Senior Engineer, R&D Test Engineering

SILA; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Sila is hiring an experienced R&D Test Engineer to lead, design, execute, and analyze experiments on lab and pilot-scale equipment. You will convert data into insights, guiding scale-up decisions and interfacing with multidisciplinary teams to improve process outcomes.

You will contribute to hardware and process development, work with engineers, scientists, and technicians, and communicate results clearly to stakeholders while pursuing faster learning and optimization.

Qualifications

• Hands-on laboratory testing experience with rapid experiment cycles.
• Experience leading or conducting experimental R&D projects.
• Familiarity with complex reactors, generators, or flow processes.
• Strong understanding of heat, flow, thermodynamics, kinetics, and materials.
• Experience analyzing data and navigating data platforms in Python.
• Ability to develop and deploy instrumentation and measurement systems.

Responsibilities

• Run end-to-end R&D projects with design, prep, execution and reporting.
• Craft and execute robust experimental test plans.
• Identify failure modes and root causes, implement fixes.
• Provide data-driven insights from measurements, logs and observations.
• Manage and improve test platforms to world-class standards.
• Lead complex data-analysis projects across teams.

Skills

Laboratory testing aptitude

Experimental R&D projects

Reactive / thermo-mechanical systems

Engineering principles (heat, flow, or

Education

B.S. in engineering or physical sciences

Tools

Python

Job description

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

We're seeking an experienced, hands-on R&D Test Engineer with an aptitude and desire for learning new things and making experiments happen. This position will put you at the forefront of Sila’s hardware and process development efforts, with a focus on leading, designing, executing, and analyzing experiments on lab and pilot scale equipment as part of a growing, dynamic test engineering team. Your experiments will deliver the critical data necessary to understand how equipment design, process conditions, and material structure interact, enabling data-informed decisions for scale-up.

You will strive to accelerate Sila’s pace of learning and drive the company towards impactful decisions. You work as a team: you will rely on engineers, scientists, and technicians who, in turn, rely on you. You work at the interface of material science, process engineering, equipment engineering, systems engineering, and data science. You turn raw data into critical insights. You run towards problems not away. If someone has an issue they need to debug, they come to you. You use your fundamental understanding, experiential insight, creative thinking, and the rest of the team to solve tough problems quickly and thoroughly. You have excellent communication skills and deftly navigate through technical discussions and debates.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Conduct complete R&D projects in collaboration with engineering teams, including test planning, experimental design, preparation, execution, analysis, and communication of results
• Craft and execute effective experimental test plans
• Find failure-modes, root-causes, and implement robust solutions
• Provide critical insights through hands-on experience, deep process knowledge of the equipment, and thorough analysis of experimental data, system logs, and observations.
• Manage test platforms. Strive to make them world class.
• Formulate, lead, and facilitate complex data analysis projects

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Exceptional laboratory testing aptitude. Intuition for what will work and ability to execute quickly and effectively
• Experience conducting or leading experimental R&D projects
• Demonstrated experience with complex reactive or thermo-mechanical systems like reactors, generators, catalytic systems, flow cells, or similar machines/processes
• Understanding and proven application of mechanical, process, and materials engineering principles: heat, flow, structures, thermodynamics, kinetics, and materials.
• Experience with data analysis and sufficient language knowledge, or polyglotism, to navigate data platforms in Python
• Experience with developing and deploying new instrumentation and measurement systems
• Demonstrated experience in electronics, wiring, and instrumentation (analog signals, AC and DC power fundamentals, control wiring, and diagnostic tools) and experience implementing lab or field-deployed electronics, sensors, and actuators
• At least a B.S. in engineering or physical sciences (e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Physics, etc.), advanced degrees preferred.
• 4+ years of relevant professional experience; an advanced degree (e.g. MS, ME) may substitute for a portion of the required experience.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Pass a respirator fit test and be able to wear respiratory protection on a daily basis
• Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
• Move items up to 50 lbs with the assistance of lift equipment and carts
• Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
• Reach low shelves or items on the floor
• Precise and repetitive handling of a range of material quantities
• Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location

The starting base pay for this role is between $128,000 and $162,000 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.