We are Universe Energy, and we are the battery dismantling and repurposing company.

Our mission is to scale battery reuse as the largest source of the next billion batteries. The world needs 2 billion batteries by 2050, but this comes at a huge cost to the planet, as we need to mine 30x more. We dismantle and sort used battery packs 7x faster and 50% cheaper than by hand using robotics, AI and sound for EV OEMs, battery makers and fleets. Once we dismantle 1000s of battery packs, we repurpose them into $4000 cheap grid batteries that are 20% cheaper than making new ones. Our vision is to become the leading maker of zero-impact batteries by building 1 million batteries/year by 2035. This will power a truly clean energy revolution at scale and reduce 6 Giga tons of CO2 by 2050. We are Universe Energy, and we make batteries eternal.

Job objective
You will scale the supply of batteries by running operations to ship, dismantle, and test batteries. You manage vendor partnerships to source hardware & software and coordinate with logistics companies to get the batteries from suppliers' premises to Los Angeles facilities. You are well-versed in operating complex value chains such as the battery, EV & automation. You're excited to start from a blank slate and use first principles to design the first battery dismantling & repurposing facility. As a jack of all trades, you have a strong strategic sense, a keen analytical mind, and operational hustle. You have grown operations teams before, you make sure factory operations are realized at the right pace and you do whatever it takes to make operations run smoothly.

How you will contribute

  • Source batteries from OEMs, services centers, and dismantlers to ship batteries, store them safely, and deploy testing and dismantling processes.
  • Craft operational roadmap, set goals & OKRs, and make execution plans. Manage these with agile project management methods for teams to be aligned. Oversee smooth execution of high-impact projects
  • Operationalize office, lab, and warehouse spaces. Select facilities, file permitting, and decide on logistics partners to process battery volumes. File permit documentation, agree on insurance and ensure safe practices.
  • Drive the pilot, process, and facility planning from process design, and permit documentation up to design of the battery repurposing plant. Run pilot operations with bringing dismantling and testing machines to customers.
  • Establish partnerships to set up pilot programs in robotics, battery testing, and the development of battery management systems. Identify, develop, negotiate, and manage vendors and suppliers. 
  • Ramp up production of repurposed grid batteries by constructing and developing factories. Develop battery repurposing processes, grid battery integrations, and BMS development for first batches of batteries.
  • Build and manage financial models such as cash flow statements, balance sheets, and fundraising scenarios to project manufacturing capacity and estimate factory budgets.

The skills & experience that you bring

  • At least a B.Sc. in Physics, engineering, or science study. Preferably completed an M.Sc. program in operations, manufacturing, automation, or supply chain management. 
  • 3-5 years of experience in strategic, analytical, product, and/or operational fields in a high-growth startup environment.
  • 3-5 yrs experience engineering experience in developing battery and/or automation systems from early development to mass production stage.
  • 3-5 yrs experience in manufacturing complex hardware to scale processes from early-product to high-volume in battery, electric vehicle, and automation industry or equivalent industry.
  • +3 experience in managing supply chains by sourcing vendors and negotiating supply contracts; demonstrated skills in supplier operational and relationship management.
  • +3 yrs experience in program management while comfortable navigating ambiguous situations, and working across teams & external stakeholders.
  • Highly organized, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and broad strategic business knowledge. Experience with data analysis and budget management with a focus on operations & manufacturing.
  • Bias towards action and impact with emotional intelligence to switch contexts between stakeholders. Comfortable working in a fasting-moving and high-growth environment.

How to hit a homerun

  • Experience in a high-growth startup and/or technology company as VP of Manufacturing or Operations.
  • Experience with SQL or a willingness/aptitude to develop and run data-models.

Reach out to careers@universeenergy.ai for questions, comments and/or feedback before applying.

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