New

Sr. Materials Engineer, Cell Electrolyte

Tesla Motors, Inc.
82,440 - 176,040 USD
paid holidays, flex time, 401(k)
United States, Colorado, Louisville
Jun 04, 2026
What to Expect Battery cells are the common denominator for every Tesla product. Our product requirements demand ground-up cell architectures with state-of-the-art performance, manufactured at volumes that are orders of magnitude higher than the products they power. Our group works with engineering groups across various disciplines, requiring strong communication skills and a team-first mentality. You will work alongside seasoned industry experts, high aptitude recent graduates, and people from every stage in between. We are looking for someone with an exceptional ability to solve problems in both individual and team settings. Our cell technology organization is heavily focused on early-phase material development, followed by material design optimization, validation, and qualification. This role will focus on electrolyte formulation design, selection, and integration. Your responsibility will be spearheading cross-functional design and validation efforts for electrolyte materials for our vendor cell programs. You will develop and refine electrochemical tests to accelerate qualification time and leverage our internal electrolyte design expertise to improve the performance of mission-critical vendor cell technologies. This role is pivotal in advancing Tesla's cell engineering roadmap, combining early-phase electrolyte innovation with global vendor collaboration to deliver scalable, high-performance battery solutions. This role requires 40-50% travel to support vendor collaborations, on-site testing, and strategic partnerships. What You'll Do Act as the primary point of contact for electrolyte-design-related communications with external vendor cell partners Propose electrolyte design pathways to improve vendor cell performance, including comprehensive theoretical justification and empirical data to support all recommendations Evaluate vendor cell electrolyte design strategies, identify potential risks, and recommend appropriate risk mitigation workflows Analyze electrochemical and analytical characterization data to identify root causes of cell failures or testing discrepancies, linking results to electrolyte material properties, design changes, test conditions, or degradation pathways Manage and coordinate cross-functional validation efforts with external vendors, ensuring alignment on technical specifications, timelines, and quality standards Conduct on-site visits to vendor facilities, attend technical meetings, and oversee lab-to-production scale validation trials What You'll Bring Degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or equivalent experience Specialized knowledge of electrolyte materials and electrolyte design considerations 5+ years of experience in cell materials engineering, vendor collaboration, and/or cross-functional project management, with a proven track record in managing external partnerships Thorough understanding of the electrochemical and physical properties of electrolyte materials and their impact on cell-level performance Willingness and ability to travel 40-50% of the time for vendor engagements, testing, and collaboration Strong written and verbal communication skills, leadership capabilities, and a proactive approach to problem-solving 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 Associate Materials Engineer - $82,440 - $123,660/annual salary Materials Engineer - $98,640 - $147,960/annual salary Sr Materials Engineer - $117,360 - $176,040/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits for all levels 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. We will accept applications for this job until June 19, 2026, after which this posting will be removed.