Senior Researcher, Advanced Battery Materials at General Motors LLC — Warren, MI

Job Description

Senior Researcher, Advanced Battery Materials

At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard - from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.

Why GM Battery Research & Development?

At GM, your work won’t sit on a shelf – you’ll see it power real vehicles on the road. You’ll move ideas from first principles → validated models → vehicle impact, working at the intersection of fundamental physics, advanced simulation, and real-world EV systems. Our Research team offers the opportunity to:

• Work alongside leading experts in electrochemistry, materials science, and Multiphysics
• Solve fundamental battery science problems across transport phenomena, kinetics, and degradation
• Leverage advanced experimental data, high-fidelity instrumentation, and high-performance computing
• Be supported to publish and present original research in leading journals and conferences
• Collaborate with universities, national labs, suppliers, and federally funded research programs
• See your research directly influence battery design, safety, and performance in GM EVs
• Grow within a deeply technical environment across expert and research leadership tracks

The Role

As a Senior Researcher on the Advanced Battery Materials team, you will develop concepts for next-generation materials and chemistries, identify new project opportunities, and establish technical plans for advanced batteries for EV and grid-storage applications. In support of development projects, you will design and synthesize novel materials; conduct material-level characterization and analysis; support cell integration; perform failure and root-cause analyses; and drive further optimization. You will also prepare high-quality technical reports, external publications, and records of invention related to your research.

What You’ll Do

• Battery design and evaluation: Design, integrate, and evaluate battery cells, including optimization of cell performance through formation protocols and testing procedures.
• Materials and tools development: Develop novel materials, methodologies, and tools for advanced battery technologies, supported by evaluation, characterization, and data analysis.
• Problem solving and analysis: Design and execute projects or experiments to address technical challenges, including failure-mode and root-cause analyses.
• Innovation and project development: Initiate innovative concepts, identify research opportunities, and develop new project ideas while leading or supporting technical projects through individual contributions.
• Communication and collaboration: Summarize research results in reports, journal publications, and conference presentations, and build connections with internal and external partners.

• Ph.D. in Science or Engineering
• Demonstrated experience in battery research and development
• Experience developing battery component materials, such as active materials or electrolytes
• In-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art energy storage technologies
• Ability to generate innovative ideas and propose, plan, and execute research projects in core energy storage areas
• Ability to design and conduct experiments for materials development and evaluation
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Effective communication skills with researchers, engineers, and technical stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while working with cross-functional teams
• Ability to lead technical discussions within the team
• Ability to analyze and interpret experimental data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Hands-on experience with chemical or materials characterization

• More than 5 years of experience in battery development at the materials or cell level
• More than 5 years of hands-on experience with larger-format battery cells, such as pouch or cylindrical cells
• Knowledge of and hands-on experience with both Li-ion and Na-ion chemistries for battery applications
• Background in material physical and mechanical research and development
• Hands-on experience handling, characterizing, and integrating battery component materials
• Experience with cell fabrication and testing



This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

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