Ascend Element 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.

The Plant Engineering & Reliability Manager leads all technical functions for Ascend Elements’ Covington facility, including Engineering, Maintenance, Reliability, Mechanical Integrity, Utilities, Instrumentation & Electrical (I&E), Automation/Controls, Industrial Engineering, and IT/OT technical support. This role ensures safe, reliable, and compliant operation of production systems and utilities infrastructure while driving small engineering improvements, reliability enhancements, and disciplined technical governance.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Engineering Leadership

• Lead all process and facilities engineering activities supporting reliable daily operations.
• Manage small continuous improvement projects, including scoping, vendor coordination, installation support, and commissioning assistance.
• Ensure engineering governance including MOC, design reviews, documentation control, and technical standards.

2. Maintenance Management

• Provide strategic oversight to the Maintenance Manager.
• Oversight of utilities systems including boilers, HVAC, compressed air, cooling water, nitrogen, RO/DI, and electrical distribution.
• Ensure preventive/predictive maintenance execution, CMMS integrity, backlog governance, and scheduling.
• Oversee maintenance KPIs, spare parts strategy, and work order quality.

3. Reliability Engineering

• Own the reliability program including RCM/FMEA, RCA, and predictive technologies.
• Track reliability KPIs such as MTBF, MTTR, OEE and availability.

4. Mechanical Integrity (MI)

• Oversee MI compliance for regulated equipment.
• Maintain MI documentation and inspection intervals.

5. Instrumentation, Electrical & Automation, & IT/OT Support

• Lead I&E and Automation teams.
• Maintain PLC/HMI systems, SCADA reliability, and electrical compliance.
• Manage OT networking, MES/SCADA endpoints, device provisioning, and cyber hygiene.

6. Industrial Engineering

• Support throughput modeling, bottleneck analysis, labor optimization, and process improvement.

7. Leadership & People Development

• Lead and develop Maintenance, Utilities, Engineering, I&E, Automation, Industrial Engineering.

Decision-Making Responsibility:

• Prioritize technical work, approve engineering approaches, and escalate high-risk changes appropriately.

Competencies / Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Engineering/maintenance leadership, MI knowledge, utilities, reliability, CMMS, automation, and communication skills.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; 8+ years technical experience; 3+ years leadership.

Working Conditions / Travel:

• Site-based in Covington, GA; occasional travel; some off-hours support during failures/outages.

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.