---
title: 'New Materials Reactor Design Engineer-Contract at Sila'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/new-materials-reactor-design-engineer-contract-sila-alameda-2ge9np33crym'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# New Materials Reactor Design Engineer-Contract at Sila

- **Company:** Sila
- **Location:** Alameda, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-09-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/silananotechnologies/jobs/8172258

## Job description

## About Us

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

## WHO YOU ARE

You’re a hands-on engineer energized by ownership of your design decisions. You understand how every mechanical part you design, every fitting you specify, and every line of code you write is a commitment. You’re thorough and don’t leave loose ends dangling. You’re excited when the things you build outlast you. You excel at translating loosely-defined scientific requests into rigorous, deterministic machines that help unlock technical truth. You bring pragmatism and a daily sense of urgency to your work. When things don’t go as planned, you excel at reducing problems to their underlying physical phenomena and finding solutions everyone can trust. You’re a skilled listener and communicator, which helps you interface with a wide range of people, from chemists to pipefitters. You’re relentless in eliminating sources of drift and uncertainty.

## RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

- Design, build and test new R&D hardware for novel chemical vapor deposition proof-of-concept work. You’ll have abundant support, but you’ll need to take the lead in carrying out a design from concept through deployment.
- Work with contractors and external vendors to get things built. This will include fabricators, tradespeople, system integrators, and in-house engineers & technicians.
- Close loops. In daily collaboration with the end-users of the machines you build, iterate and refine your designs in fast learning cycles.
- Diagnose problems when they arise and fix them responsively. This will include data analysis and in-person discussions with people who identify problems.
- Organize, document, communicate. Create enduring records of your work. Ensure successful handoff to end-users of your work with clearly-documented commissioning procedures and tests.
- Plan projects accurately and execute according to plan. Design hardware for flexibility and operability.

## KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field.
- At least 6 months’ prior experience working full-time in academic and/or industrial research & development environments.
- Proficiency in mechanical design, CAD software (SolidWorks preferred), and making machines that balance flexibility and robustness. Proficiency in documenting designs and getting them fabricated by outside vendors.
- Programming experience (C, Python, .NET, or IEC 61131 PLC automation preferred).
- Knowledge of AC and DC power fundamentals, sensor/signal troubleshooting, and field wiring best practices.
- Experience with complex, multidisciplinary technical systems (for instance: interconnected electronic, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems)
- Great communication skills, including the ability to surface problems constructively.

## PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

- Wear personal protective equipment including, but not limited to, a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and steel toe safety shoes
- Move items up to 50 lbs with the assistance of lift equipment and carts
- Move long distances (such as from building to building)
- Can travel locally up to 20% of the time

The starting base pay for this role is $61.25/hour-$77.88 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Contract expected to last 3-6 months.

## #LI-CL1

## #ONSITE

Working at Sila

We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.

## About Sila

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Sila develops and manufactures next-generation silicon anode materials that dramatically improve the energy density and fast-charge capability of lithium-ion batteries.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series G – $375M raised in close of Series G round)
- **Headquarters**: Alameda, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2011
- **Founders**: Gene Berdichevsky (CEO), Gleb Yushin (CTO), Alex Jacobs (VP, Engineering)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Battery materials / Advanced manufacturing / Clean energy
- **Target customers**: B2B – automotive OEMs (Mercedes-Benz, BMW), consumer electronics makers (WHOOP), and cell manufacturers
- **Mission / purpose**: “Power the world’s transition to clean energy” by delivering high-performance battery materials that require less mining, produce less CO₂, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

## Products & Services
- **Titan Silicon® Anode**: A drop-in silicon anode material that provides exceptional energy density and fast-charge improvements for any lithium-ion battery application. Already shipping in millions of devices (e.g., WHOOP 4.0).
- **Battery Engineering Services**: A collaborative service that works with OEMs and cell suppliers to define and deliver optimized cell performance using Sila’s materials.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding exceeds $1B (including a $600M Series F in 2021, a $375M Series G close, and a $100M U.S. Department of Energy grant)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Panasonic Energy, REC Silicon (long-term supply agreement), and the U.S. DOE (ARPA‑E)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Commenced operations at a 600,000+ sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, Washington – the first and largest silicon anode plant in the western world.
  - Over 250 patents filed and pending worldwide.
  - Headcount of ~410 employees (LinkedIn, 2026), with 80% in the U.S. and strong technical hiring (40 active job postings, +25% quarterly growth).
  - Already powering millions of devices in the market (WHOOP).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Foundational IP**: Invented by co‑founder and CTO Prof. Gleb Yushin (Georgia Tech), with a deep patent portfolio covering the low‑swell silicon anode chemistry and cell recipes.
- **Proven at scale**: Only advanced battery materials company with both GWh‑scale production and millions of products in the field.
- **Strategic partnerships**: Long‑term agreements with top automotive and consumer electronics brands, de‑risking future adoption.
- **U.S. supply chain focus**: Moses Lake plant strengthens domestic battery manufacturing, reducing reliance on foreign supply.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale production**: Continue building out the Moses Lake facility and prepare for global deployment of Titan Silicon.
- **Deepen OEM integration**: Work closely with partners like Mercedes‑Benz (EQG will be the first car powered by Sila material) to enable product‑level differentiation.
- **Expand applications**: Move beyond automotive and wearable into grid storage, power tools, and other lithium‑ion‑powered devices.
- **Sustainability**: Reduce mining and CO₂ emissions across the battery value chain.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Do great work with good people” – a collaborative, humble, and ambitious environment focused on solving hard technical challenges.
- **Diversity & Inclusion**: Equal opportunity employer with active Employee Resource Groups; DEI seen as a force multiplier for innovation.
- **Benefits**: Comprehensive medical/dental/vision, 401k with partial match up to $5,000, employee stock options (ISOs), generous parental leave, subsidized lunch, well‑stocked kitchen, charitable giving, and a pet‑friendly office (“Pups” program).
- **Work environment**: Primarily on‑site at the Alameda HQ or Moses Lake manufacturing plant; engineering culture emphasizes cross‑disciplinary teamwork in chemistry, materials science, and manufacturing.
- **Impact**: Contribute directly to the clean energy transition by commercializing breakthrough battery materials.

## Sources
1. [silanano.com](https://www.silanano.com/)
2. [silanano.com/about-us](https://www.silanano.com/about-us)
3. [silanano.com/careers](https://www.silanano.com/careers)
4. [silanano.com/culture](https://www.silanano.com/culture)
5. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/sila-nanotechnologies-inc-)

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