Senior Electrochemist / Electrochemical Engineer
To accelerate commercialisation, SD operates a fully integrated product development model – from advanced materials through to cells, modules and packs – underpinned by in-house battery management systems.
As a Senior Electrochemist / Electrochemical Engineer, you will lead the characterisation of our technology and shape the development of next-generation cells: boosting performance, power and energy density, improving safety and cycle life, and driving down cost.
You will work within the Applications team, collaborating closely across engineering, product, application testing and commercial functions to translate innovation into deliverable products. This is a rare opportunity to join a high-growth, entrepreneurial business at a pivotal stage. While experience in battery technologies is advantageous, we actively welcome candidates from adjacent fields – bringing fresh perspectives to complex engineering challenges. In return, we offer a world-class environment to develop deep expertise in next-generation energy storage.
Key responsibilities
You will be:
- Accountable for improving the electrochemical characterisation methodology to deepen the understanding of cell reactions, material interactions, and performance characteristics.
- Responsible for designing and conducting advanced electrochemical experiments, including data analysis and interpretation. Collaborate across the technology teams to translate electrochemical insights into cell performance improvements across multiple scales – lab, scaled cells, modules, packs including battery management system. Identify and protect intellectual property (IP) where applicable.
- Responsible for identifying and executing on value-add external collaborations.
- Collaborate closely with the Commercial and Technology teams to determine customer requirements and coordinate applications-associated testing activities.
- Support the Commercial team as a technical expert and coordinate associated electrochemical testing.
- Interact closely with the Operations team to drive continuous improvement in quality control methodology across materials, electrodes, and cells.
- Collaborate with Data Lead to continuously improve data analysis methodologies that translate through to commercial value. Further, collaborate with Modelling lead to ensure electrochemically-derived parameters are consistent with and inform physics-based models.
- Champion safety, effective training and adherence to SD safety rules and best practices.
Are you the ideal candidate?
You will have/be:
- PhD-qualified in electrochemistry or electrochemical engineering, or a related area; alternatively, have demonstrable experience in a similar role from a related field of expertise.
- Demonstrable experience in electrochemical energy conversion and storage, preferably in a business environment. Experience with battery systems will be viewed as advantageous.
- Expertise in extracting meaningful insights from electrochemical data relating to the electrode–electrolyte interface and multiscale interactions (e.g. porous electrode theory); experience in characterising and evaluating degradation mechanisms over time is advantageous.
- Demonstrable track record in leveraging electrochemically-measured properties to ensure a more efficient scaling path, including safeguarding performance in the field, will be viewed as advantageous.
- A genuine enthusiasm for data, including large, complex datasets, and a proactive mindset oriented toward insight and action.
- Ability to navigate complex problems/changing situations and take proactive action to drive toward solutions and improvements.
- Highly effective communicator, with excellent interpersonal skills and experience working across functions and sites.
- Excellent, versatile and timely written skills; capture technical details in documents that will transfer into scale-up methodologies and effectively engage with language specific to IP applications and other functions.
- Exceptional written communication skills – able to document technical detail with precision, contribute meaningfully to IP applications, and tailor language appropriately for diverse audiences and functions.