Senior Scientist

Blue Current•Hayward, CA

9d•$111,600 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Scientist is a key individual contributor who can work within complex team environments, driving mission critical projects that impact annual company milestones. The Senior Scientist has deep knowledge in one or more specific areas of expertise related to battery function, design, processing or materials. This person can attack open-ended problems with vigor, by developing hypotheses from disparate sources across the organization, and by developing and executing plans that leverage resources across the organization.

Requirements

PhD in relevant field, MS + 3 years relevant experience, BS + 5 years relevant experience, or 10 years related industry experience
Demonstrated ability to analyze electrochemistry and battery processing problems such as: interfacial impedance and reduction strategies, ceramic and polymer electrolyte processing challenges, and chemical degradation modes of battery layer sub-components.
Demonstrated ability to work within a team
Detailed understanding of lithium polymer battery cell architecture and formulation, including detailed knowledge of the functional role of all materials in all components of the cell
Ability to condense complicated data into clearly presented analysis, conclusions, and recommendations
Ability to work in a team environment, serving as a mentor to junior employees and a source of truth for senior employees within the team
Proficiency with analytical and electrochemical characterization techniques, such as SEM, XRD, TGA, DSC, EIS, and CV, and the ability to interpret results to inform design or process decisions.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Experience with polymer electrolytes and electrochemical cell testing and analysis, including some combinations of ion transport measurements, mechanical testing, polymer rheology, cycle life testing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Demonstrated ability to bring new materials from concept to fruition, through some combination of synthesis, materials processing, cell assembly and testing, and engineering analysis
Experienced data analyst with a demonstrated ability to apply statistics, perform novel analysis, present distilled data from a complicated source dataset, write data analysis scripts, or otherwise interpret complex electrochemistry data

Responsibilities

Develop and test polymer materials that provide benefits to cell performance
Design and execute high-quality experiments, knowing when to trade accuracy and speed, and balancing competing resources, including those of the company
Relate polymer chemical and physical properties to component level characteristics and cell performance results; optimize processes to maximize component performance
Define projects consistent with company goals, track action items, drive progress to successful completion, and report results
Analyze data from multiple sources, including their own experiments
Take initiative to identify gaps or overlooked problems and present findings to senior management with clear, data-driven communications and recommendations
Continuously survey and interpret literature on solid-state battery materials and architectures, integrating key insights into the company’s technical strategies
Drive innovation and IP development by exploring novel materials, cell designs, and processing approaches that advance solid-state cell performance
Other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope and level of this position