Senior Cell Development Scientist

Ayrton Energy; Calgary; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health and dental coverage

Relocation support

Job summary

Ayrton Energy in Calgary is seeking a Senior Cell Development Scientist to join our Technology Development team. You will lead development, testing, and optimization of electrochemical cell and stack systems, with a scale-up lens guiding lab to pilot decisions.

You'll design experiments, perform characterization (SEM, EIS, polarization), and collaborate across chemistry and engineering to translate lab findings into scalable processes, while contributing to safe, production-relevant development

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant science discipline.
• 5–10 years in PEM/AEM fuel cells, electrolyzers, or related electrochemical tech.
• Hands-on lab experience with cell and stack test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to development, testing, and optimization of Ayrton’s electrochemical cell and stack systems.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate cell performance, durability, and degradation mechanisms with scale-up perspective.
• Perform cell characterization and materials analysis (e.g., SEM, EIS, polarization curves) and translate results into actionable development insights.
• Support electrode and MEA fabrication, including ink formulation, coating processes, and quality assessment.
• Identify and flag failure modes, manufacturability challenges, and scale-up risks early in the development cycle.
• Collaborate with chemistry and engineering teams to integrate learnings across disciplines.
• Contribute to building robust test protocols, data analysis workflows, and lab documentation that support repeatable, production-relevant development.
• Support hazard reviews, risk assessments, and safe operating procedures in laboratory and shop environments.

Skills

Electrochemical cell development

Scale-up experience

Experimental design

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in Chemistry/Engineering/Materials Science

Tools

SEM

EDS

MEA fabrication

Job description

Ayrton Energy’s mission is to propel the global shift towards sustainable energy with the broad deployment of our cutting‑edge hydrogen storage technology, reshaping hydrogen distribution to mirror the safety, simplicity, and efficiency of traditional fuels such as diesel or gasoline. As part of this, Ayrton is looking to hire a Senior Cell Development Scientist to join our Technology Development team. This role is for someone who has moved beyond the lab bench — you’ve seen what happens when PEM or AEM systems go from prototype to pilot to production, and you bring that perspective to everything you do.

You will love this job if:

• You enjoy working on the frontier of energy systems technology development, where the answers aren’t always clear, and you get to find new solutions to challenges being faced for the first time
• You’ve taken fuel cell, electrolyzer, or similar electrochemical systems from bench to pilot or production and want to bring that hard‑won experience to an early‑stage company building something new
• You want to do meaningful development work — designing experiments, interpreting data, and advancing the science — not just run tests
• You thrive in a lab environment where you can move between cell testing, materials characterization, and hands‑on fabrication
• You want to work with a small, highly motivated team where everyone contributes beyond their job title
• You have a passion for clean technology and a desire to develop products for a sustainable future

Your Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Director of Technology, lead and contribute to the development, testing, and optimization of Ayrton’s electrochemical cell and stack systems
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate cell performance, durability, and degradation mechanisms, bringing a scale‑up lens to lab‑stage development decisions
• Perform cell characterization and materials analysis (e.g., SEM, EIS, polarization curves) and translate results into actionable development insights
• Support electrode and MEA fabrication, including ink formulation, coating processes, and quality assessment
• Identify and flag failure modes, manufacturability challenges, and scale‑up risks early in the development cycle
• Collaborate closely with chemistry and engineering teams to integrate learnings across disciplines
• Contribute to building robust test protocols, data analysis workflows, and laboratory documentation that support repeatable, production‑relevant development
• Support hazard reviews, risk assessments, and safe operating procedures in laboratory and shop environments

What Success Looks Like After 12 Months:

• You have made measurable contributions to the performance or understanding of Ayrton’s cell and stack systems
• You are independently designing and running experiments that advance the technology roadmap
• Your experience with scale‑up has meaningfully shaped how the team approaches development decisions
• You are a trusted technical resource for cell testing, characterization, and data interpretation
• You have built strong working relationships across the chemistry and engineering teams
• You have become a core contributor to Ayrton’s technology development culture and process

Your Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline
• 5–10 years of industry experience in PEM or AEM fuel cell, electrolyzer, battery or related electrochemical cell development, testing, or materials characterization, with experience in a scale‑up or production environment
• Hands‑on laboratory experience with cell and stack test equipment and analytical techniques
• Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data rigorously, and draw sound conclusions
• Experience translating lab‑scale findings into scalable processes or identifying barriers to scale‑up
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment
• Must be legally authorized to work in Canada and able to work on‑site at Ayrton Energy’s facility in Calgary

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with PEM or AEM fuel cell stack development, testing, and optimization in an industry setting
• Experience with SEM, EDS, or other materials characterization tools
• Familiarity with membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication, ink formulation, or catalyst‑coated membrane (CCM) processes
• Track record of contributing to the transition of cell technologies from lab to pilot or production scale
• Familiarity with hydrogen safety and hazardous area classification standards

Compensation & Benefits:

• Equity / stock options: All full‑time employees receive stock options and share in the upside of what we build together
• Benefits: Comprehensive health and dental coverage with a Health Spending Account (HSA), plus a generous vacation policy
• Relocation support for candidates outside the Calgary area

At Ayrton We Value:

• Honesty and Candor – We are solving hard problems and look for diverse thought – challenging leadership is encouraged
• Dependability – We value action over words and will empower you to get things done
• Be Kind – We are a team. Win together, lose together, learn together

We’re excited to find the right candidate to join our team full‑time for the long term. We are actively recruiting and look forward to connecting with qualified candidates. While we’re grateful for all interest and do our best to respond thoughtfully, those most closely aligned with the role will be contacted for next steps.

Ayrton is an equal opportunity employer that values equity, diversity and inclusion within our team. As a women‑led venture, our company strives to provide a supportive atmosphere for under‑represented individuals in business and STEM fields, including a focus on work‑life balance and employee mental health.