--- title: 'Materials Business Unit Head at SES' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/materials-business-unit-head-ses-woburn-5gdt02phwy13' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-11' --- # Materials Business Unit Head at SES - **Company:** SES - **Location:** Woburn, MA - **Compensation:** $240k–$290k - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-01-20 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/sesai/jobs/4651650005?gh_jid=4651650005 ## Job description About Us: SES AI Corp. (NYSE: SES) is dedicated to accelerating the world’s energy transition through groundbreaking material discovery and advanced battery management. We are at the forefront of revolutionizing battery creation, pioneering the integration of cutting-edge machine learning into our research and development. Our AI-enhanced, high-energy-density and high-power-density Li-Metal and Li-ion batteries are unique; they are the first in the world to utilize electrolyte materials discovered by AI. This powerful combination of "AI for science" and material engineering enables batteries that can be used across various applications, including transportation (land and air), energy storage, robotics, and drones. To learn more about us, please visit: [www.ses.ai](http://www.ses.ai) What We Offer: - A highly competitive salary and robust benefits package, including comprehensive health coverage and an attractive equity/stock options program within our NYSE-listed company. - The opportunity to contribute directly to a meaningful scientific project—accelerating the global energy transition—with a clear and broad public impact. - Work in a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative environment at the intersection of AI and material science, driving the next generation of battery technology. - Significant opportunities for professional growth and career development as you work alongside leading experts in AI, R&D, and engineering. - Access to state-of-the-art facilities and proprietary technologies are used to discover and deploy AI-enhanced battery solutions. What we Need: We are seeking an exceptional Leader to head SES's global Materials BU, owning strategy, P&L, customer development, product direction, and cross-functional execution across the U.S., Asia, and EU. This role combines business development, product/market leadership, and technical fluency in next-generation battery materials, with responsibility for scaling commercial electrolyte and materials programs that support our ESS and Drone platforms. We are seeking a hands-on, first-principles operator with deep experience in the chemical, materials, or electrolyte ecosystem - preferably with strong Japan/Korea industry networks - and the ability to drive both commercial and technical outcomes. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership: - Own all Sales and Business Development for Materials BU, including revenue, gross margin, cost structure, and annual operating plan. - Develop and execute a 1-3 year strategy covering markets, partners, product priorities, and capacity needs. - Build annual/quarterly plans with Finance, Legal, and executive leadership. Market Development & Customer Expansion (US/EU focus): - Lead go-to-market strategy for electrolyte and key battery materials, driving growth with enterprise OEM, Tier-1, and chemical supplier customers. - Expand commercial relationships across Japan and Korea, leveraging existing networks and establishing new strategic partnerships. - Develop, negotiate, and close major supply, co-development, and licensing agreements. Product & Portfolio Leadership (Materials + AI): - Translate customer requirements into a prioritized materials R&D roadmap that supports SES's ESS and Drone cells. - Guide R&D and external partners to improve time-to-qualification and yield. Commercial Excellence: - Establish pricing, packaging, commercial models, and contracting frameworks. - Create disciplined pipeline management and forecasting processes. - Partner with engineering and R&D to streamline technical-to-commercial handoffs. Operations, Quality & JV Management: - Collaborate with Operations, QA, and EHS across global facilities. - Oversee JV performance, governance, budgets, and KPIs. - Align S&OP, capacity, supply chain, and materials flow with BU revenue goals. Cross-BU Integration: - Synchronize Materials BU output with ESS and Drone program milestones. - Ensure materials qualification aligns with testing timelines. Team Leadership & Culture: - Build and lead a high-leverage hybrid team. - Recruit talent with strong KR/JP chemical/electrolyte industry experience. - Foster a culture of energy, humility, learning, and first-principles thinking. External Engagement & Industry Presence: - Represent SES at conferences and trade shows. - Develop external messaging, positioning, and collateral. Education and/or Experience: - 10-20+ years in materials, chemicals, battery supply chain, electrolytes, or adjacent industries. - Strong BD and deal-making track record with OEMs, Tier-1s, or chemical companies. - Experience in Japan/Korea markets. - Demonstrated P&L ownership. - Hands-on, first-principles thinker with customer and factory-floor experience. - Product/tech-driven environment experience. - Excellent English; Japanese or Korean a plus. Preferred Qualifications: - Strong Japan/Korea industry networks in the chemical/electrolyte ecosystem. - Experience negotiating and closing major supply, co-development, and licensing agreements for electrolyte and battery materials. - Experience operating globally across the U.S., Asia, and the EU, including JV governance and performance management. The salary range for this position as required under applicable pay transparency laws. Salary Range $240,000—$290,000 USD ## About SES ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: SES AI Corp. is a publicly traded company that develops AI-enhanced high-energy-density Li-Metal and Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles, urban