Electrolyte Cell Component Engineer M/F in Grenoble, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes at Verkor

We are currently looking for our future Electrolyte Cell Component Engineer to join our Product Development department based in our Innovation Center in Grenoble, France.

As such, you are responsible for the design, development, and optimization of electrolyte systems for advanced battery cells. This role focuses on tailoring electrolyte formulations to improve electrochemical performance, lifetime, cost, safety, and manufacturability for a range of electrode chemistries in Verkor’s innovation development roadmap. This role spans early research through to successful validation of cell performance and manufacturability at pilot plant scale (MWh).

• Design and optimize electrolyte formulations, including solvents, lithium salts, and functional additives
• Develop electrolytes targeting improved electrochemical stability, lifetime, and safety with consideration of cost
• Tailor electrolytes for specific chemistries in Verkor’s roadmap by optimizing SEI and CEI formation through electrolyte composition and additive selection
• Test and evaluate electrolyte candidates against performance, safety, and manufacturability KPIs in coin and pouch cells.
• Define and execute electrochemical testing and analyses (cycle life, rate capability, EIS, calendar life, CV, dQ/dV).
• Perform diagnostic studies to understand degradation mechanisms related to electrolyte chemistry.
• Support post-mortem analysis to correlate electrolyte chemistry with failure modes as part of an iterative development improvement cycle.
• Participate in root-cause failure analyses to understand cell failures and suggest improvement actions.
• Interface with suppliers for materials qualification and specification definition.
• Provide technical input to project milestones, reviews, and cross-disciplinary decisions
• Contribute to patents, trade secrets, and internal know-how related to electrolyte technologies
• Suggest new strategies for Verkor’s cell technology roadmap, including adapting literature to real-world industrial conditions.

• Specialized knowledge in electrochemistry, electrochemical engineering, and battery cells.
• Master’s in physical sciences with +2 years’ experience in battery or other advanced manufacturing industry; or PhD in Battery cell, Electrochemistry, Material Science, Chemistry or Physics.
• Experience in hands-on lab activities related to battery cell development (electrolyte or electrode preparation, cell assembly, testing, disassembly and analysis iteration loop)
• Familiarity with Electrochemical characterization techniques for battery cell development (Cell cycling, CV, EIS, GITT, dQ/dV, 3 electrode cell …)
• Strong sense of ownership and desire to take on new challenges with curiosity & scientific rigor.
• Self-motivated problem solver with ability & appetite to follow up on tasks with minimal supervision
• Ability & appetite to learn and understand new complex topics & techniques and apply them to novel situations.
• Experience or ability to work both in a cross-functional team and independently.
• Experience with data analysis and troubleshooting.
• Clear technical communication and documentation skills, with proactive, collaborative, and logical mindset
• Proficiency in French and English required