Sr. Manager, Cell Electrolyte Development

Sr. Manager, Cell Electrolyte Development Tesla Motors, Inc. 172,000 - 258,000 USD paid holidays, flex time, 401(k) United States, California, Palo Alto May 02, 2026
What to Expect Battery cells are the foundation of every Tesla product. We design and manufacture ground-up cell architectures with state-of-the-art performance at volumes orders of magnitude higher than the products they power. This fast-paced environment demands passion, self-motivation, and a team-first mindset. You'll collaborate closely with highly talented engineers from all experience levels. This position will own the Cell Technology Team's electrolyte development from early R D through prototype-scale validation across all cell programs. Sitting at the core of performance and scalability, this team drives breakthrough electrolyte formulations while systematically reducing sensitivities to enable robust downstream specifications and manufacturable cells. Our team is looking for a highly skilled and motivated technical leader who combines deep electrolyte expertise with a proven track record of leading high-performing engineering teams and successfully delivering technologies from concept through scale-up. What You'll Do
Own the electrolyte roadmap across early-stage development and downstream integration handoff
Lead a team of high-caliber electrolyte engineers, setting technical direction and raising the bar for innovation
Guide formulation strategy and interfacial control across chemistries in collaboration with downstream teams
Translate first-principles understanding into scalable, production-ready solutions
Partner cross-functionally to ensure electrolyte readiness for cell design and scale-up What You'll Bring
Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience
10+ years of industrial experience in cell materials design, development, and testing, with a proven track record leading early-stage development efforts
Proven track record of successfully leading and building high-performing engineering teams
Track record of successfully delivering technologies from concept through prototype or pilot-scale readiness in the early-stage development space
Strong technical judgment in navigating trade-offs across performance, stability, manufacturability, and scalability
Deep knowledge of electrolyte design principles and their impact on cell manufacturability, cost, energy, power, lifetime, and reliability
Solid understanding of the chemical interplay between anode, cathode, and electrolyte
Strong knowledge of how material and electrode-level properties influence overall cell-level electrochemical performance
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Analytical mindset with strong project management skills 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
$172,000 - $258,000/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.