Manufacturing Cost Accountant

About this role

Job Title: Manufacturing Cost Accountant

Location: Carlsbad, California (on-site)

Clearance / Eligibility: Must qualify as a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (22 CFR 120.15) due to access to export-controlled data; must also be able to obtain and maintain government contract access, as required.

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Cost Accountant will serve as ALE’s primary financial partner for production operations in a highly visible role that regularly interfaces with executives and investors. This position is responsible for standard costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing variance analysis, and GAAP-compliant accounting for a cell-manufacturing environment, from raw materials—including cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator, and cell hardware—through work-in-process to finished goods. The role requires direct experience costing a high-tech manufacturing environment, specifically a large-scale, fully integrated, high-volume automated production line that moves product continuously through multiple connected stages, such as electrode manufacturing, cell/unit assembly, and formation or final test. The successful candidate will be comfortable engaging directly on the production floor, understand how bills of materials and routings across multiple line stations translate into cost, and be able to explain scrap or yield variances at any stage of the line to both plant leadership and finance executives. This individual will also help establish cost accounting processes within NetSuite and support effective ERP system utilization. The role works cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, and Manufacturing, and interfaces directly with external auditors and, where applicable, customers. Experience in a regulated or defense-adjacent manufacturing environment, including AS9100, ITAR, or DoD contract accounting, is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

● Develop, maintain, and analyze standard costs (materials, labor, overhead) for lithium-io...