Defect Engineering Manager

Title: Manager, Defect Engineering

Department: Cell

Report To: Director, Cell

Location: Holland, MI

Work Arrangement: On-site

Employment Type: Full-Time

Employment Classification: Exempt

Schedule: Monday – Friday, standard business hours | Schedule may vary based on business needs. Occasional support outside normal business hours may be required for international coordination.

Benefits: LG Energy Solution offers a competitive total rewards package, including 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for eligible employees, paid time off, a 401(k) with company match, and additional voluntary benefits. Benefit eligibility and plan details are subject to the applicable benefit plans.

LG Energy Solution Michigan, Inc. is a global leader in advanced lithium-ion battery technology, delivering innovative battery solutions for electric vehicles (EVs) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS). With expanding operations across the United States, we are committed to innovation, quality, safety, and sustainability while powering the future of clean energy. Join our team and help shape the next generation of advanced battery technology.www.lgenergymi.com

Position Summary:

The Manager, Defect Engineering is responsible for leading defect reduction and continuous improvement activities within lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing operations. This position leads engineering efforts to identify, analyze, and eliminate defects related to contamination, equipment, processes, materials, and manufacturing conditions.

The Manager provides technical and people leadership to the Defect Engineering team, drives root cause analysis and corrective actions, monitors key quality and process indicators, and partners cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Equipment, Process Engineering, and other teams to improve product quality and manufacturing performance. This role also supports the development of a quality-focused culture through technical leadership, training, standardization, and continuous improvement.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead the Defect Engineering team and establish priorities aligned with quality, production, and business objectives.
• Develop and execute strategies to reduce manufacturing defects, contamination, and process-related quality issues.
• Monitor defect trends, KPIs, and process performance to identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions for recurring or significant manufacturing defects.
• Drive equipment, process, procedural, and environmental improvements to prevent defect recurrence.
• Partner with Production, Quality, Equipment, Process Engineering, and other cross-functional teams to resolve internal and external quality concerns.
• Review manufacturing and quality data to identify trends, abnormalities, and potential sources of defects.
• Establish and maintain defect reduction standards, controls, procedures, and improvement plans.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented, documented, and evaluated for effectiveness.
• Provide technical direction and support for complex defect investigations and manufacturing issues.
• Communicate defect performance, risks, countermeasures, and improvement progress to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver training related to defect prevention, contamination control, process changes, and quality best practices.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on product quality, process capability, operational efficiency, and defect prevention.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement throughout manufacturing operations.
• Maintain cleanliness at work-site in accordance with 5S3R Standards:• Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain
• Right Location, Right Quantity, Right Container

• Perform other duties as assigned

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Lead by example by demonstrating LG Energy Solution’s Core Values, policies, standards, and expected leadership behaviors in all actions and decisions.
• Foster a safe, respectful, inclusive, and accountable work environment and ensure employees understand expectations for safety, quality, attendance, performance, and workplace conduct.
• Set clear goals, responsibilities, and performance expectations for employees and hold team members accountable for results.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, recognition, and development to strengthen employee performance, capability, and engagement.
• Complete performance management activities accurately and on time, including goal setting, check-ins, performance evaluations, development planning, and corrective action when appropriate.
• Support workforce planning, staffing, scheduling, and resource decisions to ensure appropriate coverage and achievement of business objectives.
• Communicate business priorities, organizational updates, expectations, and changes clearly, consistently, and in a timely manner.
• Address employee concerns, performance issues, attendance concerns, and workplace conduct matters promptly and consistently, partnering with Human Resources when appropriate.
• Make timely, informed decisions; escalate significant risks or issues appropriately; and take ownership of team and organizational outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, safety requirements, applicable laws and regulations, and ethical business standards.
• Build effective working relationships across departments and leadership levels to resolve issues, remove barriers, and achieve business objectives.
• Support and reinforce organizational change, continuous improvement, and initiatives that improve safety, quality, productivity, cost, efficiency, and employee engagement.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, and accountability in all employee and business interactions.
• Perform additional leadership responsibilities appropriate to the position level, scope of authority, and business needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of engineering, manufacturing, quality, or related technical experience.
• 3+ years of experience leading employees, engineering teams, projects, or technical processes.
• Experience with manufacturing defect analysis, root cause investigation, and corrective action.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional problem-solving and continuous improvement activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in lithium-ion battery, automotive, semiconductor, electronics, chemical, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience working in cleanroom or contamination-controlled manufacturing environments.
• Experience with battery cell manufacturing processes and defect mechanisms.
• Experience with statistical analysis, process capability, or quality improvement methodologies.
• Experience leading engineering or technical teams in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Root cause analysis and corrective action.
• Data analysis and KPI management.
• Continuous improvement and process optimization.
• Strong decision-making and sound judgment.
• Effective project and priority management.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration.
• Effective written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and applicable engineering or data analysis tools.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Works in an office and manufacturing environment, including cleanroom and production areas.
• Regularly uses a computer and standard office equipment.
• Requires periods of sitting, standing, and walking throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Must be able to enter and work within designated cleanroom and production environments.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all safety and cleanroom requirements.
• May be exposed to manufacturing equipment, noise, and other conditions typical of a battery manufacturing environment.
• Must be able to work flexible hours as needed to support production, investigations, and business needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

LG Energy Solution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

LG Energy Solution provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities as required by applicable law.

Job Description Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications. Responsibilities may change based on business needs.