Across the US in particular, the battery, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle (EV) industries are experiencing great growth. Federal clean energy incentives, rising EV adoption, and record-breaking investments in domestic manufacturing have created an intense race for talent. Companies looking to grow rapidly this and next year risk falling behind if they can’t hire fast enough, or secure specialists with highly technical skill sets.

As a recruitment specialist focused on these markets, I’ll be sharing insights as to what is driving the hiring boom, the roles most in demand, and how businesses can successfully attract and retain top talent in this competitive market.

 

 

What’s driving the talent boom?

Several key trends are fuelling this increase hiring activity across industry:

  1. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives

Federal tax credits and grants under the IRA are increasing the production of domestic batteries, EV manufacturing, and grid-scale storage projects, and billions of dollars are surging into new facilities across the country.

  1. Supply Chain push

There’s a strong political and commercial push to localize the entire battery supply chain, from raw materials to finished cells, to reduce reliance on imports and enhance national security.

  1. Gigafactory announcements nationwide

Companies like Tesla, Panasonic, LG Energy Solution, and SK On are investing heavily in new giga factories across states like Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, and Michigan, creating thousands of jobs.

  1. Record EV Sales

US EV sales exceeded 1 million units for the first time in 2023, a 60% increase over 2022, and it looks as though this momentum is continuing into 2025.

 

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Titles and skills in demand

From conversations I’ve had with clients and candidates recently, and general research across the talent pool, I’ve noticed a theme across the most sought-after roles this year:

  • Cell & Battery Design Engineers: Developing advanced chemistries and improving energy density for EV and ESS applications.
  • Process Engineers for Giga factories: Scaling battery cell production from pilot to high-volume manufacturing.
  • ESS Systems Engineers: Designing and integrating storage solutions for utility-scale and commercial applications.
  • EV Powertrain & E-Drive Specialists: Engineering efficient and lightweight systems for electric vehicles.
  • Procurement & Supply Chain Experts: Navigating the sourcing of critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt amid geopolitical pressures.
  • Battery Materials Scientists: Driving innovation in anode/cathode materials, solid-state technologies, and sustainable recycling processes.

Many professionals in these roles are receiving multiple competing offers, making the talent market intensely competitive. Other challenges include:

  1. Talent shortages in key regions – While giga factories are rising rapidly in states like Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, local talent pools often can’t keep up with demand.
  2. Salary pressure – With high demand and limited supply, salaries have increased significantly, particularly for engineers and technical leaders.
  3. Cross-industry competition – Battery and EV companies compete not only among themselves but also with semiconductor, aerospace, and traditional automotive industries for the same engineering talent.
  4. Specialized skills – Many battery and ESS roles require extremely specific technical knowledge, making it hard for generalist recruiters to identify and engage the right candidates.

 

How can we help you win the talent race?

  • We have extensive networks across the space, with numerous passive candidates who aren’t actively job hunting but are open to the right opportunities.
  • We have a technical understanding of your business and the market, meaning we can assess candidates for a better fit.
  • Speed – We know where to look, and how to move quickly to secure top talent before your competitors.
  • We can also provide insights on salary benchmarks and competitor activity to help you craft attractive offers and hiring strategies.

 

 

If you’re expanding your team and finding it difficult to attract the right professionals, I’d love to help. As a specialist in energy recruitment, CrimsonXT connects specialised talent to your organisation. Ready to talk to a recruiter to learn more about our services? Maybe you’d like to discuss a vacancy? Get in touch here.