Head of Test & Validation at Ensurge Micropower in San Jose, CA

About Ensurge Micropower

Ensurge Micropower (OSE: ENSU) is a pioneer in solid-state microbattery technology enabling the next generation of intelligent, connected devices. Leveraging proprietary thin-film and roll-to-roll manufacturing, Ensurge delivers safe, high energy-density batteries for applications in wearables, health tech, industrial sensing, and defense. With headquarters in San Jose and a global footprint spanning the U.S. and Europe, Ensurge is redefining what is possible in powering AI at the edge.

Ensurge solid-state microbatteries offer multiple times the energy density and charge cycles of lithium-ion alternatives. Our platform enables a wide range of battery shapes and form factors, unlocking new product designs and previously impossible applications

Join our team of battery innovators in a dynamic, supportive start-up environment to enable the next generation of hearables, wearables, and IoT-connected sensors with Ensurge’s groundbreaking solid-state microbatteries.

Role Overview

Ensurge is seeking a Head of Test & Validation to define and drive a structured, decision-oriented test and validation framework across product and technology development. This role is responsible for ensuring that testing and failure analysis directly support technology readiness, phase-gate decisions, and design improvements, rather than standalone data collection.

This role will lead a multidisciplinary team spanning test engineering, failure analysis, data/DOE engineering, and root cause analysis (RCA), and will serve as a key interface among Product, R&D, and Process Development teams to ensure that validation data translates into actionable decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

Test & Validation Strategy and Execution

• Define and execute end-to-end test and validation strategies aligned with product requirements, application needs, and phase-gate criteria

• Ensure all testing activities are hypothesis-driven and explicitly tied to risk reduction or readiness decisions

• Establish validation coverage across electrical performance, reliability, environmental robustness, safety, and mechanical integrity

• Support POC, EVT, and DVT readiness assessments with clear, data-backed recommendations

• Define validation sufficiency and identify gaps, risks, and mitigation plans

DOE Planning & Execution

• Lead structured Design of Experiments (DoE) planning and execution across materials, cell design, and process variables

• Ensure experimental designs are statistically sound, well-documented, and traceable to builds and process conditions

• Partner with Product, Systems Engineering, and R&D teams to prioritize DOEs based on technology risk and readiness gaps

• Eliminate ad-hoc experimentation by enforcing disciplined experimental frameworks

Failure Analysis (FA) & Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

• Own and drive failure analysis and root cause investigation for performance, reliability, or process deviations

• Establish consistent FA and RCA methodologies and documentation standards

• Correlate failure modes to design decisions, materials, process windows, or usage conditions

• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and ensure closure through follow-up testing

• Synthesize FA findings into clear insights for leadership and cross-functional teams

Data Integrity & Traceability

• Ensure test, DOE, and FA data integrity, traceability, and usability across development phases

• Work closely with data and engineering teams to link test results to materials, process conditions, and build history

• Enable clear data summaries and dashboards that support phase-gate and design review decisions

• Improve data consistency and reproducibility across experiments and builds

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-impact team, including:

• Test Engineers

• Failure Analysis Engineers

• DOE / Data Engineers

• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and interfaces within the team

• Establish operating rhythms, best practices, and technical standards

• Support hiring, onboarding, and development of technical talent

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Serve as a key interface between:

• Product Management & Product Validation

• Cell & Materials Engineering

• Process & Manufacturing Development

• Support internal phase-gate reviews with validation and readiness evidence

• Provide clear, data-driven recommendations to leadership on technology risk and readiness

Desired Qualifications and Key Personal Attributes

Required

• BS, MS, or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrochemistry, or related field

• 7–12+ years of experience in test, validation, reliability, or advanced R&D environments

• Strong hands-on experience with:

• Test planning and execution

• Failure analysis and root cause investigation

• DOE and statistical methods

• Experimental data interpretation

• Demonstrated ability to lead small technical teams and drive execution

• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate data into decisions

Preferred

• Experience with solid-state, lithium-metal, or advanced lithium-based battery systems

• Background in batteries, microelectronics, semiconductors, or other complex hardware systems

• Exposure to phase-gate development models (POC, EVT, DVT, PVT)

• Experience operating in fast-paced startup or scale-up environments

Salary Range: $225,000-$260,000

The base salary range is specific to California. The salary of the final candidate selected for this role will be determined by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.

Note: The listed salary range is based on this role being hired at the Senior Manager level. If the role is leveled differently, the range will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the candidate’s experience and qualifications.