Staff Polymer Chemist
Alameda, CAJob$145–170K/yrPosted 2w agoStill listed 6 days ago
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At a glance
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Job overview
Anthro Energy is developing a polymer electrolyte platform for safer, higher-energy-density lithium-ion batteries and novel battery form-factors. The Staff Polymer Chemist will develop polymer chemistries, formulations, and polymerization processes, then demonstrate performance advances through proof-of-concept experiments and prototypes. The role combines fundamental polymer science with applied battery development and partners with cell engineering, manufacturing, and electrolyte teams to advance product concepts and translate innovations into commercial applications.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Anthro Energy is pioneering a next-generation polymer electrolyte platform to enable safer, higher-energy-density lithium-ion batteries and novel battery form-factors. We are seeking an experienced polymer R&D innovator to develop new value propositions and applications for our Proteus™ electrolyte technology. In this hands-on experimental role, you will lead efforts to synthesize and develop new polymer chemistries, formulations, and polymerization processes, demonstrating performance advances in proof-of-concept experiments and prototypes. You will work at the intersection of fundamental polymer science and applied battery development, partnering closely with Cell engineering, Manufacturing, and Electrolyte teams to advance our scientific understanding of polymer electrolyte design, develop next-generation product concepts, and translate innovations into manufacturable commercial applications.
Responsibilities
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Develop new polymer synthesis processes in-house to address novel electrolyte value propositions around battery safety and manufacturability. Design experiments to demonstrate new performance concepts.
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Translate high level project goals into a strategic experimental plan, and execute on it through high-quality experiments. Communicate planning and results to internal and external stakeholders to support internal process development, IP development, grant proposals, and customer-facing technical narratives.
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Interface with vendors, contract manufacturers, and collaborators to leverage external resources and capabilities for material procurement and process scale-up.
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Work safely in lab, independently developing new chemical processes and protocols and documenting work through SOPs.
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Contribute to procurement of new bench scale lab equipment to advance synthesis, formulation and materials processing capabilities.
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Collaborate effectively with cell development, electrolyte, manufacturing, and technician teams to coordinate work and translate processes from R&D to production.
Requirements
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Ph.D. in Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science, with 3+ years of industry R&D experience (or M.S. with 5+ years of relevant industry experience).
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Deep expertise in polymer synthesis and characterization, and polymer structure-property relationships in electrolytes, adhesives, elastomers or related fields.
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Experience with electrolyte chemistry, batteries, or electrochemical systems is preferred.
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Familiarity with polymer processing and formulation techniques such as coating, slurry processing, and mixing processes is optionally helpful.
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Proficiency with polymer characterization techniques including GPC/SEC, rheology, DSC/TGA, NMR, and FTIR. Familiarity with electrochemical methods (EIS, CV, battery cycling) preferred.
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Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment with hands-on experimental responsibilities alongside strategic thinking.
Benefits
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Competitive salary and equity compensation commensurate with experience. Expected salary range for posted level is $145k-170k
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15 Vacation Days, 10+ Holidays, Sick time off
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Full medical, dental, and vision coverage for team members, 60% coverage for dependents
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401k with match
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Paid parental leave with flexible return-to-work policy
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Diverse and inclusive work environment
How this job compares
Set against the 1,338 open Research and Development jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 28, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$145–170K/yr
- California median$128–203K/yr135 salary ranges
- US median$118–174K/yr691 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $158K, is 6% below the California median midpoint ($168K) — in the middle half of Research and Development salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 202 open Research and Development jobs in California and 1,338 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in California
- Applied Materials11 open
- Terumo Neuro11 open
- The Clorox Company8 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 5 years of experience; Research and Development postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (892 postings).
- Education
- 745 of the 1,338 open Research and Development jobs (56%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 28, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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