Senior Scientist, Electrolyte

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