Sr. Materials Engineer, Cell Materials Qualification

Description:
The active materials research team is seeking an experienced Materials Engineer to develop, test, and validate next-generation in-house and vendor-produced battery materials. In this role, you will focus on sourcing and qualifying materials that deliver significantly higher energy density, durability, and cost-effectiveness compared to today’s commercial solutions. You will work closely with material and cell vendors, and cell design engineers to qualify and integrate new advanced active materials into large-format cells.

Responsibilities:
Stay at the forefront of battery materials research—including Li-ion and Na-ion cathodes and anodes—and lead qualification studies for integrating these technologies into Tesla’s next-generation cells
Source and qualify 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
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, vendor development teams and modeling experts to scale up and integrate new active materials into production-ready battery cells

Requirements:
Degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience
Hands-on experience with anode and cathode materials synthesis and qualification
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 is a plus
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with strong problem-solving ability and sound judgment when working with incomplete information

Compensation & 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 - $234,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefitsPay 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.