Battery Manufacturing Scientist - NSF Engine (Battery-NY Dry Room Facility)

Location: Vestal, NY Category: Professional & Support Staff Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Wed Aug 12 2026 Job Description:

The NSF Engine seeks a Battery Manufacturing Expert to lead technical operations and user engagement in a shared dry room facility supporting next-generation battery development. The PhD level role oversees end-to-end electrode prototyping workflows and enables external users to conduct advanced electrode processing, characterization, and scale-up for next-generation batteries.

Activities will take place within the Co-work space at Battery-NY, a first-in-class lithium battery technology development and prototyping center in New York's Southern Tier, led by 2019 Nobel Laureate Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham. Battery-NY enables the scale-up and advanced manufacturing of batteries for transportation, military, and energy sectors.

This is a hands-on, collaborative, and user-facing technical role situated in a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities:

• Co-work Dry Room Operations: Lead daily management of the dry room facility, ensuring equipment readiness, safety compliance, and optimal utilization.

• Manufacturing Workflow: Support the full electrode manufacturing workflow, including mixing, coating, calendaring, and testing.

• User Guidance & Support: Guide external users (startups, researchers, and industry partners) on process optimization, troubleshooting, and the scale-up of next-gen battery technologies.

• Technical Liaison: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for co-work facility users; support the onboarding and integration of user-specific equipment into the facility.

• Facility Coordination: Manage scheduling, routine maintenance, safety documentation, and usage tracking to ensure operational excellence.

• Experimental Design: Enable experimental design, validation, and data interpretation for diverse user projects, ensuring high-quality process execution.

• Ecosystem Development: Contribute to facility reporting and support the Engine's broader mission to establish Upstate New York as America's battery tech capital.

• Equipment Acceptance & Integration: Participate in Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for new manufacturing tools.

Job Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Physics, Materials, Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience in lithium-ion battery electrode prototyping.

• Strong understanding of end-to-end electrode processing and experience with pilot or R&D-scale systems and characterization of electrodes.

• Direct experience working in dry rooms or controlled humidity environments.

• Proven troubleshooting and process optimization skills with the ability to solve complex manufacturing issues.

• Ability to lift, drag, or pull materials up to 50 lbs.

• Commitment to wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE), including dry-room garments and respirators.

• Willingness to safely handle chemicals and sensitive battery materials.

• Ability and willingness to travel for required training or equipment inspections.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience working in shared user facilities, national labs, or fast-paced startup environments.

• Familiarity with next-generation battery chemistries, such as solid-state, silicon anodes, or high-nickel cathodes.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a track record of supporting diverse technical teams.

• Proficiency in engineering tools such as MATLAB, CAD, or Six Sigma methodologies.

• Familiarity with advanced electrode technologies like semi-dry or dry electrode technologies.

Additional Information:

Salary: $80,000 - $90,000 annually. Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Employee Benefits: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York offers a comprehensive benefits package (https://benefits.rfsuny.org/) that is a valuable part of total compensation. This includes medical, dental, vision, dependent care subsidy and other benefits such as SUNY Tuition Assistance. Furthermore, our 10 Perks of Working at the RF (https://www.rfsuny.org/about-us/careers/) provides an at-a-glance view of our top benefits that make us a great place to work.

Research Foundation Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy-related conditions, reproductive health decisions, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics/genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, military status or service, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state or local law.

The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

The Research Foundation for SUNY is a private, not for profit corporation and is a separate employer from SUNY and the State of New York and offers separate compensation and benefit plans.

Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus.