Anthro
Develops polymer-electrolyte lithium-ion cells
Manufacturing Engineering Senior Manager
+ Equity compensation
The role may expand from the Alameda pilot facility to a planned commercial facility in Kentucky.
About the job
- At least 7 years of experience in a manufacturing or process engineering role, including experience in the battery and chemicals manufacturing industry.
- At least 3 years of experience managing or leading an engineering team.
- Hands-on experience with lithium-ion unit processes and production equipment, including cell assembly, electrolyte filling, formation, and lithium-battery materials production.
- Experience building and ramping lithium-battery lines, including managing equipment vendors and automation partners; leading factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, equipment qualification, and commissioning; and taking equipment from installation to stable standard operating procedure against yield, throughput, and overall equipment effectiveness targets.
- A demonstrated track record of improving first-pass yield, cycle time, and scrap using statistical process control, Cp/Cpk, design of experiments, process failure mode and effects analysis, and control plans, with JMP, Minitab, or similar tools; familiarity with manufacturing execution systems and enterprise resource planning; and Lean/Six Sigma knowledge.
- Strong manufacturing-engineering fundamentals, including equipment, tooling, and automation design and selection; line and station layout; and design for manufacturability and design for assembly.
- A track record of commercializing and scaling new products and technologies.
- A Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in mechanical, chemical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering, or a related field.
- Ability to work between hands-on individual-contributor responsibilities and team leadership, run multiple projects simultaneously, and hold the team accountable for deadlines and deliverables.
- Ability to manage projects and technical agreements across internal teams and external partners.
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of manufacturing and process engineers delivering scale-up initiatives.
- Own the manufacturing process, equipment, and tooling design for Proteus electrolyte production and cell manufacturing, partnering with research and development on design for manufacturability from pilot through commercial scale.
- Establish preventive and predictive maintenance and equipment-reliability programs, including total productive maintenance, computerized maintenance management system-tracked preventive maintenance, spare-parts strategy, and calibration, while embedding good manufacturing practices to maximize uptime, overall equipment effectiveness, and first-time quality.
- Drive process and equipment optimization for core cell-finishing steps, especially electrolyte filling and formation, by tuning process windows and equipment to increase first-pass yield, reduce cycle time and energy use, and reduce scrap.
- Apply statistical process control, Cp/Cpk, design of experiments, defect Pareto analysis, process failure mode and effects analysis, control plans, and Lean/continuous-improvement methods to improve process capability, remove line bottlenecks, and achieve yield, throughput, overall equipment effectiveness, and cost targets.
- Lead expansion of future electrolyte and cell production lines, including specifying and purchasing equipment with vendors and automation partners, evaluating capital-expenditure and throughput trade-offs, and driving layout, installation, commissioning, and ramp to stable operation.
- Own factory and site acceptance testing and equipment qualification, including IQ/OQ/PQ, punch-list closure, and hands-on bring-up of pilot and commercial equipment.
- Lead industrialization and technology transfer of Proteus electrolyte to commercial lithium-battery manufacturing lines, including standard operating procedures, batch records, and documentation supporting a robust quality-management system.
- Lead process-safety reviews such as hazard and operability studies and ensure equipment and designs meet safety and regulatory requirements.
- Report progress and results to internal and leadership stakeholders.
- Reading and creating process flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, general arrangement drawings, and computer-aided design.
About the company
Anthro Energy develops advanced lithium-ion battery cells using a proprietary polymer electrolyte that replaces liquid electrolytes. The polymer electrolyte increases energy density and safety, supports new shapes and chemistries, and can be integrated into existing manufacturing without new equipment. It differentiates by enabling easy scaling through seamless integration with cell manufacturers and offering customized shapes, sizes, and terminals. The goal is to commercialize scalable, high-performance batteries for electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy, advancing electrification and climate tech.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$53.3M
Headquarters
San Jose, California
Founded
2019
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- DOE authorized Anthro's $24.9 million award for Kentucky execution in April 2026.
- August 2026 groundbreaking unlocked 110 jobs and a 12,000-ton annual capacity plan.
- Celina Mikolajczak joined August 21, 2026, strengthening battery safety credibility during scale-up.
What critics are saying
- Commercial revenue still depends on customer qualification; Louisville output starts only in late 2027.
- A 70-person team cannot support factory execution, sales, and qualification simultaneously.
- If Proteus fails cycle-life testing, Anthro becomes an underused electrolyte supplier and plant operator.
What makes Anthro unique
- Proteus phase-change electrolyte works in standard Li-ion lines, reducing customer retooling.
- Anthro is building America's first US-owned advanced electrolyte plant in Louisville.
