Job Opening: Engineering Project Lead – Cross-Functional Coordination
Location: Münster (near FFB PreFab) | Start Date: 01.10.2025 | Contract: permanent
Language: English required, German a plus
About 8inks
At 8inks, we're not just improving batteries; we're fundamentally reinventing battery manufacturing. As an ETH Zurich spin-off located near Zürich, we are now expanding to Battery City Münster. We develop scalable multilayer electrode manufacturing systems using our patented curtain coating technology, which provides unprecedented control over electrode architecture. This innovation is material agnostic and unlocks higher energy density, faster charging, and improved sustainability—all at a lower production cost. We're an agile, impact-driven team building the next generation of battery technology—hands-on, fast, and always in close collaboration with leading industry partners. Join us at our new lab at Fraunhofer FFB in Münster and be a key part of shaping the future of energy storage.
About the role
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Engineering Project Lead to coordinate and contribute to the development of multilayer battery technologies. This is not a pure management role — you will actively take ownership of selected technical work packages in at least one area (e.g. cell design, process development, or hardware implementation), while also supporting integration across the broader team.
You will work at the interface of electrochemistry, fluid dynamics, and hardware prototyping. You don’t need to be the expert in everything — but you should be comfortable switching contexts, spotting inconsistencies, defining next steps, and jumping in where needed. You’ll work hands-on in the lab, write code, analyze data, or support mechanical setup — whatever helps the project move forward.
Your responsibilities
* Team Coordination: Coordinate internal development across electrochemistry, process, and hardware
* Technical Ownership: Take direct technical ownership of subtopics in either cell design, process, or hardware
* Problem Solving: Identify and resolve blockers together with team members
* Execution: Contribute hands-on in lab or software (e.g. experiment planning, data analysis, prototyping, implementation)
* Stakeholder Management: Interface with external partners and translate technical results across stakeholders
* Lean Reporting: Support reporting and risk management without introducing unnecessary overhead
About You:
* Academic background: MSc or PhD in engineering (mechanical, materials, chemical, electrical or related), chemistry, or equivalent
* Industry experience: 5y+ industry experience
* JDA expertise: Experience in developing, setting up and executing multiyear joint development agreements
* Technical breath: Strong cross-disciplinary technical understanding (e.g. cells, slurries, coatings, fluid flow, equipment)
* Hands-on mindset: you enjoy building, testing, debugging and iterating
* R&D Leadership: Experience working in or leading complex R&D projects (academic or industrial)
* Communication: Excellent communication skills and high situational awareness
* Decision Making: Fluent in structured problem solving and technical decision making
What we offer
* High Impact: Help shape the battery technology of tomorrow — from the lab into the Gigafab
* Collaborative Environment: Work closely with founders and a team of leading researchers and engineers
* Great Culture: dynamic result-driven team, mission-first, making our world a better place
* Ownership: Competitive salary & stock option participation, allowing you to share in our success as we grow.
Please send your full application including CV, transcript and a short motivation letter to Karl-Philipp Schlichting (karlphilipp@8inks.com)