Systems Engineer – Carbon Management

University of California Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Institute for Carbon Management at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is seeking a Systems Engineer to join an integrated, multidisciplinary team conducting quantitative assessments of carbon management technologies, including carbon capture, utilization, storage, and removal systems.

Researchers translate technical, economic, and environmental data into structured assessments, technical reports, and decision-ready insights to inform deployment and scale-up.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of post-degree experience in academia, industry, or government.
• Strong experience in technical writing, reporting, or applied analysis.
• 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.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Familiarity with optimization, environmental economics, or industrial ecology (Preferred).

Responsibilities

• Conduct rigorous, quantitative assessments of carbon management technologies, including CO2 removal, capture, utilization, and storage.
• Translate complex technical and economic data into structured assessments, technical reports, and actionable insights.
• Support technology evaluation, deployment strategy development, and decision-making frameworks.

Skills

Data analysis

Systems thinking

Technical writing

Communication

Collaboration

Optimization

Education

Master's degree (Chemical/Mechanical/Environmental Engineering; Economics; Applied Mathematics)

PhD (Chemical/Mechanical/Environmental Engineering; Economics; Applied Mathematics)

Tools

TEA

LCA

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. UC Benefit package and UC Total Compensation Estimator provide information on benefits and total compensation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of post‑degree experience in academia, industry, or government (excluding graduate training). (Required)
• Strong 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

Full position description: https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Research%20and%20Development%20Engineer%203%20TX%20(TBD_941381)