- EnPower MOU creates a domestic path from electrolyte chemistry to finished cells.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
401(k) Company Match
Parental Leave
Flexible Work Hours
Company Equity
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -5%1 year growth
↓ -7%2 year growth
↑ 3%DOE's latest battery grants target the electrolyte gap. Photo Credit: Anthro Energy Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2026 2:00 pm A new round of federal battery-materials funding and a Kentucky groundbreaking are both converging on the same overlooked chokepoint: electrolyte, a component where domestic cell assembly has outpaced domestic materials production. The Trump administration's Department of Energy announced $500 million in grants on Aug. 20 for seven domestic critical-mineral and battery-material projects, spanning lithium extraction, cobalt refining, battery recycling, electrolyte chemicals and silicon-based anode technology. The award is the third round under DOE's Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling programs, which have now directed close to $2.3 billion to more than 20 projects since 2022. That the funding keeps landing on materials rather than finished cells reflects a specific vulnerability DOE's own December 2024 supply chain review identified: Chinese firms hold roughly 70% to 90% of global production capacity at several midstream chokepoints, including electrolyte, separator and active anode and cathode materials, a share the U.S. Energy Information Administration separately put at 82% for electrolyte production as of 2022. A Kentucky groundbreaking illustrates the gap. Anthro Energy, a Stanford spinout, broke ground this week on the Louisville, Kentucky facility, a $42 million plant expected to produce about 12,000 metric tons of advanced polymer electrolyte annually, enough to support up to 25 GWh of lithium-ion battery production, when it enters operation in late 2027. The facility carries a $24.9 million DOE award and $18.4 million through the 48C Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit, both awarded before the current administration. Anthro says the plant will use inputs free of Foreign Entity of Concern materials from the start. Its Proteus technology injects liquid-phase precursors that solidify during normal cell formation, letting manufacturers use standard battery-manufacturing equipment rather than retooling production lines, a compatibility argument aimed squarely at the cost problem facing new domestic chemistries. Assembly capacity doesn't solve a materials problem. U.S. policy has spent years measured primarily in cell-manufacturing gigawatt-hours. The materials that feed those cells went largely uncounted. A battery assembled domestically can still depend on foreign-produced electrolyte, separator, graphite and processed cathode material, and DOE's own review found domestic capacity "remains more limited midstream and upstream" even as cell-manufacturing capacity has scaled toward meeting 2030 demand. That gap is why the grants are spread across multiple midstream segments rather than concentrating on any single material, a diversification also visible in parallel efforts to localize cathode-precursor production in Europe. Anthro has separately partnered with Indianapolis-based EnPower to scale U.S.-produced lithium-ion cells, following other electrolyte producers that have made similar bets on domestic capacity in recent years. For procurement teams and battery manufacturers, the throughline across both this week's grant announcement and the Louisville groundbreaking is the same: a "Made in America" battery pack is only as secure as the least domestic material inside it. Other items that may interest you
Silicon Valley startup Anthro Energy has broken ground on a Kentucky factory that will become the first US-owned and operated maker of battery electrolytes when it opens in 2027. The facility will produce up to 12,000 metric tonnes of electrolytes annually, enough for 25 gigawatt hours of battery capacity or 400,000 electric vehicles. The Alameda, California-based company, spun out from Stanford University research, has developed a liquid polymer electrolyte designed to be safer and longer-lasting than conventional flammable electrolytes. The phase-change material is injected as a liquid then solidifies inside battery cells. Anthro currently produces 200 kilograms daily at its headquarters. Production at the new facility will ramp up through late 2027 into 2028, addressing a supply chain gap in US battery manufacturing.