air mobility, drones, energy storage, and robotics. - **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: SES) - **Headquarters**: Woburn, Massachusetts, USA (with major operations in Shanghai, China and Chungju, South Korea) - **Founded**: 2012 - **Founders**: Dr. Qichao Hu (Founder, Chairman & CEO) ## Core Business - Primary industry: Advanced battery manufacturing and materials science (Li-Metal and Li-ion), with a strong focus on AI-driven material discovery and battery management. - Target customers: B2B – automotive OEMs (GM, Honda, Hyundai), drone manufacturers, urban air mobility companies, and energy storage system integrators. - Mission: “Accelerate the world’s energy transition through material discovery and battery management.” ## Products & Services - **Li-Metal Battery Cells**: High-energy-density cells in form factors like 30Ah, 100Ah, and 6Ah, designed for EV, UAM, drones, and robotics. - **Molecular Universe (AI4Science SaaS Platform)**: An AI-driven platform that maps small molecules and deploys AI agents to accelerate electrolyte material discovery for both Li-Metal and Li-ion chemistries. - **Avatar (AI for Manufacturing & Safety)**: A set of AI solutions that capture manufacturing defects beyond conventional quality control and predict battery health and vehicle value. - **ESS (Energy Storage Systems)**: Fully integrated hardware/software solutions for data centers and commercial & industrial applications, including battery health and safety management powered by Molecular Universe. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Approximately $1.0 billion (as of mid-2026, per LinkedIn data) - **Key Metric**: Annual revenue – Not publicly available (SEC filings exist but not summarized in available sources); Total funding – IPO in 2022 (amount not specified in search results) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Joint development agreements with General Motors, Honda, and Hyundai – the only Li-Metal battery company with three such major automotive partnerships. - **Growth Signals**: Opened a new manufacturing facility in Chungju, South Korea; expanded NDAA-compliant drone cell production; Shanghai Giga facility (300,000 sq ft) is one of the largest Li-Metal pilot plants globally. However, LinkedIn shows a 6.7% year-over-year decline in headcount (98 employees as of mid-2026). ## Competitive Advantages - First batteries in the world to contain electrolyte materials discovered by AI (via Molecular Universe platform). - Deep partnerships with three global automakers, providing co-development and potential supply channels. - End-to-end R&D from AI-driven material discovery to large-format cell manufacturing. - Global footprint with facilities in the US, China, and South Korea, enabling access to different supply chains and markets. ## Strategic Focus - Scaling Molecular Universe to accelerate material discovery for both next-generation Li-Metal and mainstream Li-ion applications. - Expanding Avatar AI solutions to ensure 100% battery safety in the field and reduce manufacturing defects. - Diversifying beyond automotive into drones, urban air mobility, robotics, and stationary energy storage (ESS). - Strengthening NDAA-compliant supply chains for defense and drone applications. ## Why Work Here - Culture: “SES welcomes all, but is not for everyone” – the company seeks top-tier talent in electrochemistry, computational chemistry, cell engineering, AI/ML, and materials science. - Locations: Woburn (Boston HQ), Shanghai, Chungju (South Korea), with additional offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. - Work policy: Likely on-site/lab-intensive given battery R&D and manufacturing; specific remote/hybrid policies not disclosed. - Notable perks: Not explicitly listed, but employees have backgrounds from MIT, Harvard, national labs, and top battery companies. Salary ranges from LinkedIn: Technician ~$60k, Senior Electrical Engineer ~$131k, Senior Software Engineer ~$130k. - Engineering culture: Heavy emphasis on AI for science, autonomous labs, and real-world impact on energy transition. ## Sources 1. [SES AI About Us](https://www.ses.ai/about-us) 2. [SES AI Official Site](https://www.ses.ai/) 3. [SES AI Team Page](https://www.ses.ai/ses-team) 4. [SES AI LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ses-ai) 5. [SES AI Careers (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/sesai) ## Other roles at SES - [Senior Accountant – Accounting & Financial Reporting](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-accountant-accounting-financial-reporting-ses-woburn-492285b3cpwf) — Woburn, MA - [Sales Manager (Entry Level)](https://feeny.ai/job/sales-manager-entry-level-ses-united-states-392065pbfj3s) — United States - [Computational Chemistry Intern (Materials Modeling/Molecular Simulation)](https://feeny.ai/job/computational-chemistry-intern-materials-modeling-molecular-simulation-ses-china-4g04t32mj9jh) — China - [Business Development Representative (BDR)](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-bdr-ses-woburn-pehbbx1ffg27) — Woburn, MA - [Computational Materials Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/computational-materials-scientist-ses-woburn-b4znx7pnzgxs) — Woburn, MA - [Technical Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-product-manager-ses-woburn-rykwnfba27q5) — Woburn, MA - [Battery Product Development Sr Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/battery-product-development-sr-engineer-ses-woburn-2va166q6n7pp) — Woburn, MA - [Battery Electrolyte Scientist & Materials Chemistry Leader](https://feeny.ai/job/battery-electrolyte-scientist-materials-chemistry-leader-ses-woburn-2jpreyw0e2p5) — Woburn, MA - [Battery Manufacturing & Operations Director](https://feeny.ai/job/battery-manufacturing-operations-director-ses-woburn-yqa0y28cr7wj) — Woburn, MA - [Commercial & Business Development Leader](https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-business-development-leader-ses-woburn-ae837hynv5x3) — Woburn, MA