Senior Scientist, Electrolyte

**About Us:** SES AI Corp. (NYSE: SES) is dedicated to **accelerating the world’s energy transition** through groundbreaking material discovery and advanced battery management. We are at the forefront of revolutionizing battery creation, pioneering the integration of **cutting-edge machine learning** into our research and development. Our AI-enhanced, high-energy-density and high-power-density Li-Metal and Li-ion batteries are unique; they are the **first in the world** to utilize electrolyte materials discovered by AI. This powerful combination of "AI for science" and material engineering enables batteries that can be used across various applications, including **transportation (land and air), energy storage, robotics, and drones**. To learn more about us, please visit: [](http://www.ses.ai) **What We Offer:** - A highly competitive salary and robust benefits package, including comprehensive health coverage and an attractive equity/stock options program within our NYSE-listed company. - The opportunity to contribute directly to a meaningful scientific project—accelerating the global energy transition—with a clear and broad public impact. - Work in a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative environment at the intersection of AI and material science, driving the next generation of battery technology. - Significant opportunities for professional growth and career development as you work alongside leading experts in AI, R&D, and engineering. - Access to state-of-the-art facilities and proprietary technologies are used to discover and deploy AI-enhanced battery solutions. **What we Need:** The SES AI Department is seeking an **Electrolyte Scientist** to join our team dedicated to mobile energy storage. This scientist will be responsible for **creating innovative electrolyte materials and systems** that enable safe, long-lasting, and **high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries**. Key duties include **designing, developing, and optimizing electrolyte formulations**, as well as meticulously analyzing their interactions with other cell components during battery cycling and storage. The ideal candidate is a **passionate, highly detail-oriented, and collaborative team player** who thrives in a fast-paced environment and shares a vision for advancing energy storage technology. **Essential Duties and Responsibilities:** - **Formulation and Materials Design** - Design and develop electrolyte formulations compatible with high energy density lithium-ion anodes and high nickel content NMC cathode cell chemistries to achieve a long cycle life safely. - Design electrolyte systems to demonstrate improvements in safety performance, including dimensional stability during battery cycling and storage. - Provide technical assessment on existing electrolyte systems, additives, and lithium salts in high energy, high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion cells. - **Electrochemical Characterization and Analysis** - Fully characterize coin and pouch cell performance using new materials and formulations. - Utilize electrochemical testing and analytical techniques to understand reaction mechanisms, failure modes, and potential benefits of new formulations. - Demonstrate the ability to use fundamental physical chemistry concepts and experimental techniques to provide promising electrolyte formulation strategies. - **Project Management, Communication, and Leadership** - Ability to independently plan, execute, manage, and communicate progress on projects. - Support product development as required for the prototype-manufacturing team. - Process Optimization: Design and implement streamlined testing metrics (e.g., Design of Experiments - DoE) to significantly shorten the R&D learning and development cycle. - Communication & Insight: Effectively communicate new concepts, findings, and project updates to the team, drawing actionable insights from discussions. - Technical Leadership: Serve as a technical mentor and leader to junior staff, guiding experimental design and professional development. - Knowledge Integration: Actively integrate and synthesize existing in-house knowledge with new discoveries to accelerate development and problem-solving. - IP Development: Proactively contribute to the company's intellectual property portfolio through invention disclosures and patent applications. **Education and/or Experience:** - Scientific Knowledge: MS (or better) level of understanding in Electrochemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related physical science field. - Experience with developing semi-solid electrolytes (e.g. in-situ gel polymer electrolyte, polymer electrolyte, hybrid solid/liquid electrolyte) are highly preferred. - Experience Level: Minimum of 3+ years of industrial or advanced academic experience (post-MS) focused on electrolyte or battery materials development. - Chemistry Foundation: Strong knowledge of common lithium-ion electrolyte systems, including common lithium salts, solvents, and additives, and their specific roles. - Physicochemical Understanding: Experience applying physical-chemical methods to tackle formulation problems and understanding properties like density, viscosity, and ionic conductivity. - Electrochemical Techniques: Hands-on expertise in advanced electrochemical characterization, including Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and galvanostatic cycling. - High-Purity Handling: Proven experience working with moisture sensitive materials in a glovebox or dry room environment, and expertise in handling high purity chemicals. - Data Proficiency: Proficiency in battery cell tests (coin/pouch) and scientific data analysis (e.g., using statistical or scientific software). - Industry Knowledge: Proven ability to onboard and integrate existing in-house knowledge with new discoveries and challenges. **Preferred Qualifications:** - Advanced Degree: Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with 3+ years of post-PhD industrial experience. - Diverse Formulation: Experience in formulation development beyond liquid electrolytes, including exposure to polymer electrolytes, ionic liquids, and/or solid-state electrolytes. - Large Format Experience: Direct experience working with and characterizing large format cells (e.g., prismatic or cylindrical). - Software/Modeling: Experience with computational chemistry or battery modeling tools. - Industry Alignment: Demonstrated passion for and experience in the mobile energy or automotive space. The salary range for this position as required under applicable pay transparency laws. Salary Range $130,000—$170,000 USD