Description
Quino Energy is seeking a passionate, detail-oriented Lab Technician to join the team at our lab in San Leandro, CA. This position will play a crucial role in the assembly, testing, and analysis of Quino’s water-based organic flow battery technology. This position will have the opportunity to meaningfully contribute towards the development of Quino’s battery technology from the lab scale to the pilot scale and beyond.
Key Responsibilities
• Support engineers and other team members in constructing, commissioning, operating, and disassembling flow battery prototypes at pilot scale and beyond.
• Perform analysis of flow battery reactants including cell cycling, pH measurement, HPLC, viscosity measurement, and other techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), cell cycling, etc.
• Prepare solutions of flow battery reactants and electrolytes.
• Work independently to assemble and operate lab-scale flow battery prototypes.
• Manage, coordinate, or perform preventive maintenance activities for lab equipment, such as battery testers, glove boxes, compressors, nitrogen generators, pumps, etc.
• Sourcing equipment and consumables (e.g., pipette tips, reagents, gloves, centrifuge tubes) for laboratory.
• Coordinate with third-party contractors to manage domestic and international shipment of hazardous chemicals/electrolytes from the company partner sites.
• Serve as the laboratory safety officer, with responsibilities including coordinating safety communication, compliance, hazardous waste management, etc.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external contractors performing facility-related work and modifications at the company site.
General Responsibilities
• Thoroughly document experimental procedures and collected data
• Maintain high quality of work while performing manual, repetitive tasks
• Communicate technical and non-technical information clearly and effectively
• Comply with all EH&S/safety requirements and contribute to a culture of safety.
• Maintain work area in a clean and orderly condition
• Work collaboratively and flexibly in a small team
• Perform other duties as assigned
Requirements
• Possess an A.S./B.S. in an engineering or technical field (chemistry or related field preferred) and over 2 years of industry experience. Over 5 years of industry experience is a plus.
• Posses at least 1 year of experience performing analytical characterization and 1 year of experience in laboratory equipment or battery system set up and maintenance such as constructing, commissioning, operating, and disassembling.• Experience assembling/handling and testing batteries including but not limited to Li-ion is a plus.
• Experience working with flow batteries is a plus.
• Experience of working with electrochemical testing stations.
• Possess experience with electrical and mechanical lab equipment.
• Ability to regularly lift and move items 25 lbs in weight and occasionally lift and move up to 50 lbs without assistance.
• Basic knowledge of plumbing is a plus.
• Candidate must be comfortable in a startup or fast-paced environment, display a high degree of initiative in their work, and be adaptable as the company grows.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; capable of working effectively with a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and company managers from entry-level to the company’s management team.
• Some domestic and/or international travel is required.
General Requirements
• Ability to follow documented procedures and give feedback on existing or missing procedures
• Possess a high level of attention to detail with handling of samples and test data
• Ability to execute multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Good communication skills to report issues clearly and effectively
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook
• A broad knowledge of various best practices within the laboratory
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Reliability, clear communication, and desire to learn
• Experience working with and handling corrosive chemicals is a plus
• Experience operating electric forklifts is a plus
• Speaking in Mandarin Chinese is a plus
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.
About the Position
This position is fully in-person. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. As Quino Energy is a Federal contractor, all hires are required to certify that they are not, and have never been, a participant in a government-sponsored talent program of North Korea, Russia, Iran, and/or China. In addition, all hires must not be listed on the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s Consolidated Screening List.
Benefits and Compensation
$90,000-130,000 in annual salary depending on experience and qualifications, as well as additional stock options, subject to vesting and Board approval of the options. We offer top-of-the-line insurance benefits including platinum plans for medical, dental, and vision, 3 weeks paid time off annually, and participation in the company 401(k) plan with a company match. We provide unlimited snacks and refreshments as well as a weekly company lunch during work hours.
About
Quino Energy is the leading developer of organic flow batteries, based on a water-based redox flow battery technology licensed from Harvard University, for utilities and communities. The batteries use chemicals made from coal tar and petroleum aromatics to store energy, rather than critical materials that use lithium, cobalt, nickel, vanadium, and so on. In addition, our batteries are nonflammable because all active materials are dissolved in water and the battery does not produce hydrogen during charging.
Quino Energy is piloting organic flow batteries at MW-scale for industrial microgrid and renewable energy storage applications. At the company’s R&D Headquarters in San Leandro, California, the team is building, refining, and testing battery prototypes, working with vendors and partners to scale up system size, and continuing to push the limits of flow battery technology. From our Houston, Texas Business Office, the Sales and Business Development team engages global partners and customers, to support product development, piloting, and planning for commercial deployments.
Quino Energy Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. We also do not discriminate based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.
Quino Energy participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.