Research Associate, Battery Performance

Sila•Alameda, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Research Associate on the Battery Performance team, you will be a key part of our daily operations, handling the intake of specialized chemical inventory and performing the physical testing and test analysis of our battery cells. We are looking for a teammate who takes pride in technical execution and understands that great research depends on meticulous testing and highly organized documentation and tracking. You are a collaborative person who thrives in a shared workspace and is committed to the careful documentation that helps our team to quickly iterate through materials. This contractor role is for 1 year with the possibility of extension based on employee performance.

Requirements

BS in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related scientific discipline. Candidates with an Associate’s degree and relevant research training will also be considered.
1+ years in a lab environment; experience in a battery research or testing laboratory is preferred.
Ability to follow complex SOPs and engineer commands while maintaining high data quality.
Experience with electronic documentation systems for tracking materials or test results.
Exposure to or experience operating analytical equipment, specifically chromatography is a significant plus.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to pivot between tasks without losing data integrity.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a battery research or testing laboratory is preferred.
Exposure to or experience operating analytical equipment, specifically chromatography is a significant plus.

Responsibilities

Conduct experiments on specialized component integration for battery cell design, analyze experimental data, and work with engineers to optimize component selection and cell performance.
Perform specialized battery cell testing, ensuring tests are initiated, monitored, and completed according to engineering specifications to generate high-quality performance datasets.
Conduct systematic cell teardowns in inert environments (gloveboxes). Inspect internal cell components, document observations, and provide detailed findings to support failure analysis and root-cause investigations.
Maintain accurate and comprehensive records in Sila's centralized data management systems, including experimental results, teardown observations, and chemical inventory.
Support multiple high-impact R&D projects by executing laboratory tasks as directed by the engineering team, ensuring timely achievement of research milestones.
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot team-specific testing equipment and analytical instrumentation, including chromatography systems.
Receive, inventory, label, store, and track battery materials and specialized chemicals in accordance with safety regulations and environmental requirements.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory environment through routine upkeep of shared workspaces, ensuring efficient operations and seamless handoffs across teams.