Systems Engineer – Carbon Management

UCLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA’s Institute for Carbon Management is seeking a Systems Engineer to join an integrated, multidisciplinary team. The role focuses on quantitative assessments of carbon management technologies, spanning carbon capture, utilization, storage, and removal systems, with emphasis on economic, environmental, and policy dimensions to guide deployment and scale‑up decisions.

The position requires strong data analysis skills, experience in TEA/LCA, and the ability to communicate findings through

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of post‑degree experience in academia, industry, or government (excluding graduate training).
• Demonstrated experience in technical writing, reporting, or applied analysis.
• Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics, Applied Mathematics, or related field (Required)

Responsibilities

• Conduct applied, integrative analysis to evaluate deployment potential and scalability of carbon management technologies.
• Translate complex technical, economic, and environmental data into structured assessments and technical reports.
• Support decision‑making frameworks for deployment strategy and scale‑up of carbon management systems

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Data analysis

Systems thinking

Independent work

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree

PhD preferred

Tools

TEA

LCA

Process design

Systems modeling

Job description

Department Summary

The Institute for Carbon Management (ICM) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a cross‑campus technology translation organization focused on accelerating carbon management solutions from laboratory discovery to pre‑commercial and commercial‑scale deployment. ICM advances technologies across two primary domains: 1. Carbon dioxide removal, utilization, and avoidance, and decarbonization of foundational industries such as cement and steel. 2. Development of new supply chains and processing pathways for critical materials (e.g., Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Mo) that enable the clean energy transition while reducing the carbon footprint of extractive processes. ICM operates through agile, convergent action teams that integrate engineering, science, and systems analysis. These teams have contributed to award‑winning technologies, including the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE and the Liveability Challenge, and have enabled the formation of multiple spin‑out companies such as CarbonBuilt Inc., Concrete‑AI Inc., and Equatic Inc.

Position Summary

ICM is seeking a Systems Engineer to join an integrated, multidisciplinary team conducting rigorous, quantitative assessments of carbon management technologies, including carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal systems. The work spans technical, economic, environmental, infrastructure, and policy dimensions to evaluate real‑world deployment potential and scalability of emerging technologies. Research Engineers will focus on applied, integrative analysis that supports technology evaluation, deployment strategy development, and decision‑making frameworks for carbon management systems. They will translate complex technical, economic, and environmental data into structured assessments, technical reports, and actionable insights that inform deployment and scale‑up decisions.

Salary & Compensation

• UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of Post‑degree experience in academia, industry, or government (excluding graduate training). (Required)
• Demonstrated experience in technical writing, reporting, or applied analysis. (Required)
• Experience in public policy, government, or regulatory environments. (Preferred)
• Industrial R&D or technology strategy experience. (Preferred)
• Experience with TEA, LCA, process design, or systems modeling. (Preferred)
• Strong quantitative, data analysis, and systems thinking skills. (Required)
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams. (Required)
• Excellent communication skills. (Required)
• Familiarity with optimization, environmental economics, or industrial ecology. (Preferred)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics, Applied Mathematics, or related field (Required)
• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics, Applied Mathematics, or related field (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Schedule

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Union/Policy Covered

TX-Systemwide Technical

Complete Position Description

https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Research%20and%20Development%20Engineer%202%20TX%20(TBD_941380)