Electrochemical Cell Design Engineer

About Equatic

Equatic addresses one of mankind’s most pressing problems, climate change, by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and generating carbon-negative hydrogen. Equatic’s founders developed an electrochemical process that traps CO2 in the form of mineral solids (e.g., chalk powder: CaCO3), and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) that are dissolved in seawater. This allows the oceans to capture CO2 from the atmosphere, thereby reducing atmospheric CO2 content. Beyond CO2 removal, the Equatic process also produces hydrogen, a clean fuel as a co-product. This enables two key pillars of the energy transition: carbon removal, and the production of zero-carbon fuels. Equatic sells carbon credits (“negative CO2 emissions”) and hydrogen to governments, corporations, and some cases, even individuals. To achieve this, we are further developing our pioneering technology and design, construct and operate industrially relevant (size, scale, and affordable cost) CO2 removal plants around the world.

About the role

Equatic is seeking an Electrochemical Cell Design Engineer to drive the design and engineering of our electrolyzers. This role will be part of the technology core team delivering a first of a kind plant and the successful candidate will take a continuous improvement approach to electrolyzer development.

You will work together with the Head of Technology to identify and plan the technology research needed for our carbon dioxide mineralization plants. This role will be to design, simulate and engineer individual parts and pieces of equipment in the electrochemical cell.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for creating and deploying cutting-edge technology. The candidate will thrive in a rapidly evolving environment and will be self-motivated to deliver a critical solution to mitigate the impact of climate change.

This position involves close engagement with multiple engineering and operations teams. The applicant must be ready to work in a results-driven team environment.

Role Description

• Perform detailed engineering design and improvement modeling for critical elements that impact the electrolyzer efficiency.
• Model, simulate and optimize our process to identify optimal designs and subsequently create and review PFDs as well as P&IDs.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications.
• Take a continuous improvement approach to electrolyzer design and development and constantly look for ways to deliver step-changes in performance, quality, cost, and manufacturability.
• Generate ideas, prepare designs, run development and test scalability of the individual electrolyzer elements, including anode, cathode, spacing, flow dynamics.
• Work with R&D team to test electrolyzer concepts at lab scale, interpret data and implement results in specifications and designs.
• Secure FTO and IP for the new developments.
• Execute conceptual, basic and detailed process engineering with our team and external partners with focus on optimizing equipment and whole plants, enabling fast upscaling of our technology.
• Evaluate standard and innovative industrial technologies to be transferred into our process plant.
• Develop proprietary designs and processes that ensure Equatic’s competitive advantage.
• Create tools to enable costing of process related equipment at an early stage of development.
• Continuously analyze data from our current plants in operation to optimize our processes and further improve our new plants.
• Train and sustain methodology on process risk assessment and guide others in relevant norms and directives by building up a formalized framework.
• Collaborate with peers in engineering and operations functions to address technology challenges, including testing, and qualifying new materials, processes, techniques, and plant designs, to ensure Equatic is driving toward a higher performance while sharing learnings for future design efforts.
• Participate in a disciplined stage-gate approach to design and delivery to ensure tracking and timely milestone achievement, consideration of dependencies, risks and alternative pathways, while ensuring Equatic maximizes operational and financial outcomes.

Requirements & Qualifications

• MS degree (required), but ideally a PhD.
• 3-5 years of experience in engineering, technology research, development, or product development.
• Hands on experience with electrolyzers and related technologies.
• Knowledge of engineering principles and experience in technical analysis, technical writing, and complex problem solving, especially in making simple solutions despite complex problems.
• Have a system understanding of (electro-)chemical processes, and can relate to the issues of operating a renewable-based process
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, think strategically and pragmatically, plan, organize, innovate, and analyze complex data and situations. 
• Ability to clearly assess, articulate, and manage risk to meet product requirements on schedule and on budget.
• Plays well in a multicultural team environment, revealing the capability to grow other engineers.
• Have a structured and organized way of working, and be a skilled networker, able to build, develop and maintain relationships in a global environment.
• Understand business - both in terms of opportunities and feasibility assessments.
• Excellent communication skills, including fluent in English, both verbal and written.