Plant Engineering & Reliability Manager

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