Principal Materials Engineer (Silicon Anode)

Title: Principal Silicon Anode Engineer

Location: Hyderabad, India, Full time

About the job

Enovix (Nasdaq: ENVX) is an advanced silicon battery company based in Fremont, Calif.

Enovix is on a mission to power the technologies of the future. Everything from IoT, mobile and computing devices, to the vehicle you drive, needs a better battery. Our disruptive architecture enables a battery with high energy density and capacity without compromising safety. We are scaling our 100% active silicon-anode, lithium-ion battery manufacturing capabilities to meet customer demand.

This is an exciting time at Enovix! We are looking for experienced candidates to help support our new location in Hyderabad, India for commercialization of our 3D Silicon™ Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery.

Job Summary:

Enovix is seeking an experienced and innovative Silicon Anode Engineer to join our dynamic team focused on the advancement of lithium-ion battery technologies. The ideal candidate will possess deep knowledge in materials science, electrochemistry, and battery technology, with a particular emphasis on silicon-based anode materials. This role involves researching, developing, and optimizing silicon anode materials to enhance the performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness of lithium-ion batteries.

Responsibilities:

Research and Development: Conduct advanced research on silicon anode materials, including exploring new formulations, optimizing existing ones, and developing innovative solutions to improve battery performance.

Material Characterization: Utilize analytical techniques (e.g., X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy) to characterize the physical and chemical properties of silicon anode materials and perform failure analysis.

Electrochemical Testing: Perform electrochemical evaluations, including charge-discharge testing, cycle life analysis, rate capability, and degradation assessments to determine the performance and stability of silicon anodes.

Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with other scientists, engineers, and stakeholders to integrate silicon anode materials into battery systems and ensure alignment with overall project goals.

Innovation and Problem Solving: Stay abreast of the latest research trends and technological advancements in battery technology and apply this knowledge to solve complex problems related to silicon anode materials.

Miscellaneous:

• Define development roadmap for anode and battery cell technology.
• Be an expert in technical discussions and lead collaborations with external research laboratories.
• Summarize results in a clear and concise manner and present results and findings to internal and external customers in meetings and conferences.

Qualifications:

Education: Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on electrochemistry and battery materials.

Experience: Proven experience (5+ years) in silicon anode materials development for lithium-ion batteries, including hands-on experience with electrode formulation, characterization, electrochemical testing and design of experiments.

Skills:

• Expertise in battery chemistry and electrochemical processes.
• Proficiency in analytical techniques and instrumentation.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.

Preferred:

• Experience in working silicon anode for high-energy-density, high voltage fast-charging applications; experience in LCO-based cathodes is not applicable here but cross-functional familiarity is a plus.
• Knowledge of current industry trends, and familiarity with regulatory and safety standards.
• Binder Experience (Necessary): Hands-on experience with binder systems for silicon anodes, including selection, rheology control, slurry formulation, coating, drying protocols, and performance optimization for mechanical integrity and cycle life.
• Experimental design and data analysis experience with tools like JMP, Tableau, R, Python, or equivalent.
• Good judgment: the ability to determine appropriate action and mitigate risks, often with insufficient data.
• Practical nature: being able to differentiate between solutions to problems that can be easily implemented, versus those that teach us something but are not scalable.
• Demonstrated tolerance of ambiguity; flexibility to adapt to new situations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to work well with other team members, lead projects to completion, and work independently.
• Interest in working in a fast-paced environment.