Sr. Materials Engineer, Cathode Materials Development

What to Expect The active materials research team is seeking an experienced Materials Engineer to develop, test, and validate next-generation battery materials and cell designs. In this role, you will focus on creating materials that deliver significantly higher energy density, durability, and cost-effectiveness compared to today's commercial solutions. You will bridge cutting-edge academic research with real-world industrial implementation, working closely with supply chain partners, vendors, and cell design engineers to qualify new precursors and integrate advanced active materials into large-format cells. What You'll Do Stay at the forefront of battery materials research including Li-ion and Na-ion cathodes, anode-free batteries, novel electrolytes, and solid-state batteries, and lead feasibility studies for integrating these technologies into Tesla's next-generation cells Develop high-performance, cost-effective cathode materials that offer superior energy density, cycle life, and safety. Maintain detailed documentation of R&D progress and regularly present key findings and recommendations to leadership Screen and evaluate novel electrolytes compatible with in-house cathode materials to enable new cell chemistries and extend cycle life Design and execute experiments and validation tests to assess material performance, then qualify new materials for cell-level reliability, safety, and manufacturability Collaborate closely with validation engineers, manufacturing teams, supply chain specialists, electrochemists, and modeling experts to scale up and integrate new active materials into production-ready battery cells Partner with the laboratory manager and EHS team to ensure safe, compliant operation of furnaces, mixers, dry rooms, gloveboxes, and cell assembly equipment What You'll Bring Degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience Hands-on experience synthesizing layered transition metal oxide cathode materials, with strong preference for coprecipitation of metal hydroxide precursors Familiarity with battery electrode stack design, including optimization of mass loading, electrode thickness, and N/P ratio to ensure accurate performance evaluation Proficiency with materials characterization and electrochemical testing techniques (XRD, SEM, ICP, BET, EIS, GITT) for evaluating cathode materials and full cells Demonstrated ability to perform root-cause analysis and resolve interfacial "cross-talk" between cathode, electrolyte, and anode to improve full-cell cycle life Practical experience in cell fabrication, including slurry coating, coin-cell and pouch-cell assembly, electrolyte formulation, and filling Strong programming skills (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for processing and analyzing battery test data Working knowledge of chemical reaction kinetics, unit operation, heat and mass transfer, and condensed matter physics as applied to battery materials Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with strong problem-solving ability and sound judgment when working with incomplete information Compensation and Benefits Benefits Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire: Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits Company paid Basic Life, AD&D Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period) Employee Assistance Program Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays Back-up childcare and parenting support resources Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs Tesla Babies program Commuter benefits Employee discounts and perks program Expected Compensation $91,600 - $195,600/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.