Senior Materials Scientist / Senior Materials Engineer

Oxylus Energy; Branford (CT); On-site; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Healthcare coverage

PTO

401k match

Diverse environment

Job summary

Oxylus Energy seeks a Senior Materials Scientist/Engineer to lead development of catalysts, electrodes, membranes, and MEAs for CO₂ electrolyzers. You will own the materials roadmap, design experiments, ensure high-quality, scalable materials, and mentor junior staff.

You will apply deep knowledge of how material structure governs electrochemical performance, diagnose failures, and drive improvements in cell performance while collaborating with the electrochemistry team.

Qualifications

• Degree in materials science/engineering, chemistry, or physics with relevant experience.
• 6+ years with B.S., 4+ years with M.S., or 2+ years with Ph.D. in relevant field.
• Extensive hands-on experience developing catalysts, carbon-based materials, polymers, or membranes for electrochemical devices.
• Deep knowledge of materials characterization techniques and interpretation of results.
• Track record of independently leading R&D projects from concept to results.
• Experience mentoring or supervising junior team members.
• Highly attentive to detail with strong organizational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, fabrication, characterization, and optimization of catalysts and electrodes for CO2 electrolysis.
• Develop and qualify membrane conditioning and MEA fabrication processes and establish specs and quality controls.
• Characterize materials using imaging, chemical, and physical methods and relate results to electrochemical performance.
• Identify degradation and failure mechanisms and develop material-level solutions to improve performance.
• Design experimental plans, including DOE studies, to steer materials development.
• Scale up materials preparation from lab to larger-format cells and transfer procedures.
• Maintain SOPs to guarantee reproducibility.
• Mentor and train junior team members.
• Present findings to technical teams, leadership, and stakeholders.
• Lead maintenance and troubleshooting of materials-prep equipment and analytical instruments.

Skills

Catalysts design

Electrodes fabrication

Materials characterization

DOE studies

Project leadership

Mentoring

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

B.S. in MSE/chem/phys

M.S. in MSE/chem/phys

Ph.D. in related field

Tools

Electrochemical testing

Imaging techniques

Analytical instruments

Characterization equipment

Job description

Senior Materials Scientist / Senior Materials Engineer

On-site, Branford, CT (must be willing to relocate to the Bridgeport/Stamford area within one year of the start date)

About Oxylus Energy

Oxylus Energy is a climate-tech company building solutions that can scale. Our breakthrough electrochemical technology converts carbon dioxide into low-carbon fuels and chemicals, reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels. We are a team of scientists, engineers, and problem solvers working to make that future real.

Job brief

As Senior Materials Scientist / Senior Materials Engineer, you will lead the development of Oxylus’ proprietary catalysts, electrodes, membranes, and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for our CO₂ electrolyzers. You will own the materials roadmap for your area. That means setting development priorities, designing experiments, and making sure our materials are high quality, reproducible, and ready to scale.

You will bring deep expertise in how the structure and properties of materials govern electrochemical performance and durability, and use it to diagnose failure modes and drive measurable improvements in cell performance. You will work closely with the electrochemistry team to turn test results into the next generation of materials, and you will mentor junior scientists and engineers along the way.

What You Will Do

• Lead the design, fabrication, characterization, and optimization of catalysts and electrodes for CO₂ electrolysis.

• Develop and qualify membrane conditioning and MEA fabrication processes and establish specifications and quality controls for each.

• Characterize materials using imaging, chemical, and physical methods and connect the results to electrochemical performance.

• Identify degradation and failure mechanisms in materials and components and develop material-level solutions that improve performance.

• Design experimental plans, including design-of-experiments (DOE) studies, and use the results to set the direction of materials development.

• Scale up materials preparation from lab batches toward larger-format cells, and transfer procedures to other team members.

• Maintain standard operating procedures to guarantee reproducibility.

• Mentor and train junior team members.

• Present findings and recommendations to the technical team, leadership, and stakeholders.

• Lead the maintenance and troubleshooting of materials-preparation equipment and analytical instruments.

Who You Are

• A degree in materials science and engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, or a related field, with one of the following:

  • B.S. with 6+ years of relevant experience.

  • M.S. with 4+ years of relevant experience.

  • Ph.D. with 2+ years of relevant experience.

• Extensive hands‑on experience developing catalysts, carbon-based materials, polymers, or membranes for electrochemical devices.

• Deep knowledge of materials characterization techniques and how to interpret their results.

• A track record of independently leading research or development projects from concept to results.

• Experience mentoring or supervising junior team members.

• Highly attentive to detail, with strong organizational skills.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience in CO₂ or water electrolysis.

• Experience scaling up materials or electrode fabrication processes.

• Familiarity with electrochemical testing.

Salary

USD 115,000–135,000per year base salary, commensurate with experience, education, and skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Paid sick days and vacation

• 401k match

• A diverse and inclusive work environment

If you need an accommodation during the application process, reach out to [e-mail].

Equal opportunity

We believe the distinct contributions of each person fuel our success. To keep our products and culture inclusive of all viewpoints and experiences, Oxylus Energy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.