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How to hire a cell tester

Cell tester hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring cell testers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a cell tester is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new cell tester to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a cell tester, step by step

To hire a cell tester, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a cell tester:

Here's a step-by-step cell tester hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a cell tester job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cell tester
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a cell tester, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A cell tester's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cell testers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of cell testers.

    Type of Cell TesterDescriptionHourly rate
    Cell TesterQuality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.$12-48
    Quality InspectorA Quality Control Inspector is responsible for making sure that the manufactured products in a particular company or organization are up to standard and adheres to the rules and regulations. They continuously monitor production operations where they manually inspect products, accepting and rejecting those that do not meet the standard quality, and provide recommendations should it be necessary... Show more$12-20
    Quality Assurance InspectorQuality Assurance Auditors are employees who ensure the adherence of other employees to company processes and guidelines. They are expected to be experts on quality assurance processes and procedures... Show more$12-23
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Cell Phones
    • Test Equipment
    • Test Data
    • Hand Tools
    • Troubleshoot
    • RAN
    • GPS
    Responsibilities:
    • Test performance and troubleshot issues of electromechanical assemblies and analysis system.
    • Contract trough Adecco a staffing agency.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your cell tester job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A cell tester salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, cell testers' average salary in alabama is 58% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level cell testers earn 74% less than senior-level cell testers.
    • Certifications. A cell tester with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a cell tester's salary.

    Average cell tester salary

    $51,504yearly

    $24.76 hourly rate

    Entry-level cell tester salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 24, 2025
  4. Writing a cell tester job description

    A good cell tester job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a cell tester job description:

    Cell tester job description example

    • Work with Engineering teams to fabricate, install, and validate new test equipment as well as repair and debug issues with existing equipment.
    • Develop novel tests for studying various cell properties under different conditions.
    • Write and maintain standard operating procedures (SOP) for test equipment.
    • Train technicians on equipment and SOPs incorporating user feedback.
    • Lead experiments to better understand the implications of different battery cell design parameters on cell life and usage.
    • Working closely with international Engineering teams to increase understanding of failure modes, performance, and life expectancy of cells.
    • Perform a variety of analytical methods to understand the effect of manufacturing processes on cell quality.
    • Apply troubleshooting skills and ability to quickly solve unknown problems.
    • Employ FMEA methodologies to define and evaluate cell specifications.
    • Other duties may be assigned.


    Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
    • To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.


    The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

    Qualifications:Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

    Education:
    • Basic/Required:Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or similar discipline.
    • Preferred:M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or similar discipline.


    Essential Qualifications:
    • Evidence of exceptional ability. Panasonic follows a culture of full-cycle engineering where members will have full responsibility and accountability for their projects from start to finish. We are looking for the best of the best.
    • 2+ years of experience testing the electrochemical and physical properties of Lithium-ion cells.
    • Experience with test design and setup, data acquisition and analysis.
    • A practical understanding of experiment design and statistical analysis.
    • Must possess strong engineering fundamentals in mechanical, thermal, materials, and electrical engineering.
    • Should be flexible with the working environment and be able to perform job duties between manufacturing floor, laboratory, and office/desk.
    • Must be able to perform cell, machine, and process troubleshooting and apply root cause analysis.
    • Strong team working skills with other employees at all levels of an organization.
    • Self-starter who works well independently and an outstanding ability to follow up with minimal direction and will focus on team success.
    • Able to manage multiple concurrent tasks in a fast-paced environment, effectively prioritize work, and deliver quality results.
    • A strong work ethic with a "get the job done" approach who consistently delivers excellent customer service, both internally and externally.
    • Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English


    Preferred Qualifications:
    • 5+ years of experience testing the electrochemical and physical properties of Lithium-ion cells.
    • Demonstrated excellence with test design and setup, data acquisition and analysis.
    • Experience leading root-cause investigations, resolutions, and product improvements.
    • Ability to analyze electrochemical datasets and effectively communicate the extracted cell performance parameters.
    • Experience with hands on cell fabrication and disassembly.
    • Experience interfacing to databases, information management and reporting applications used for MES/SCADA systems is preferred.
    • Strong data analysis skills with tools such as JMP, Minitab, Python, MATLAB, are highly desired.
    • Alignment to Panasonic's seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)


    Physical Demands:

    Physical Activities: (Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to)
    • Sit:20%
    • Walk:50%
    • Stand:20%
    • Lift:10%


    Tools and/or Equipment: (Required frequency is:Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%)
    • Keyboard/Computer:Continuous
    • Office Equipment:Continuous
    • PhoneContinuous


    Required Lifting and Carrying: (Required frequency is:Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%)
    • Up to 10 lbs.:Frequent
    • Up to 20 lbs.:Frequent
    • Up to 35 lbs.:Frequent
    • Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.):Frequent


    About Us:

    Panasonic Energy of North America (PENA) is collaborating with Tesla at a massive battery factory near Reno, Nevada which is known for its quality of life and expansive outdoor adventures. Panasonic's role at the Gigafactory is to manufacture and supply cylindrical lithium-ion cells to Tesla for their electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

    Over the past few years, the Gigafactory has grown to the largest lithium-ion battery factory in the world. Together with our partner Tesla, we continue to revolutionize the lithium-ion battery space and accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy and transportation.

    Our mission at PENA is to make the vision of affordable Electric Vehicles a reality by producing the world's safest, high quality, and lowest cost batteries.Through this effort we will create a clean energy society and our products will change society's use of and perceptions of electric power.

    In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

    Supplemental Information:

    Pre-employment drug testing is required. Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

    Panasonic is an Equal Opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by law.All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

    Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy of North America.

    Connect with the recruiter, Joe Richie: www.linkedin.com/in/GigafactoryRecruiter

    # LI-JR1
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right cell tester for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your cell tester job on Zippia to find and recruit cell tester candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit cell testers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cell tester

    Once you've selected the best cell tester candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new cell tester. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a cell tester?

Recruiting cell testers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $51,504 per year for a cell tester, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for cell testers in the US typically range between $12 and $48 an hour.

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