Battery Scientist I or II

• 12500 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA

Battery Scientist I or II Job Description

We are looking to add a full-time Battery Scientist I or II to our team in Beltsville, MD. Level will be determined by experience and educational background. You will build understanding of our lithium-based solid-state battery technology at the cell level through characterization of component materials, assembly and testing of battery prototypes, electrochemical experiments, and data analysis. This is a strong fit for an early-career scientist who is curious and inventive, with a strong desire to learn new experimental and analytical techniques and the underlying electrochemical fundamentals that dictate our batteries' performance.

Much of this work involves questions that no one has answered yet; as you grow in the role, you will be expected not only to execute established processes but also to propose your own approaches.

Key Responsibilities:

• Learn and perform research on electrochemical cells and their component materials via electrochemical experiments, mechanical characterization, materials characterization, and destructive physical analysis
• Fabricate prototypes of ION's unique battery technology and conduct testing with a focus on scientific rigor, repeatability, and statistical analyses in an industrial setting
• Work with senior scientists to design, execute, and interpret results of experiments targeting understanding and improving the electrochemical performance of battery cells and components
• Effectively document and communicate experimental design, results, and uncertainties within the Cell R&D team and to partner teams
• Support the design and fabrication of custom tools and fixtures for cell assembly and testing
• Troubleshoot unexpected results, equipment issues, and cell failures using structured root-cause analysis, and translate findings into actionable changes
• Stay current with the battery and solid-state literature, and bring relevant methods and findings back to the team
• Identify opportunities to improve R&D processes for better reproducibility, yield, and safety
• Follow safety protocols for handling chemicals, cell components and cells, including proper storage and disposal
• Maintain lab cleanliness and promote environmental health and safety in the daily work environment
• At the Scientist II level, independently scope and lead experimental campaigns from design through interpretation, pursue new experimental approaches and characterization methods, and mentor junior scientists on lab methods and data practices

Required Qualifications:

• Battery Scientist I: B.S. with 0-2 years of experience in industry, internships, or academic research; or M.S. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, or related field with laboratory-based research work
• Battery Scientist II: M.S. with 2-4 years of relevant industry experience; or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, or related fields with laboratory-based research work
• Hands-on experience measuring and analyzing material and component properties - through coursework, thesis or capstone work, internships, or industry roles - and relating structure/property relationships to observed performance
• Comfort analyzing and visualizing experimental data to draw defensible conclusions
• Clear technical communication, strong teamwork, and excellent organizational skills
• A creative approach to problem solving - for example, you redesigned an experiment after the first approach failed, or you tracked down the root cause of an unexpected failure
• Adaptability to the fast-moving pace of a start-up environment

Desired Qualifications/Skills:

• Industrial experience in battery research or manufacturing
• Hands-on experience working in a dry room or argon glovebox environment
• Fabrication and testing of electrochemical cells, including voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, etc.
• Proficiency designing experiments and analyzing and visualizing experimental data, including familiarity with Python or MATLAB
• Examples of independent idea generation and technical communication: publications, patents, conference presentations, or thesis and capstone work where you defined the research question yourself

We expect the person in this role to grow into parts of it. If you meet the required qualifications and are excited about solid-state battery development, we encourage you to apply even if you do not match every desired…