Senior Scientist

Purpose of the Role

Senior Scientist
- Fundamental Research (Battery Materials)

Location: Oxford, UK

Function: Cell Technology
- Fundamental Research

Help Shape the Future of Battery Technology

At Agratas, we are building a world‑class battery business to power the transition to sustainable energy and mobility. As part of our growing Fundamental Research team, we are seeking a Senior Scientist to drive the development of next‑generation battery materials and technologies.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced scientist with deep expertise in battery materials, electrochemistry, and advanced characterisation techniques to lead pioneering research that will influence future cell technologies. You will play a key role in advancing our understanding of material structure‑property relationships and translating breakthrough science into scalable battery solutions.

The Opportunity

As a Senior Scientist within Fundamental Research, you will lead research programmes focused on the development, validation, and optimisation of advanced battery materials for lithium‑ion and emerging battery technologies. Working within a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, you will develop a deep multi‑scale understanding of material behaviour, enabling the design of higher‑performing, safer, and more sustainable battery systems.

You will contribute to future technology roadmaps, collaborate with internal and external partners, and help bridge the gap between fundamental science and commercial battery applications.

• Lead research into advanced cathode and anode materials for lithium‑ion batteries.
• Develop innovative material compositions and synthesis routes to improve energy density, cycle life, safety, and sustainability.
• Establish advanced analytical methodologies to understand structure‑property‑performance relationships across multiple length scales.

• Design and execute electrochemical testing programmes to evaluate new materials and chemistries.
• Utilise advanced characterisation techniques including XRD, SEM, TEM, spectroscopy, and related methods to assess material properties and degradation mechanisms.
• Generate robust scientific evidence to validate material performance within battery cells.

• Explore and evaluate emerging battery chemistries and materials, including:
  • High‑nickel cathodes
  • Cobalt‑reduced and cobalt‑free materials
  • Solid‑state battery materials
  • Advanced anode technologies
  • Future beyond lithium‑ion concepts

• Analyse complex experimental data sets to identify performance trends and scientific insights.
• Develop hypotheses and recommendations to optimise material design, synthesis processes, and cell performance.
• Apply scientific rigour and critical thinking to solve challenging materials‑related problems.

• Partner with electrochemists, materials scientists, cell engineers, and modelling specialists to accelerate technology development.
• Work closely with supply chain and sourcing teams to evaluate raw material quality, availability, and sustainability considerations.
• Support the integration of material innovations into prototype cell designs and future battery platforms.

• Maintain comprehensive records of research activities, methodologies, and results.
• Present technical findings to senior leadership and project stakeholders.
• Contribute to scientific publications, patents, technical reports, and technology reviews where appropriate.

• PhD or equivalent industrial research experience in Materials Science, Chemistry,…