Cathode Active Materials Scientist

Date:            May 2026

Role:            CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIALS SCIENTIST

Reports to:  Director, Research & Development

The Company: Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Stratus Materials is an early-stage, technology-based company focused on the development and manufacture of advanced active materials for the lithium-ion battery industry. Our primary focus is on advanced electric vehicle batteries, but our materials will also be applicable and very attractive for many other end-user applications using lithium-ion batteries. In late 2025, the company secured a substantial Series B round of financing and is using those funds to execute on its business plans. If you are interested in a dynamic, high-growth opportunity where you can dig in and make a difference, we look forward to meeting you.

Summary of Position: The Cathode Active Materials Scientist position will support development of Stratus’ cathode active material technology by driving our CAM R&D loop: hands-on powder synthesis, processing, characterization, and electrochemical evaluation. This role sits close to the experimental core of the company: making materials, testing them carefully, understanding why they perform the way they do, and helping translate those learnings into better powders, processes, and product-relevant cell performance.

The ideal candidate has practical experience running materials experiments in a lab setting, including precursors, powder synthesis, thermal processing, characterization, electrode preparation, and electrochemical testing. This person should be comfortable working closely with technicians and senior technical staff, executing experiments, maintaining traceability, analyzing data, and forming clear technical conclusions.

Success in this role requires careful and organized execution, strong scientific judgment, good materials intuition, and the ability to operate independently without losing sight of the broader technical objective. The strongest candidates will not just run experiments; they will design them, help identify what the results mean, what should be tried next, and how CAM synthesis and processing choices connect to electrochemical performance.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and test hypotheses to improve existing cathode offerings, focused on experimenting on changes to inputs/precursors, cathode powder synthesis / processing conditions, novel characterization methods, and modified electrochemical test contexts (including battery electrode formulation and electrolytes).
• Analyze and summarize data, including electrochemical, characterization, and process data, to make data-driven conclusions to experiments and recommendations for material and cell improvements. Report findings to stakeholders and collaborate on further experimental design.
• Develop designs-of-experiments (DOE) to systematically investigate interventions with guidance and input from senior technical staff.
• Lead technicians to operate and maintain laboratory equipment used in material synthesis characterization and test, ensuring proper use and adherence to safety protocols. Occasional install/qualification/operation of new equipment, processes, and procedures.
• Prepare detailed documentation of experimental procedures, data analysis methods, and results, including technical reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements – Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor’s, Advanced degree, or significant experience in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines.
• 3-5 years of experience in battery materials development or a closely related industry, working on materials research, development and commercialization; ideal candidates focused on experimental research and data analysis.
• Strong fundamentals and 5+ years of experience with battery materials synthesis and characterization, cell/electrode formulation, and electrochemistry.

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• A working knowledge of cathode active materials production and processing equipment sets.
• Familiarity with experimental design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead in a hands-on laboratory setting.
• Good communication skills - both written and verbal.
• Ability to handle multiple, competing priorities in a continuously changing environment. Comfortable with decision making in ambiguous situations.
• Experience with start-up or early-stage companies is a plus.

Additional Preferences:

• The ideal candidate has experience not only with above, but also with electrode coating or cell formulation and/or active material - electrolyte interface chemistry or characterization.
• Hands-on experience leading in a battery materials laboratory environment and/or pilot-scale operations involving material processing and synthesis.

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• Aptitude with equipment operation/install/qualification and general troubleshooting of mechanical and electronic devices.
• Capability with Python and/or SQL.

Requirements – Geographic and Physical:

• Located in Pittsburgh, PA or open to relocation.
• Able to frequently move about an office and factory floor.
• Occasional light lifting and ascending/descending stairs.

Along with an exceptional culture and an opportunity to make a global difference, Stratus Materials offers a competitive compensation and benefits package as well as an entrepreneurial environment and the opportunity for phenomenal professional growth and development. Founded in early 2022 by a team including Dr. Jay Whitacre of Carnegie Mellon University, the company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.