Staff Researcher

General Motors; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle program

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Staff Researcher in Advanced Materials & Chemistries to lead multi-year battery materials programs, define research directions, and translate results into decisions shaping GM's battery roadmap. You will collaborate across materials, cell, manufacturing, and product development, mentor researchers, and manage complex priorities.

This hybrid Michigan-based role requires strong communication and technical leadership, with responsibilities spanning experiments, data

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or closely related field.
• 7+ years postdoc experience in battery R&D at materials, component, cell, or system level.
• Broad knowledge of energy-storage technologies, degradation mechanisms, and commercialization pathways.
• Hands-on experience designing experiments for materials development and cell performance evaluation.
• Ability to lead programs and communicate complex concepts across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead multi-year research strategies for advanced battery materials and cells.
• Identify opportunities and propose new research programs, partnerships, and IP.
• Design, synthesize, integrate, and evaluate novel battery materials and components.
• Perform material characterization and electrochemical evaluation.
• Lead degradation analyses and translate findings into design improvements.
• Mentor researchers, raise standards, and share knowledge across the organization.
• Lead external collaborations with universities, labs, suppliers, and partners.
• Prepare reports, invention disclosures, journal publications, and executive-level recommendations.

Skills

Battery research leadership

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Analytical skills

Experiment design

Education

Ph.D. in materials science/chemistry/engineering

Job description

Job Description At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard —from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features. Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.

The Role

As a Staff Researcher on the Advanced Materials & Chemistries group, you will provide technical leadership for the development of next-generation battery materials, chemistries, and cell solutions for electric-vehicle and grid-storage applications. You will define and advance research directions, convert emerging scientific opportunities into high-impact development programs, and lead complex work from early concepts through technical validation and scale-relevant demonstrations. This role combines deep individual technical contributions with broad influence across materials, cell, manufacturing, modeling, analytical, and product-development organizations. You will establish technical strategies, guide experimental plans, resolve complex failure modes, and translate research results into decisions that shape GM’s battery technology roadmap.

What You’ll Do

• Define and lead multi-year research strategies for advanced battery materials, components, and cell technologies aligned with business and product objectives.
• Identify emerging scientific opportunities, assess technical and business relevance, and develop proposals for new research programs, partnerships, and intellectual property.
• Lead the design, synthesis, integration, and evaluation of novel battery materials and component technologies, including active materials, electrolytes, interfaces, and related cell components.
• Perform material-level characterization, electrochemical evaluation, physical and mechanical analysis, and data interpretation to establish structure–property–performance relationships.
• Lead degradation, and root-cause analyses across material, component, cell, and process levels; convert findings into corrective actions and design improvements.
• Serve as a technical authority in research reviews and cross-functional forums; influence decisions through clear technical judgment, evidence-based recommendations, and effective communication.
• Mentor researchers and engineers, raise technical standards, and strengthen experimental rigor, documentation, and knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Lead external collaborations with universities, national laboratories, suppliers, and strategic technology partners as appropriate.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports, invention disclosures, journal publications, conference presentations, and executive-level technical recommendations.
• Manage multiple complex priorities while maintaining strong attention to safety, quality, reproducibility, confidentiality, and schedule.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• Ph.D. in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrochemistry, physics, or a closely related science or engineering discipline.
• 7+ years post doctorate relevant experience in battery research and development at the materials, component, cell, or system level, including experience leading major technical programs.
• Broad knowledge of state-of-the-art energy-storage technologies, key performance trade-offs, degradation mechanisms, and pathways to commercialization.
• Demonstrated ability to originate innovative technical concepts and define, plan, fund, and execute complex research programs.
• Hands‑on experience designing and conducting experiments for materials development, characterization, cell integration, and performance evaluation.
• Experience with failure analysis, root‑cause determination, and the translation of experimental evidence into technical recommendations.
• Ability to operate as an independent technical leader while collaborating effectively across research, engineering, manufacturing, and product‑development organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions, influence stakeholders, and communicate complex scientific concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Hands‑on experience with chemical, electrochemical, physical, or materials characterization methods.

What will give you a competitive edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• More than 10 years of battery research and development experience, including experience leading major battery material, cell development, or commercialization programs.
• Deep expertise in one or more battery component areas, such as cathode or anode active materials, electrolytes, interfaces, binders, coatings, or cell architectures.
• Experience with advanced lithium‑ion or sodium‑ion battery materials and next generation technologies.
• Demonstrated technical leadership for cell testing, formation, electrode optimization, and full‑cell validation with multiple format battery cells, such as pouch, prismatic or cylindrical cells.
• Professional experience working across global R&D and customer ecosystems, with the ability to build alignment across geographically distributed teams.
• Experience establishing electrochemical quality‑control protocols, cell‑testing SOPs, high‑throughput testing workflows, or analytical methods used across qualification programs.

Company Vehicle

Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate.

Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.

GM does not provide immigration‑related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1‑B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J‑1, etc).

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

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We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role‑related assessment(s) and/or a pre‑employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

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