicant or an employee. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation, you are encouraged to advise the Recruiter who will consult with you to determine an appropriate and reasonable accommodation.