Materials Development Engineer

About Blue Current

Blue Current is a manufacturer of Solid-state batteries based in Hayward, California. The company strives to provide engineers and designers with the highest performance and safest battery storage for the future energy economy including electric vehicles, consumer, medical and IoT devices. Blue Current leads with science, data and thoughtful IP across the full battery solution stack. Our team is diverse with deep research, implementation, and go-to-market experience. Our facility is located on San Francisco Bay with thousands of acres of wildlife preserve and miles of trails for recreation.

Summary

Blue Current is seeking an experienced and talented Materials Development Engineer with a passion for battery materials develoipment to join our team in Hayward, California. As a hands-on member of Blue Current's R&D team, you will be instrumental in developing next-generation solid state battery chemistries for high performance applications such as electric vehicles. The successful candidate will lead the development of novel of solid state electrolytes and composites, including crystalline, glassy, and polymeric materials and collaborate across teams to study these materials in solid state batteries.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of composite films comprising solid state electrolytes
• Fabricate stand-alone and supported composite films
• Study the physical, mechanical, electrochemical, and chemical properties of novel battery materials and composites
• Collaborate across functional teams to test novel and developing solid electrolyte composites in solid state batteries
• Collaborate across functional teams to study and improve the interactions between inactive and active materials
• Review current scientific and patent literature and incorporate new methods and materials into Blue Current's Electrolyte R&D program
• Mentor technicians and associates in the laboratory
• Manage complex, multidisciplinary projects, ensuring deliverables are met on time and decisions are driven by data
• Participate in an active safety culture, demonstrating good chemical hygiene, and initiating and participating in risk assessments for chemical processes
  
  

Requirements

• B.S. or equivalent work experience in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry or Nanomaterials
• Minimum 1 year experience working in an industry R&D environment on the synthesis and study of materials for battery, electrolysis, or related applications.
• Deep technical knowledge of inorganic, polymeric, and composite materials characterization methods, including mechanical, physical, thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical characterization techniques including tensile testing, rheology, DSC, TGA, EIS, CV/LSV and battery testing.
• Strong chemical hygiene and air-free materials handling skills.
• Strong technical and interpersonal communication skills and proven ability to share impactful research results and advocate for research focus areas using data to guide decision making
• Independent and hands-on research engineer with passion for materials development
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Required to wear personal protective equipment when applicable.
• Able to pass a respirator fit test and wear a respirator periodically.
• Able to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environment with chemicals, moving mechanical parts, and electrical hazards.
  
  

Preference

• Demonstrated experience developing and materials in an industry R&D environment.
• Experience submitting invention disclosures and supporting patent application filing and patent prosecution.
• Experience in project management.
  
  

Salary Range

$111,200—$166,800 USD

Blue Current is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and embraces diversity. We believe that our team is strengthened through hiring and retaining employees with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, ideas, and perspectives. We make hiring decisions based on merit and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender (including pregnancy) gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, disability status or any other protected category in accordance with applicable law.