Program Development Intern Jobs in San Francisco, CA

Battery R&D Internship

Enovix is seeking an R&D Intern to support the design, fabrication, testing, and analysis of lithium-ion batteries with silicon-based anodes. This role is well suited for a PhD student or graduate researcher with strong experience in electrochemistry, battery materials, cell testing, and failure analysis.

The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in battery materials and electrochemistry, a hands-on approach to experimentation, and enthusiasm for addressing complex challenges in silicon anode commercialization.

The intern should be comfortable working across fundamental science, experimental execution, and product-focused battery development. The intern will collaborate closely with scientists, engineers, and technical leadership to support the development of high-performance lithium-ion cells.

Key Responsibilities

The intern will contribute to one or more of the following areas:

• Design and evaluate silicon-based anode materials, composites, binders, conductive additives, and electrode formulations.

• Fabricate electrodes and coin, pouch, or other test cells for electrochemical evaluation.

• Perform battery testing, including formation, cycling, rate capability, fast-charge testing, impedance measurements, and diagnostics.

• Analyze capacity retention, coulombic efficiency, impedance growth, swelling, and other key performance metrics.

• Investigate silicon anode degradation mechanisms, including volume expansion, SEI evolution, particle fracture, lithium inventory loss, and electrode-level failure modes.

• Use materials characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, Raman, FTIR, BET, TGA, or related methods, as applicable.

• Develop clear, data-driven recommendations to guide silicon anode material and cell design.

• Document experimental procedures, results, and conclusions in technical reports and presentations.

• Work cross-functionally with materials, cell engineering, process development, and product teams.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a PhD program at a leading university, national laboratory, or research institute with a strong focus on batteries, electrochemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

• Research experience in lithium-ion batteries, preferably silicon-carbon or other advanced anode systems.

• Strong understanding of lithium-ion battery fundamentals, including electrode design, interfacial chemistry, SEI formation, transport limitations, and cell degradation.

• Hands-on experience with battery cell assembly and electrochemical testing.

• Ability to analyze complex experimental data and translate results into actionable technical insights.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with silicon anode materials, silicon-carbon composites, pre

• lithiation, binder systems, electrolyte additives, or high-loading electrode design.

• Familiarity with advanced diagnostic methods such as EIS, GITT, dQ/dV analysis, post-mortem analysis, gas analysis, or mechanical swelling measurements.

• Experience using Python, MATLAB, JMP, Origin, or similar tools for data analysis.

• Publications, patents, or conference presentations related to lithium-ion batteries or advanced anode materials.

• Experience working in industry, a national laboratory, or a collaborative applied research environment.

What You Will Gain

• Hands-on experience developing next-generation silicon anode lithium-ion battery technology.

• Exposure to startup-style R&D, rapid experimentation, and practical cell development.

• Opportunity to work closely with experienced battery scientists and engineers.

• Experience translating academic research into commercially relevant battery technology.

This is a paid internship that will be onsite at our Fremont, CA office, with an expected duration of 3-6 months. The hourly pay range is $40-$45, depending on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.