Anthro Energy appoints Celina Mikolajczak as Board Advisor. Anthro Energy Aug 21, 2026, 09:00 ET Veteran Battery Technology and Safety Executive to Lead Scaling Advanced Polymer Electrolytes for Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Batteries ALAMEDA, Calif., Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ - Anthro Energy, a next-generation battery technology company developing advanced polymer electrolytes to enhance lithium-ion battery performance and safety, today announced the appointment of Celina Mikolajczak as a Board Advisor. In this role, Mikolajczak will advise Anthro Energy's leadership as the company advances its proprietary electrolyte technology and scales commercialization and manufacturing of next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Mikolajczak brings 25 years of experience across the battery industry, spanning materials development, cell R&D and design, battery pack design, cell and pack manufacturing, failure analysis, factory planning, and safety testing. As a Licensed Mechanical Engineer, she has held senior technical and leadership roles at Exponent, Tesla, Uber, Panasonic, QuantumScape, and Lyten, giving her experience across nearly every stage of battery development and commercialization. At Anthro Energy, Mikolajczak will provide strategic and technical guidance as the company scales its proprietary Anthro Proteus(TM) polymer electrolyte platform, which is designed to improve the safety, energy density, and mechanical robustness of lithium-ion batteries while remaining compatible with existing gigafactory manufacturing infrastructure. Her expertise across cell development, manufacturing, qualification, and battery safety will support Anthro as it works to bring advanced battery technologies to market across defense, robotics, embodied AI, consumer electronics, wearables, medical devices, and advanced mobility applications. "Celina is one of the most respected technical leaders in the battery industry, and her experience spans the full journey from fundamental cell development to manufacturing at massive scale," said David Mackanic, CEO and Co-Founder of Anthro Energy. "She understands not only what it takes to push battery performance forward, but also the safety, quality, manufacturing, and regulatory requirements necessary to turn promising technology into a commercial product. Her perspective will be incredibly valuable as Anthro scales products and works with partners across the battery ecosystem." Mikolajczak's appointment comes as Anthro Energy continues expanding its U.S. manufacturing and commercial capabilities, including its planned large-scale advanced electrolyte production facility in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is scaling its electrolyte platform to support growing demand for safer, lighter, higher-performance batteries across applications where energy density, mechanical robustness, and safety increasingly determine what devices and systems can achieve. "Anthro Energy is tackling several of the battery industry's most important challenges at once by improving safety and performance while developing technology that can integrate with existing manufacturing infrastructure," said Celina Mikolajczak, Board Advisor to Anthro Energy. "I've spent my career working across battery development, manufacturing, quality, and safety, and I'm excited to advise the Anthro team as they scale their technology and work to bring it into high-performance applications." Mikolajczak holds a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and has been an active contributor to the development of battery safety standards and fire codes throughout her career. At Tesla, she led cell quality and materials engineering, helping develop battery cells and packs for several of the company's vehicle and energy products. She later led battery engineering at Uber before joining Panasonic Energy of North America, where she became Vice President of Engineering and Battery Technology and helped advance lithium-ion cell design and manufacturing at scale. She then went on to hold leadership roles at QuantumScape and Lyten, further expanding her experience in next-generation battery development and commercialization. She has been advising companies throughout the battery ecosystem including Voltaiq, Manaflex, VTA Technologies, Battery Associates, Polyplus, Sylvatex, Anthro Energy, South 8 Technologies, and Princeton NuEnergy. About Anthro Energy Anthro Energy is a next-generation battery technology company developing advanced polymer electrolytes to enhance the performance, safety, and flexibility of lithium-ion batteries. Founded out of Stanford University and headquartered in Alameda, California, Anthro's proprietary Anthro Proteus(TM) platform enables safer, mechanically robust batteries compatible with existing manufacturing infrastructure. The company is expanding domestic production capacity, including a planned large-scale advanced electrolyte facility in Louisville, Kentucky, to support growing demand across defense, robotics, consumer electronics, and transportation markets. For more information, visit www.anthroenergy.com. Media Contact SOURCE Anthro Energy
Anthro Energy starts work on $42m electrolyte plant in Kentucky. Published - August 21, 2026 02:20 pm BST. Anthro Energy has broken ground on a $42 million manufacturing plant in Louisville that is set to start producing 12,000 tonnes of advanced polymer electrolyte annually from late 2027. The facility will produce enough electrolyte to support up to 25GWh of lithium ion battery production for energy storage systems, mobility and other applications, the Silicon Valley-based company announced on August 19. Construction at Louisville marks the firm's transition from planning into execution and a key milestone toward boosting US manufacturing capacity for battery material, Anthro said. The company, a spin-out from Stanford University, will manufacture its proprietary Anthro Proteus tech platform, which uses a 'phase-change electrolyte' that transitions from a liquid to a solid polymer within the battery cell. The technology is claimed to improve battery safety, increase energy density and enable greater design flexibility while remaining compatible with existing Li-ion manufacturing infrastructure, Anthro said. Louisville will be equipped with standard manufacturing equipment capable of producing multiple advanced electrolyte formulations. Construction comes just months after the US Department of Energy gave the go-ahead to 'fully execute' the project, following a $24.9 million award to Anthro under the US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and $18.4 million in investment tax credits. David Mackanic, CEO and co-founder of Anthro said: "By producing advanced electrolytes here in the US, we're helping build a more resilient domestic supply chain while enabling the next generation of safer, higher-performing batteries." Photo: Anthro Energy
Anthro Energy has appointed Celina Mikolajczak as a board adviser. The California-based company develops advanced polymer electrolytes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Mikolajczak is a veteran battery technology and safety executive who will help lead the scaling of Anthro Energy's polymer electrolyte technology. The appointment was announced on 21 August 2026. Anthro Energy is based in Alameda, California.