Job Opening: Battery Cell R&D Engineer

Sparkz Inc., is looking to hire a Battery Cell R&D Engineer at their Sacramento, California location. Posted April 6, 2026.

 

Job Title: Battery Cell R&D Engineer

Location: Sacramento, California
Department: Engineering / R&D
Reports To: Plant Manager

Position Overview:

We are seeking a detail-oriented and highly skilled Battery Cell R&D Engineer with at least 2 years of technical experience in battery cell technology. You will be responsible for working with the cell fabrication, material synthesis and battery testing teams in day-to-day operations of the laboratory. As one of the team members most involved in lab functions, you will also provide vital feedback to the R&D and Operations teams on improvements to lab protocols and safety procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Assemble and test lithium-ion battery cells (coin and pouch) and evaluate the performance of the materials and lithium-ion battery cells.
  • Collect and analyze data to achieve the most optimal solution for energy storage research activities.
  • Ensure that all safety procedures are followed while conducting research.
  • Report to team members inefficiencies or problems encountered during execution of lab protocols.
  • Work with facility managers on repairs and routine maintenance to lab space and equipment.
  • Perform inventory evaluations to keep laboratory spaces continuously stocked with chemicals, personal protective equipment, and lab consumables.
  • Abide by all laboratory safety protocols and work with R&D team members to promote a culture of lab safety.

Required Qualifications:

  • M.S. or Ph.D. preferred
  • 2–3 years with battery cells preferably with coin cells and small pouch cell fabrication
  • Familiar with gloveboxes, small scale slurry mixing and coating, analysis instruments such as SEM, XRD, Impedance measurement (electrolyte/electrode interface), battery cycler, and Environment, Safety and Health requirement/documentation.
  • Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Working Conditions:

  • Manufacturing and R&D plant environment.
  • May require occasional travel to vendor sites or other facilities.
  • Use of PPE is required in certain areas of the plant.

Sparkz is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sparkz is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation: $80K-$90K annual salary range

At-Will Employment

Employment with Sparkz is at-will, meaning either the employee or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice.

Please Note

  • All job offers are subject to pre-employment drug screening and a background check since this is a safety sensitive position.
  • Unless otherwise noted, we do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Notice to Agencies: We only accept resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing services if a Service Agreement has been signed and we have requested recruitment/staffing services for the specific position. Any unsolicited resumes will become the property of the company, and no fees or compensation will be paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or staffing service.

 

To Apply Email Resume and Cover Letter to HR@sparkz.energy

Founder & CEO

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra

Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra is the founder and CEO of Sparkz—the battery start-up reinventing the energy supply chain.

 

Malhotra has been a leader in the energy sector for nearly three decades as a founder, investor and executive. Most recently, he served as the inaugural director for the Energy Investor Center at the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), serving under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

 

At DOE, Malhotra led the Obama Administration’s initiative to boost public-private partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of technologies developed in national research centers like Oak Ridge National Labs.

 

Malhotra was recruited to the Department of Energy after a successful exit of Oorja Protonics—the world leader in methanol fuel cells—which he founded and led as CEO for 10 years. Oorja raised $50 Million in equity financing from leading VCs such as Sequoia, DAG Ventures, Artis Capital and others during his tenure. He boosted Oorja’s revenue and profitability growth, while expanding operations globally in Japan, China, South Africa, Mexico, and India.

 

Oorja was acquired in 2014 by the Private Equity firm MinXing Growth Fund.

 

As an investor and consultant, Malhotra has worked at leading venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers as an advisor on clean energy and advanced materials.

 

Earlier in his career, Malhotra led the engineering and product development team at H Power, a pioneer in hydrogen fuel cells. As part of the management team, he managed the successful IPO, which raised more than $100 million in August 2000.

 

He began his career as a post-doctoral fellow at the renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Labs on electrochemical storage systems. Dr. Malhotra has authored seven patents and more than 40 publications in various fields of energy storage technology and materials. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering and an M.B.A from University of Iowa.