Ph.D. in electrochemistry, materials science, chemistry, or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience; OR Master's with 6+ years; OR Bachelor's with 10+ years.
Professional proficiency in Korean preferred for collaboration with Korea-based stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience in battery materials R&D and electrochemical testing required.
Deep knowledge of lithium-ion battery materials and electrochemistry essential.
Responsibilities
Lead independent research programs to address complex battery materials challenges.
Define project objectives and technical success criteria in collaboration with R&D management.
Design and execute statistically sound studies linking material properties to electrochemical performance.
Develop and validate electrochemical test methods for various cell formats and evaluations.
Interpret electrochemical results to establish structure-property-performance relationships.
Partner with cross-functional teams to translate lab findings into scalable specifications.
Prepare technical reports and presentations for R&D leadership and customers.
Benefits
Health benefits from the first day of employment.
401K savings plans and annual performance-based bonuses.
Dynamic and collaborative team environment.
Opportunities for personal growth and influence.
Competitive benefits package starting on the first day.
Full Job Description
Your Role at Cabot:
Cabot Corporation is seeking a Senior Scientist to join the Battery Materials team at the Billerica, MA Technology Center location.
The Senior Scientist is an independent technical contributor who leads battery materials research and electrochemical evaluation programs of moderate to high complexity and business impact. Additionally, professional proficiency in Korean is strongly preferred to support technical communication and collaboration with Korea-based customers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
Main areas of focus for this role are:
Develops mechanistic understanding of how conductive additives, active materials, binders, electrolytes, interfaces, formulation, and electrode structure influence cell performance.
Converts hypotheses and high-quality experimental data into material design rules, product/application recommendations, intellectual property, and customer-relevant technical solutions.
Provides technical leadership across projects, guides junior team members, and collaborates with analytical science, product/process development, manufacturing, marketing, Sales/Technical Service, external laboratories, and customers.
Closely collaborates with North American customers, including Korean battery manufacturers investing in the US.
How You'll Make an Impact:
Lead independent research programs to solve complex battery materials and electrochemistry problems that are important to new product development, application development, and commercial growth.
Define project objectives, technical success criteria, hypotheses, experimental strategy, resource needs, risks, and decision points with R&D management and relevant business partners.
Design and execute statistically sound studies linking material properties, formulation, processing, electrode architecture, and cell design to electrochemical performance.
Develop, adapt, and validate electrochemical test methods for screening and mechanistic studies, including coin-cell and other relevant cell formats, formation/cycling, rate capability, pulse-power or fast-charge testing, self-discharge, calendar/cycle-life evaluation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), as appropriate to the program.
Interpret electrochemical results together with physical, chemical, structural, rheological, dispersion, and electrode characterization data to identify root causes, establish structure-property-performance relationships, and recommend next experiments or material changes.
Apply rigorous controls to cell build quality, test repeatability, data integrity, sample traceability, and statistical interpretation. Distinguish fact from inference and clearly communicate uncertainty, limitations, and alternative explanations.
Partner with synthesis, process, analytical, modeling, application, and manufacturing teams to translate laboratory learning into scalable material specifications, formulation guidance, processing windows, and product value propositions.
Prepare concise technical reports, project reviews, presentations, and decision recommendations for R&D leadership, cross-functional business teams, and customers.
Support selected customer-facing technical exchanges, including translating customer cell requirements into test plans, explaining performance trade-offs, and defining follow-up work while protecting confidential information and Cabot intellectual property.
Monitor scientific and patent literature related to battery materials, conductive additives, electrode design, interfaces, and electrochemical diagnostics. Identify invention opportunities and contribute to disclosures and patent applications.
Provide day-to-day technical guidance and training to scientists, engineers, research associates, technicians, co-ops, or external partners assigned to project work. Review experimental quality and promote strong technical documentation.
Maintain safe laboratory operations and integrate hazard assessment into work involving powders, nanomaterials, solvents, electrolytes, electrode processing, cell assembly, and electrochemical testing. Participate in incident/root-cause investigations and continuous SH&E improvement.
Strictly follows and complies with all SH&E procedures, standards and regulations and constantly strives for Excellence in the fields of sustainability and Safety, Health and preservation of the Environment.
Supports efforts to implement and maintain the Responsible Care® Management System in line with the requirements of the RC14001® technical specification, as applicable to the site/region.
What You'll Bring to Cabot:
Ph.D. in electrochemistry, materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline, generally with 2+ years of relevant industrial or applied research experience; OR
Master's degree in a related technical discipline, generally with 6+ years of relevant experience; OR
Bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline, generally with 10+ years of relevant experience.
Professional proficiency in Korean is preferred to support technical communication and collaboration with Korea-based customers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
Demonstrated battery materials R&D and hands-on electrochemical testing experience is required. Industrial product-development experience is strongly preferred.
Experience working with battery manufacturers, automotive OEMs, energy-storage companies, or strategic technical partners is desirable.
Experience supporting customer interactions in a technology environment and translating technical results into product/application value is highly desirable.
Deep knowledge of lithium-ion battery materials and electrochemistry, with demonstrated ability to connect material chemistry and electrode structure to cell-level performance.
Hands-on expertise in electrode formulation/processing and electrochemical cell testing. Experience should include experimental design, cell assembly quality, formation protocols, cycling data analysis, and failure-mode troubleshooting.
Strong command of electrochemical principles, including thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, mass transport, charge transfer, interfacial phenomena, impedance, polarization, degradation, and performance trade-offs.
Experience with one or more battery material classes such as conductive carbon black, carbon nanotubes or other conductive networks, graphite or silicon-based anodes, cathode active materials, binders, separators, electrolytes, or solid-state interfaces.
Demonstrated skill in design of experiments, statistical analysis, visualization, and management of large cycling datasets. Proficiency with battery cycler software and analysis tools.
Ability to assess literature and patents critically, build mechanistic hypotheses, design discriminating experiments, and synthesize results into actionable technical and business recommendations.
How We'll Support Your Success:
The pay range for this role is from $128,300 to $186,100. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate will depend on the candidate's skill, qualifications, experience and location. In addition, all positions are eligible for health benefits on the first day of employment, 401K savings plans, vision, dental and annual bonus based on company performance.
Dynamic, Flexible, Hard Working, Team Environment - We are busy, collaborative, growing, and we are doing really meaningful work.
Growth -Training, great peer coaching and support, and the ability to personally grow your influence, your position, and your compensation.
Meaningful Work that is Valued - Customers are demanding sustainable solutions without compromising quality or performance. The work we do is visible, and is helping to create a more abundant, affordable, and cleaner future. It is an awesome feeling to know you're making a living by making a positive impact in the world; and to be able to say, "I was a part of that."
Benefits, Vacation, Etc. - We offer a competitive package of benefits. Benefits begin on first day of employment. Cabot Benefits
Feedback - We are committed to giving and receiving feedback in a direct and open fashion.
