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Tesla’s Cathode Advanced Manufacturing team is developing and scaling the production of novel cathode materials to enable next-generation battery electric vehicles. This effort includes research & development and scale-up of high-energy, low-cost cathode materials and the implementation of unique processes that shorten the path from mine to cell. As a cathode materials engineer, you will optimize material recipes and synthesis steps at lab scale, assist with technology transfer to pilot scale, and support our first cathode manufacturing plant in Austin. You will evaluate new technologies and develop unique production and characterization methods. In this role you will also work closely with Tesla’s teams around cathode manufacturing, material characterization, cell testing, etc. to coordinate cross-functional activities that improve our supply chain, process control, and product quality. Lastly, you will play a role in maintaining and updating our data systems for more efficient data capture and organization, along with development of accessible tools for recall and data visualization to accelerate our materials roadmap.

• Develop and scale cathode material processes to improve performance and reduce cost through chemistry and process design
• Interpret electrochemical and material/electrode characterization data and assign result differences to material changes, design changes, assembly flaws, and specific degradation pathways
• Lead method development on new analytical techniques to support lab, pilot, and production quality control
• Establish improved proxy or screening tests for materials that provide early indications of product quality and downstream performance
• Root cause issues related to process steps or measurements and implement solutions to resolve bottlenecks or variation
• Provide technical guidelines and support to production teams related to material specs and unit operation process condition tolerances to accelerate our scale up efforts
• Evaluate and qualify upstream materials incorporated into our process, to improve our supply chain and drive down costs
• Support production teams to overcome scale up challenges through parallel experiments and technical feedback
• Support new process and equipment selection and assessment through experiments and technical guidance for future improvements
• Requirements
• 5+ years of experience in cell materials design, qualification, and testing
• Degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrochemistry or equivalent experience
• Excellent communication and team collaboration skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to team members from different disciplines
• Evidence of exceptional ability, including a strong understanding of materials engineering fundamentals and demonstrated ability to leverage this understanding to solve challenging technical problems
• Experience with powder characterization methods and electrochemical analysis of materials in cells, data analysis and presentation, process monitoring, statistical process control, process dashboards and their use in improving the precision and rigor of chemical processing
• Experience with building and testing Li-ion coin and pouch cells is strongly desired
• Knowledge of cathode materials from raw material to final product is strongly desired
• Knowledge of the intricacies of the chemical interplay between anode, cathode, and electrolyte is desired