Electrochemical Scientist

HRL Laboratories pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers – ready for real-world application. For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other — often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories advances critical structural and functional materials and semiconductor devices that enable precision navigation, quantum technologies and extreme-environment performance. With expertise from design through deployment, we deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that transform our customers’ missions. Our work leverages digital manufacturing and scalable microfabrication techniques to meet tomorrow’s toughest challenges.

General Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated Electrochemical Scientist to drive the understanding and development of electrochemical materials, processes, and systems. This role emphasizes a science-first approach—grounded in experimental rigor, mechanistic insight, and curiosity—while maintaining a strong bias toward practical execution and real-world impact.

The successful candidate will design and conduct experiments to investigate electrodeposition, interfacial electrochemistry, and electrolyte systems. This includes developing a deep understanding of nucleation, growth, mass transport, and interfacial phenomena, and using those insights to guide the development of robust, scalable processes and technologies.

Essential Duties:
•    Designing and executing hypothesis-driven experiments to probe electrochemical mechanisms and material behavior 
•    Developing and refining electrodeposition processes and electrochemical synthesis routes with attention to reproducibility and scalability 
•    Translating experimental findings into actionable insights that inform process development and system design 
•    Analyzing and interpreting electrochemical and materials data to connect structure, properties, and performance 
•    Investigating interfacial phenomena, charge transfer processes, and transport limitations to uncover performance drivers 
•    Contributing to the development of functional systems or prototypes (e.g., energy storage, semiconductor processing, coatings) 
•    Communicating results clearly and effectively through presentations, reports, and cross-functional collaboration 
•    Partnering with engineers and materials scientists to bridge fundamental understanding with practical implementation 

Required Qualifications:
•    PhD degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field 
•    Excellent theoretical foundation in electrochemistry
•    Generate ideas for new programs, market ideas, and write proposals for funding.  
•    Lead program teams for awarded proposals.
•    Interest and willingness to perform hand-on laboratory experiments
•    Relevant industry or applied research experience in electrochemical systems 
•    Strong foundation in fundamentals of electrochemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena 
•    Hands-on experience with electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry 
•    Experience with electrodeposition, electrochemical synthesis, or related experimental systems 
•    Familiarity with materials characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, TEM, XRD) and correlating structure to electrochemical behavior 
•    Demonstrated ability to design thoughtful experiments and extract meaningful insights from complex data 
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts across disciplines 
•    Self-motivated, curious, and eager to learn, with a focus on driving progress and delivering results, not just completing tasks 

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Experience in semiconductor electrochemistry, thin-film growth, or energy storage systems 
•    Demonstrated experience of proposing research via grant applications.
•    Experience or aptitude building electrochemical apparatus for synthesis, processing, or analysis
•    Exposure to scaling electrochemical processes from lab to pilot scale 
•    Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams to translate scientific findings into applications 
•    Programming experience (e.g., Python or similar) for data analysis, automation, or experimental control 
•    Familiarity with modeling or simulation of electrochemical systems 

Physical Requirements:
•    Ability to perform extended work at computer workstations 
•    Ability to safely work in electrical testing and wet chemistry laboratory environments 

Special Requirements:
U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay Range: $140,700 - $175,900
• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California). The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

• Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: https://www.hrl.com/careers/benefits

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. 

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

For our privacy policy please visit: www.hrl.com/privacy