Senior Cathode Formulation Engineer

Who You Are

As a Cathode Formulation Engineer at Sila, you will develop and qualify cathode slurries and electrodes to support our internal product development and external customer engagements. You are passionate about contributing to the global transition to renewable energy by developing scalable energy storage materials, and deploying them in devices. You are excited to join a fast-moving mission-driven company working to scale and deploy their innovative battery materials in millions of electric vehicles, consumer devices, and more. 

Responsibilities and Duties

• Source and evaluate cathode active materials for use in Sila’s internal test platforms as well as external prototype builds
• Develop cathode formulations for high energy density batteries, including bench-top and overhead mix slurry recipes
• Conduct experiments to evaluate the performance and characteristics of cathode coatings
• Support electrode coating runs at different scales for both internally at Sila and external at vendor sites
• Help develop and maintain representative test platforms for particle and electrode testing.
• Thoroughly document and communicate results, with conclusions and recommendations to management and other stakeholders.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in cathode materials through literature reviews and attendance at industry conferences.
• Ensure all work complies with safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor and train junior scientists and technicians as needed.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements 

• Hands-on experience with slurry preparation, electrode coating, and characterization techniques. 
• Experience with analytical and characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, SEM, TGA, FTIR, EIS, etc.
• Experience with electrochemical techniques such as impedance spectroscopy, cell cycling, dQ/dV analysis, etc.
• Understanding of materials for energy storage; experience with building and testing lithium ion batteries is strongly preferred
• Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation using software such as JMP, Python, or equivalent.
• Well organized approach to problem solving and experimental design, driven by curiosity and attention to detail
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in lithium-ion industry or related field (fewer for candidates with an advanced degree)
• Demonstrated experience working and managing external vendors.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection for certain tasks.
• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes.
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, etc in a fixed location
• Up to 10% travel - both domestically and internationally

Work Schedule

Regular Shift: Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 6:00pm

Payscale Disclosure

The starting base pay for this role is between $128,000 and $162,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses.  The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.