Staff Cell Materials Engineer, Electrolyte Vendor Programs
Description
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 team 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 anyone 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, active materials selection, validation and qualification.
This role will have a critical emphasis on electrolyte material selection, formulation design, and product integration. Your responsibility will be spearheading cross-functional team validation efforts of electrolyte materials within our vendor cell programs and developing and refining electrochemical tests to accelerate qualification time. You will bring our team's expertise in electrolyte components - from individual solvent and additive selection through full system-level electrochemical implications - to the next level. 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.
Responsibilities
- Lead the acceleration of screening and validation of electrolyte materials and formulations, with a focus on material performance, compatibility, and scalability across vendor cell platforms
- Act as the primary point of contact for strategic electrolyte-focused vendor partnerships, presenting key findings, risks, and recommendations to both internal stakeholders and external cell vendors
- Manage and coordinate cross-functional validation efforts with external vendors, ensuring alignment on technical specifications, timelines, and quality standards
- Analyze electrochemical and analytical characterization data to identify root causes of cell failures or testing discrepancies, linking results to electrolyte material properties, formulation changes, test conditions, or degradation pathways
- Conduct on-site visits to vendor facilities, attend technical meetings, and oversee lab-to-production scale validation trials
Requirements
- Degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or equivalent experience
- Specialized knowledge of electrolyte materials (e.g., solvents, salts, additives, and their interactions) from raw component selection through full-cell electrochemical performance implications
- 5+ years of experience in cell materials engineering, vendor collaboration, or cross-functional project management, with a proven track record in managing external partnerships and hitting the ground running in fast-paced, high-accountability environments
- Deep understanding of the chemical and physical properties of electrolyte materials and their impact on cell-level performance, including capacity, cycle life, rate capability, and safety
- Knowledge of how electrolyte formulation properties (e.g., ionic conductivity, SEI/CEI formation, additive decomposition pathways, wettability) influence cell-level performance and long-term degradation behavior
- Willingness and ability to travel 40–50% of the time for vendor engagements, testing, and collaboration
- Strong written/verbal communication, 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
- Materials Engineer - $98,640 - $147,960/annual salary
- Sr Materials Engineer - $117,360 - $176,040/annual salary
- Staff Materials Engineer - $140,400 - $210,600/annual salary
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.