Manager, Materials Process Engineering

Antora builds and deploys thermal batteries to power always-on industrial operations with low-cost energy. Factory-built in the United States, Antora’s modular thermal batteries deliver reliable heat and power, enabling industrial facilities of any size to decarbonize predictably and profitably. Antora is electrifying global industry while supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs, lowering costs for energy consumers, and enhancing the competitiveness of American industry.

We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and build with humility and openness. We are committed to continue building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future where every industrial facility, everywhere on earth, is powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Manager, Materials Process Engineering to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of high-temperature mechanical processes and components critical to our thermal energy storage systems. In this role you will be directly responsible for developing novel materials and the industrial process to produce those materials to meet Antora's need for significant thermal battery production in 2026.

Your contributions will directly impact Antora’s ability to reduce overall system costs, improve product performance, and scale manufacturing.

Roles & Responsibilities

- Lead the team and program responsible for the development and production scaling of high-temperature (>1000°C) materials

- Directly manage and grow a team of materials/process engineers

- Indirectly manage vendor resources and other Antora-internal resources

- Develop and execute rigorous and rapid Design of Experiments (DOEs) to establish robust and scalable manufacturing processes.

- Define requirements for custom fixtures and tooling, particularly in stainless steel and other high-temperature-capable materials.

- Collaborate closely with furnace operators, machinists, and fabrication partners to bring designs to life, from concept through final processing and inspection.

- Analyze process performance and quality metrics to identify root causes of yield loss and implement cost-effective improvements.

- Support the transition of designs from R&D to scaled production.

- Continuously improve part quality, repeatability, and throughput while lowering costs.

Key Qualifications

- B.S. or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.

- 8+ years of experience in mechanical process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related roles.

- Demonstrated experience with high-temperature systems (≥1000°C), including thermal process equipment or furnace design.

- Experience working directly with machinists and fabricators to develop functional prototypes and qualifying production parts.

- Hands-on experience executing DOEs and analyzing experimental data and making data-driven decisions

- Demonstrated experience in project management (>$2MM budget) & direct executive communication.

- Direct experience with novel material development

Additional Qualifications Desired

- Familiarity with high-temperature material properties, failure modes, and thermomechanical design principles.

- Experience with carbon and graphite materials

- Experience in startup or high-growth manufacturing environments.

- Exposure to thermal battery systems or other energy storage technologies.

Work Location: Onsite - San Jose, CA. Candidates must be based near Antora’s HQ near San Jose, CA with some expected travel (<15%) to supplier sites.

Salary Range: $171,000 USD - $205,000 USD

Salary Basis: Annual

Please note that the salary range listed above reflects Antora Energy's estimated pay for this position. The actual salary offered will be within the posted range and determined based on several factors including but not limited to a candidate's experiences, credentials and expertise, as they pertain to the position's requirements.

In addition to a competitive base salary, Antora Energy’s Total Rewards program includes equity compensation in the form of stock options, a premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance, a 401K plan with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and an industry leading paid-time-off policy that features flexible and inclusive holiday observance, as well as paid volunteer time off.

When it comes to stopping climate change, we need everyone. We believe that having a diversity of backgrounds and experiences strengthens all of us, and we strive to create an environment where every one of us is empowered to create meaningful change.