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.