Director of Research, New Materials

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We’re tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we’re redefining what’s possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

Who You Are

Are you a principled hands-on leader with high emotional intelligence, excellent interpersonal and mentorship skills, unshakeable intellectual honesty, humility and sound judgment, capable of navigating through complex projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities to unlock new frontiers in material technologies to be deployed at scale? Sila is seeking a Director of Research to lead our team of scientists to invent the next generation of revolutionary electrode materials as well as other product families for commercial deployment in most advanced Li-ion batteries. You will be joining a committed management team and work closely with the CTO as well as the strategy, product and technology teams. Together you’ll drive forward groundbreaking product innovations aimed at ensuring high-quality manufacturing on an automotive scale.

Responsibilities and Duties  

• Lead a team of scientists in the discovery and exploration of the next generation of electrode materials, along with other product families and their synthesis pathways. Work effectively with the CTO, Strategy, Product, Technology and the rest of the company leadership to ensure the team is working toward clear goals and has sufficient time and resources to be successful in achieving these goals. 
• Identify new scientific, process, characterization and collaboration opportunities to strengthen the team and expedite time-to-market. 
• Engage in the recruitment, interview, hiring, and onboarding of exceptional individuals to expand your team’s capacity, capabilities, and diversity. Maintain processes, systems, and infrastructure that enhance the team’s efficiency. 
• Guide your team and provide support and motivation through the ups and downs of ambitious, mission-driven research. Establish transparent performance expectations, and provide regular feedback. Provide mentorship to nurture their career development.
• Foster an environment of psychological safety and accountability within the team, encouraging enthusiastic involvement in creative scientific ventures, constructive discourse, and deeply collaborative work for timely attainment of critical program milestones.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements 

• Proven track record of innovations and bringing a product to market.
• Demonstrated technical excellence in two or more of the following subjects: inorganic material synthesis, metallo organic synthesis, silicon or silicon-comprising materials, carbon materials, nanostructured materials synthesis, nanocomposite synthesis, nanoscale materials characterization, electrochemistry, batteries.  
• Willing to spend time in the lab to evaluate the root cause of problems.
• Ability to quickly achieve preliminary results with limited resources, shift goals and priorities without losing team’s motivation.
• Extensive experience (10+ years preferred) in leading sizable teams (5-50 PhD and MS level scientists or engineers), facilitating their professional growth and career advancement.
• Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, materials science, or related disciplines.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a daily basis.
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time.

Work Schedule

Regular Shift: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm

Payscale Disclosure

The starting base pay for this role is between $204,000 and $258,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks, equity, and bonuses.  The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.   

Working at Sila

We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.