Technical Program Manager
12 hours ago
Santa Clara
Location: Santa Clara, California Type: Full-Time, Onsite (5 days / week) About Elevated Elevated Materials is at the forefront of lithium battery technology, revolutionizing energy storage by enabling dramatically better battery performance. Elevated's ultra-thin lithium films increase energy density by 30-70%, extend battery life, and enable significantly faster charge times. Elevated delivers the world's highest quality lithium films and is the only cost-effective solution for GWh-scale manufacturing. This technology is used for all lithium-ion battery applications and anode chemistries and is being commercialized today with R&D and manufacturing in the Bay Area and Germany. About The Role We are seeking a highly driven Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead critical programs in a fast-paced startup environment focused on lithium-ion battery materials. This role requires a hands-on leader who thrives in ambiguity, can operate across engineering, operations, and external partners, and takes full ownership of programs from concept through commercialization and deployment. The Technical Program Manager will play a key role in scaling technology, processes, and execution as the company transitions from development to pilot and production. This role reports into VP, Head of Global Engineering. Why Elevated At Elevated Materials, we're not just building ultra-thin lithium film for better batteries; we're powering a cleaner, more sustainable future. As a purpose-driven company at the forefront of energy innovation, we are tackling one of the world's biggest challenges with cutting-edge technology and an extraordinary team. Key Duties and Responsibilities • Own end-to-end program execution, driving projects from early concept and feasibility through implementation, release, and deployment in a dynamic startup environment., • Develop and continuously adapt project plans, schedules, and resource strategies as priorities evolve., • Establish and maintain detailed program schedules using practical, lightweight project management tools (dashboards, trackers, checklists, and scheduling software)., • Coordinate and align cross-functional resources across engineering, R&D, operations, supply chain, and external partners to meet aggressive timelines and budget targets., • Drive cost, schedule, and performance outcomes for equipment, materials, and process development programs involving internal teams, customers, and global vendors., • Act as a core contributor on small, multifunctional teams, providing hands-on technical input and decision-making support to accelerate execution., • Serve as a primary interface between technical teams and leadership, defining objectives, communicating progress, surfacing risks, and driving alignment., • Apply engineering judgment and business process expertise to resolve technical, operational, and programmatic challenges., • Proactively identify risks, dependencies, and bottlenecks in a resource-constrained environment and develop creative, practical mitigation strategies., • Help build scalable program management processes and best practices appropriate for a growing startup organization. General Profile Requires strong technical depth and broad program ownership in a highly dynamic, fast-changing environment. Comfortable interpreting unclear or evolving business and technical requirements and translating them into actionable plans. Solves complex problems with limited data and resources, taking a system-level view to identify innovative and pragmatic solutions. Operate independently with minimal structure and seek guidance only for the most complex or strategic decisions. Leads cross-functional project teams where influence and execution matter more than formal authority. Functional Knowledge Demonstrates deep or broad expertise in a relevant technical discipline such as lithium-ion battery materials, electrochemistry, advanced materials, chemical processing, or manufacturing equipment. Strong understanding of technology scale-up, pilot-to-production transitions, and early manufacturing challenges is highly valued. Business Expertise Understands the commercial, operational, and cost drivers critical to startup success. Balances technical rigor with speed, prioritization, and resource efficiency. Recommends and implements best practices that improve product readiness, process scalability, and execution speed. Leadership Leads small, highly cross-functional teams in a flat organizational structure. Influences engineers, scientists, vendors, and leadership through clarity, credibility, and execution. Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and taking accountability for outcomes. Problem Solving Leads teams through complex technical and program challenges using structured thinking and creative problem-solving. Applies analytical judgment while remaining flexible and adaptive to changing conditions. Impact It has direct and visible impact on technology readiness, customer deliverables, operational milestones, and company growth. Work directly influences the company's ability to scale, meet customer commitments, and attract partners or investors. Interpersonal Skills Communicates complex technical and business concepts clearly to diverse audiences, from lab-scale engineers to executives and external partners. Effectively negotiate priorities and trade-offs in a resource-constrained startup setting. Education, and Experience • Bachelor's Degree required (Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field). Advanced degree is a plus but not required., • 5+ years of experience in technical program management, engineering, or project leadership roles. Prior experience in startups, scale-ups, or early commercialization environments strongly preferred. Background in equipment development, lithium-ion batteries, energy storage, advanced materials, or high-tech manufacturing is highly desirable. Compensation & Benefits The base salary range for this position is $140,000 - $180,000 per year, which represents the low and high end of the salary range for this exempt position. The exact salary offered will depend on experience. The total rewards package will also include company equity and an annual discretionary bonus Elevated's Benefits Include: • Healthcare: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, • Tax-Advantaged Programs: FSA, HSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, • Retirement: 401(k) with a generous 4.5% match and immediate vesting, • Wellbeing Access to One Medical, Right way, Spring Health, XP Health, and SoFi, • Time Off: Flexible vacation policy, paid holidays, 12-weeks paid parental leave, • Additional Perks: Company cell phone, employee resource support, and more Equal Opportunity Employer Elevated Materials is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We comply with all federal, state, and local employment laws, and use E-Verify to ensure employment eligibility. We welcome all qualified candidates to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. Elevated Materials is conducting this search internally. We do not accept unsolicited candidate submissions from external recruiters or agencies.