Who We Are
Factorial Energy is a pioneering U.S.-based solid-state battery company driving the future of energy storage and electrification. Partnered with global leaders including Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Kia, Factorial is at the forefront of developing next-generation e-mobility platforms for commercial, defense, and consumer applications—spanning electric vehicles (EVs), drones, eVTOL aircraft, power tools, marine systems, robotics, and more. The company has achieved multiple industry firsts, including being the first to power a demonstration vehicle with a global OEM (Mercedes- Benz) which achieved over 1,200 km (749 mi) of range, and the first to earn UN 38.3 certification for automotive-sized lithium-metal solid-state cells, the first to deliver B-samples of automotive-sized solid-state batteries to major OEMs.
The Opportunity:
Factorial Energy is seeking an Industrial Engineer to join our team in our Cheonan, South Korea, location. This person will be responsible for driving manufacturing efficiency, cost reduction, and operational excellence across our consumer battery production lines. This role spans four core IE disciplines: lean production improvement, capacity planning & facility layout, time study & cost engineering, and data-driven continuous improvement. The Ideal candidate will work closely with Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance teams to optimize workflows, eliminate waste, and ensure our lines scale effectively with business growth. The ideal candidate is both analytically rigorous and practically hands-on, comfortable on the factory floor as well as in front of a data model.
In this role, you will:
- Lead and facilitate Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) workshops, and waste elimination projects across electrode, assembly, formation, and packaging lines
- Identify and eliminate the 8 wastes (overproduction, waiting, transport, over-processing, inventory, motion, defects, unused talent) to improve throughput and reduce cycle time
- Implement and sustain 5S, visual management, and standard work practices on the production floor
- Drive OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) improvement initiatives by analyzing availability, performance, and quality loss data to prioritize high-impact actions
- Mentor operators and line leaders in lean thinking and problem-solving tools (A3, 5-Why, fishbone analysis)
- Develop and maintain capacity models for all production lines, providing data-driven recommendations for equipment investment, shift expansion, and bottleneck resolution
- Plan and optimize factory floor layouts using simulation tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Arena, or Flexsim) to minimize material travel distance, improve flow, and support new product introduction (NPI)
- Collaborate with the project team on new line setup and ramp-up, ensuring layout, equipment placement, and ergonomics meet both production and safety requirements
- Track and report capacity utilization, identifying risks to on-time delivery and proposing mitigation plans in alignment with Production Planning and Sales Operations
- Conduct time studies (stopwatch, video-based) and establish standard times for all operations across the battery manufacturing process (coating, winding/stacking, assembly, formation, testing, packaging)
- Build and maintain standard cost models, including direct labor, indirect labor, and overhead allocation, to support product pricing, cost-down initiatives, and make-vs-buy analyses
- Analyze labor efficiency, calculate manpower requirements for each production segment, and develop staffing plans aligned with production schedules
- Partner with Finance and Operations leadership to track actual vs. standard cost variances and identify root causes of cost overruns
- Collect, clean, and analyze production data from MES, ERP, and equipment systems to identify trends, surface inefficiencies, and support decision-making
- Build dashboards and reports (Power BI, Tableau, or Excel) that give real-time visibility into key production KPIs: OEE, yield, takt adherence, labor efficiency, and cost per unit
- Apply statistical analysis (regression, hypothesis testing, SPC) to validate improvement results and support engineering change evaluations
- Champion the adoption of Industry 4.0 tools, including automated data collection, digital standard work, and predictive analytics for production planning
We are looking for people who:
- Has 3+ years of industrial engineering experience in a high-volume discrete or process manufacturing environment
- Has consumer electronics or battery manufacturing experience
- Demonstrates proficiency across at least three of the four IE disciplines: lean/Kaizen, capacity planning, time study/cost engineering, and data analytics
- Has hands-on experience facilitating VSM, Kaizen workshops, and 5S implementation
- Lean certification (or Six Sigma Green Belt / Black Belt) is a plus
- Has a proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in throughput, cycle time, labor efficiency, or cost reduction
- Has Proficiency in time study methodology and standard cost modeling
- Has the ability to independently build bottom-up cost models in Excel or similar tools
- Has strong data analysis skills using Excel, Python, SQL, or equivalent
- Has experience with MES/ERP data extraction and visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) preferred
- Has experience building capacity models and optimizing factory layouts
- Is familiar with AutoCAD or plant layout software is a plus
- Has a bachelor's degree or above in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field
- Has strong cross-functional communication skills; ability to work with operators on the floor and present findings to senior management with equal effectiveness.
Work Location:
Cheonan, South Korea
Factorial Energy is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All qualified applicants, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.
To request a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, job interview, and/or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact (recruitment@factorialenergy.com)
