Research Director, Materials Science

WHO YOU ARE

Are you a creative scientist? Are you passionate about people? Sila Nanotechnologies seeks a Research Director - Materials Science who can utilize creativity, leadership, and teamwork to help our outstanding group of scientists invent the next paradigm shift for active electrode materials, separators, electrolytes and beyond, in Li-ion batteries. You will be joining a forward-thinking management team that is passionate about inspiring and enabling our research scientists to innovate in the areas most significant for Sila’s current and future success. We are eager to apply your technical know-how, collaborative skill set, and resilient passion to bring new technologies to market. You are a critical thinker - ethical and thoughtful - and you can bridge diverse perspectives to foster cohesion and a sense of working together for the good of Science.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

• Inspire the development of new materials, the approaches and procedures for synthesis, and the characterization of these materials to build unique scientific knowledge around novel materials for use within the Li-ion battery ecosystem
• Foster an environment of psychological safety to enable your team to passionately engage in both creative scientific risk taking and deeply collaborative work
• Ensure your teammates have the resources they need to excel at their jobs by building and maintaining processes, systems, and infrastructure that help the Research group function efficiently
• Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard extraordinary scientists to expand our team’s capabilities and diversity
• Development: help to guide their career growth
• Mentorship: offer deep thought, critical thinking, active listening, and collaborative brainstorming; set clear performance expectations and deliver feedback

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated technical people management and team building experience with a team of 4+ scientists, as well as strong technical leadership
• Exceptional experimentation, system design, and materials characterization abilities within your area of expertise
• Collaborative problem solving: helping colleagues/team members share knowledge and ideas, resources, and strategies in order to solve ambitious scientific problems
• Bring out the best in people: work with team members to emphasize their strengths and support their professional development;
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or related fields
• 10-20 years of work experience desired (post Ph.D.)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection daily
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location