Associate Manager, Prototype & Build Operations

Are you ready to build America’s energy future? Form Energy is an American manufacturing and energy technology company. We’re revolutionizing energy storage with cost-effective, multi-day technology designed to keep the electric grid secure and reliable, even during extended periods of stress. By strengthening the electric system and reimagining what’s possible, we’re giving clean energy a whole new form! 

In recent years, Form Energy has earned a number of accolades, including being named by TIME as a “Best Invention”, MIT Technology Review as a “Top Climate Tech Company To Watch”, and Fast Company as “One of the Next Big Things In Tech”. We are making rapid progress on our mission of delivering energy storage for a better world, and our team is growing just as rapidly to meet demand. We have signed contracts with leading electric utilities across the United States and production of our iron-air batteries is underway at our first high-volume manufacturing facility in West Virginia.

Working for Form Energy is more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something extraordinary. And now - right as we significantly scale up battery manufacturing -  might be the most exciting moment in the company’s history to join. We are assembling a team of highly talented and driven individuals across the country. Driven by our core values of humanity, excellence, and creativity, our team is determined to deliver on our mission and transform the energy landscape for the better.

Feeling energized to make a meaningful impact on the world? Then keep reading - you’ve come to the right place.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Form Energy is pioneering a new class of battery technology to transform the grid. We are hiring a Associate Manager, Prototype & Build Operations for our Infrastructure organization, to lead a multidisciplinary team of technicians and machinists responsible for delivering high-quality prototypes, engineering builds, and fabrication support across the organization. This role oversees two primary groups: (1) the Machine Shop Team and (2) the Build Team. The manager will ensure operational excellence in prototyping, machining, assembly, inventory stewardship, and service delivery in support of rapid development cycles for battery cells, modules, test equipment, and supporting infrastructure.

This leader will be accountable for safe operations, team development, workflow management, and partnering closely with engineering, test, and product development teams to meet schedule, quality, and cost objectives.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the scaling of our battery technology and be part of the growth of a fast-moving company with breakthrough technology and an incredible mission!

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of technicians and machinists across the Machine Shop and Build Team functions.

- Promote strong customer-service orientation and effective communication between technicians and engineering stakeholders.

- Oversee day-to-day operations of the prototype machine shop, ensuring safe operation of equipment such as CNC mills, manual mills, lathes, plasma cutters, laser cutters, drill presses, grinders, and other fabrication tools.

- Coordinate workload scheduling, job prioritization, and resource allocation to deliver on rapid prototype requests.

- Ensure proper maintenance, calibration, and lifecycle management of all shop assets and tooling.

- Implement and enforce shop safety procedures, machine operation best practices, and training protocols.

- Lead the service-based build organization responsible for mechanical and electrical engineering builds, including PCB soldering, wiring harnesses, weldments, mechanical subassemblies, and full prototype assemblies.

- Define and maintain build processes, documentation, quality standards, and validation practices for delivered assemblies.

- Oversee inventory of site-wide consumables (fasteners, adhesives, PPE, shop stock, electrical components, etc.).

- Implement robust inventory controls, kitting processes, and material traceability to ensure uptime and readiness for rapid engineering builds.

- Manage budget for shop and build operations, including equipment purchases, consumables, and staffing.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

- 7+ years of experience in prototype fabrication, machining, mechanical/electrical build environments, or equivalent hands-on engineering operations.

- 3+ years of experience in a supervisory or managerial role leading technical teams.

- Strong understanding of machine shop operations and equipment, including CNC machining and metal fabrication processes.

- Experience in mechanical and electrical prototyping, including assembly builds, harnessing, soldering, and working with engineering drawings.

- Demonstrated ability to manage workflows, prioritize customer needs, and deliver high-quality builds in fast-paced R&D environments.

- Working knowledge of EHS requirements and machine shop safety standards.

- Excellent communication, planning, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

- Experience implementing Lean practices in a prototyping or shop environment.

- CAD/CAM literacy (ability to review engineering drawings, understand tolerances, inspect parts).

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Humanity is a cornerstone of Form Energy’s culture, and we make sure our compensation and benefits reflect that. Form Energy offers competitive salaries, stock options, and a holistic benefits package to ensure all employees have what they need to thrive while working here. 

When it comes to you and your family’s health, we cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees - and 80% of healthcare premiums for dependents. This starts from day one. We also offer at least 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents (up to 20 weeks for birthing parents), and generous vacation policies to give employees time to recharge when needed. 

To build America’s energy future, we need everyone at the table. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply to our open jobs.

If you may require reasonable accommodations to participate in our interview process, please contact [email protected]. Requests for accommodations will be treated with discretion.

Form Energy is committed to maintaining the privacy of our applicants. Please be aware that we will never solicit sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account details during the recruiting or hiring process.