Chief Scientist - Hydrogen Tech & Validation

Hydrogen Systems Australia Pty; Australia; Remote; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chief Scientist at HSA serves as the senior scientific authority, defining and safeguarding the scientific foundations of a world-leading hydrogen technology. This role ensures that all assumptions, operating envelopes and validation submissions are technically defensible and aligned with the commercialisation pathway.

You will lead cross-disciplinary teams, maintain SBOD, oversee plasma physics, chemistry, reaction kinetics and thermal stability, and provide rigorous documentation.

Qualifications

• PhD required in a relevant science/engineering field.
• Demonstrated ability to model and validate complex systems.
• Strong documentation and traceability practices.
• Ability to communicate complex science to engineering and executive stakeholders.
• Rigorous documentation and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Compliance with WHS for high-voltage and gas-handling systems.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the Scientific Basis of Design (SBOD).
• Approve scientific assumptions across R&D, engineering, modelling and test functions.
• Chair scientific review gates (Concept, Preliminary Design Review, Detailed Design Review, Pre‑Assembly).
• Oversee plasma physics, chemistry, reaction kinetics, gas evolution and thermal stability.
• Validate scientific models against empirical data.
• Translate experimental insights into engineering specifications and prototype constraints.
• Define scientific criteria for internal test protocols and acceptance thresholds.
• Maintain version‑controlled scientific documentation.
• Support external validation evidence packs for university and international verification bodies.

Skills

Scientific modelling

Documentation

Communication to stakeholders

Cross-functional collaboration

WHS compliance

Education

PhD in plasma physics, physical chemistry, chemical engineering or related field

Job description

The Chief Scientist at HSA serves as the senior scientific authority, defining and safeguarding the scientific foundations of a world-leading hydrogen technology. This role ensures that all assumptions, operating envelopes and validation submissions are technically defensible and aligned with the commercialisation pathway.

You will lead cross-disciplinary teams, maintain SBOD, oversee plasma physics, chemistry, reaction kinetics and thermal stability, and provide rigorous documentation.