Hopkinsville, KY

Ascend Elements is a fast-growing organization that is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials for electric vehicles. Recognized as a climate technology leader, the company elevates the value of recycled elements and engineers sustainable battery materials to support the global clean-energy transition. The company’s patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis technology produces new, sustainable cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in improved performance and lower carbon emissions. Ascend Elements is taking sustainability in the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

We are currently hiring an Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to join our Advanced Manufacturing Engineering team! In this position you will be responsible for the overall process automation design and optimization of AE manufacturing facilities which include handling, discharge, and disassembly of spent EV batteries, shredding of such batteries, and chemical processing of this shredded material into new battery cathode.

This position will be based in Hopkinsville KY or in our Massachusetts Headquarters.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide instrumentation and process controls technical expertise for capital projects, including reviewing and updating P&IDs, designing instruments, preparing or reviewing instrument index, input/output lists, instrument loop diagrams, instrument datasheets, control description, instruments requisition, junction box termination drawings, cable schedules, supporting FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, startup.


• Interface with EPC firms and construction contractors to effectively design and execute instrumentation and plant automation systems.


• Lead efficiency improvement automation projects in multiple brown and green field sites. Modify and debug process control systems to achieve continuous process optimization and downtime reduction.


• Interface with R&D team and contractors to select and implement instrumentation and automation systems of new processes.


• Work with Quality team on quality control data management.


• Support the production plant’s technical staff to meet plant metrics with robust processes and quality systems based on the APQP tool kit.


• Lead RCA (Root Cause Analysis) and troubleshooting effort to resolve process controls upset and product quality deviations.


• Travel: 10% on average if based in Hopkinsville, 25% on average if based in Westborough, 50% peak during commissioning depending on site location.

Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or technical diploma in Electrical, Process Controls, or Chemical Engineering with automation experience.


• 5+ years of experience in instrumentation and controls design and troubleshooting of industrial manufacturing plant. Programming experience is a plus.


• Knowledge of control system design for performance material or similar manufacturing processes, and ability to read, interpret and generate engineering drawings and specifications.


• Experience with Control panel design and low voltage electrical system.


• Knowledge of Siemens and Allen Bradley programming is a plus.


• Knowledge of and hands on experience using APQP tools (or equivalent) including FMEA, SPC, and design and process validation as well as Lean and 6 Sigma tools.


• Effective project management for >$100k capital equipment projects.


• Experience, judgement, and technical knowledge to drive data-based decisions.


• Skilled user of MS office tools including Word, EXCEL, Outlook, Project, AutoCAD.


• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

APPLY TODAY!

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Ascend Elements (AE) is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements (AE) is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

We are currently hiring a Document Controller to join our Advanced Manufacturing Engineering team. Under the direction of the Project Director/Lead and functionally reporting to the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Director, the Document Controller will establish, plan, control, and direct the full scope of document/records management program activities for the project.

This position can be based in Hopkinsville, Kentucky or Covington, Georgia.

Responsibilities included but not limited to:

• Develops and maintains procedures and standards for maintaining documents and revision history of documents, including document development, approval, distribution, and amendment.


• Evaluate, select and roll out an Electronic Document Management System through Ascend Elements’ (AE) Projects.


• Maintain the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) to register, control, distribute, transmit, file, and archive project records for a team in multiple locations across multiple countries.


• Plan the scope of document/records management work, establish priorities, and train personnel to perform their assigned duties for project.


• Communicate effectively with project team members, client, and field personnel to ensure quality, schedule and budget are met as defined.


• Support quality assurance audits, internal technical reviews, and external audits.


• Manage project access to the EDMS by creating accounts and inviting users, perform associated tasks with EDMS administration, and train others in these tasks.


• Ensure supplier and AE’s documentation is processed within established schedule standards.


• Prepare routine documents using standard word processing, spreadsheets, or other office software as needed to support work activities.


• Ensure training and training records for project administrative personnel are current.


• Compile information, analyze and prepare reports, and establish metrics for document/records management and administrative activities.

Qualifications and Other Skills:

• Must have a minimum of 5 years project-based experience performing document/records management with a full understanding on the configuration of the EDMS, work processes, and coordination of project workflow with other entities.


• Must have advanced proficiency using standard office automation tools, including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word. (A proficiency test may be required).


• Advanced analytical ability to build and maintain databases and presentations for project and functional management.


• Have strong interpersonal and customer service skills.


• Have ability to work flexibly and collaboratively across all levels of the organization.


• Must be flexible and able to accept and quickly adapt to changes in work focus.

APPLY TODAY!

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Ascend Elements (AE) is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

Were currently hiring a Lead Instrumentation and Controls Engineer to join our Advanced Manufacturing Engineering team. In such position, the Instrumentation and Controls Lead shall lead the overall control design of the entire manufacturing plant which includes the handling, discharge, and disassembly of spent EV batteries, the shredding of such batteries, the chemical conversion of this shredded material into new battery cathode. The AME team is responsible for scaling our technology from demonstration plant scale to full production scale at multiple brown and green field sites in the US and Europe. In addition to process development, vendor selection, plant design, commissioning and installation, this group leads the technology scaling efforts as next generation technologies are proven in our R&D group.

This position can be based in Hopkinsville Kentucky, Westborough Massachusetts or Covington Georgia with frequent travel to our facilities.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Provide technical leadership for the capital equipment process including technical specification creation, vendor selection and qualification, equipment design/build, FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, and optimization.


• Lead Controls interface with Automation contractor, Engineering firm, and EPC firm to effectively design and execute plant controls and data management systems


• Project leadership and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all automation projects throughout the plant design process


• Instrumentation engineering lead through the plant design process


• Review engineering automation and instrumentation deliverables.


• Commissioning lead for I/O checks, automation functional tests during pre-commissioning and commissioning.


• Management of a team of 2-3 engineers.


• Support the production plant’s technical staff to meet plant metrics with robust processes and quality systems based on the APQP tool kit.


• Up to 10% travel on average, could exceed 50% on average during peak plant commissioning phases (depending on location).

Education / Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Process Controls, or Chemical Engineering with automation experience or any other applicable engineering field. Advanced degree a plus.


• 15 years of experience in controls design, build out, instrumentation design, and optimization of industrial manufacturing plant.

Skills / Requirements:

• Knowledge and experience of control system hardware and software (PLC and DCS) for performance material or similar manufacturing process, and ability to read, interpret and generate engineering drawings and specifications.


• Knowledge of Delta V Emerson DCS is required.


• Experience with PID development and review (instrumentation and controls).


• Experience with HAZOP reviews.


• Experience with instrumentation selection, sizing, data sheet review, installation details review, loop wiring review.


• Experience with FAT, Commissioning, SAT.


• Experience with Ethernet, Modbus, Fieldbus.


• Knowledge of Siemens and Allan Bradley programming is a plus.


• Knowledge of and hands on experience using APQP tools (or equivalent) including FMEA, SPC, and design and process validation as well as Lean and 6 Sigma tools.


• Effective project management for >$5M capital equipment projects.


• Experience, judgement, and technical knowledge to drive data-based decisions


• Skilled user of MS office tools including Word, EXCEL, Outlook, Project, AutoCAD.


• Written and verbal fluency in English is required. Verbal fluency in Mandarin is a plus.


• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.