Open Positions

Research Scientist / Chemical Engineer – Catalyst Scale-Up & Discovery

Location: Chicago, IL
Company: C+UP Inc., a Climate-Focused Startup
Job Type: Full-time, in-person

C+UP is a startup at the forefront of industrial decarbonization, focused on tackling the climate crisis by developing our electrochemical technology to convert CO₂ into valuable small hydrocarbons. We are building a team of passionate innovators to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems—industrial emissions. We are hiring our core team—these are our first hires beyond the founders, and they will play a crucial role in shaping our technology, culture, and success.

We are seeking either a Research Scientist with expertise in catalyst discovery or a Chemical Engineer with experience in catalyst/electrocatalyst scale-up. Both paths will play a key role in developing, testing, and scaling electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical skills, adaptability, and a commitment to C+UP’s mission of addressing the climate crisis.

Key Responsibilities:

• Scale up electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction from lab-scale synthesis to industrial-level processes.
• Synthesize, characterize, and optimize catalysts to ensure performance and stability in electrochemical systems.
• Collaborate with the team to design and execute experiments for catalyst discovery, performance testing, and system integration.
• Troubleshoot technical challenges and develop novel solutions in electrochemical catalyst performance and scaling.
• Communicate technical results and insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Candidate Paths:

Path 1: Research Scientist (PhD) – Catalyst Discovery

• Qualifications:
  • PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science with a focus on catalysis or electrocatalysis.
  • Extensive experience in catalyst discovery and development, particularly in electrochemical systems.
  • Expertise in catalyst synthesis, characterization techniques (XRD, BET, SEM, etc.), and electrochemical testing (CV, EIS).
  • A strong research background in electrochemical CO₂ reduction or similar processes is highly desirable.
  • Ability to transition research findings into practical, scalable solutions.

Path 2: Chemical Engineer (Industry Experience) – Catalyst Scale-Up

• Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science with 3+ years of industrial experience, specifically focused on catalyst scale-up.
  • Proven track record of scaling catalysts from lab to industrial-scale production, optimizing synthesis processes, and maintaining performance consistency.
  • Hands-on experience with catalyst manufacturing techniques, pilot plant operations, and performance testing.
  • Familiarity with electrochemical systems or willingness to learn new testing techniques.

General Qualifications (Applicable to Both Paths):

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Comfortable in an early-stage startup environment—motivated, flexible, and ready to take on the challenges of building a company from the ground up.
• A collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a passion for climate solutions.
• Ability to adapt to new challenges and learn new skills as needed.

Why Join C+UP?

• Be part of a mission-driven startup working to decarbonize industry and address the climate crisis.
• Play a pivotal role in the development of groundbreaking technology.
• Collaborate with a dynamic and interdisciplinary team to shape the technical and strategic direction of the company.
• Grow your career while making a tangible impact on climate change.

How to Apply:
Submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and your motivation for joining C+UP by email to [email protected].

Electrochemical Flow Cell Stack Scientist/Engineer

Location: Chicago, IL
Company: C+UP Inc., a climate-focused startup
Job Type: Full-time, in-person

C+UP is a startup at the forefront of industrial decarbonization, focused on tackling the climate crisis by developing our electrochemical technology to convert CO₂ into valuable small hydrocarbons. We are building a team of passionate innovators to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems—industrial emissions. We are hiring our core team—these are our first hires beyond the founders, and they will play a crucial role in shaping our technology, culture, and success.

We are seeking a Scientist/Engineer with expertise in electrochemical flow cell stacks to join our team. This role will focus on designing, testing, and scaling electrochemical systems for CO₂ reduction.

While our primary focus is on CO₂ reduction, we welcome candidates with experience in related electrochemical technologies such as green hydrogen production or flow batteries, as the underlying principles and techniques are similar.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop electrochemical flow cell stacks for CO₂ reduction.
• Optimize cell performance through material selection, catalyst integration, and system configuration.
• Conduct performance testing and diagnostics to assess efficiency, durability, and stability of electrochemical cells and stacks.
• Troubleshoot technical challenges related to membrane materials, catalysts, and flow dynamics within CO₂ reduction systems.
• Collaborate with other members of the R&D team to scale up our technology from lab-scale prototype to industrial-scale systems.
• Keep up to date with advances in electrochemical CO₂ reduction  technologies and related fields like green hydrogen to drive continued innovation.
• Document and communicate technical findings to team members and stakeholders.
• Take initiative and adapt as the company evolves, contributing beyond your core expertise.

Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Electrochemical Engineering, or a related field.

• Experience:
  • 3+ years of experience for master’s degree candidates or relevant research experience for PhD candidates working on electrochemical flow cells.
  • Specific expertise in flow cell design, stack assembly, and electrochemical performance testing.
  • Familiarity with catalysts, membranes, and materials used in flow cell stacks for CO₂ reduction or similar processes.

• Technical Skills:

• • Proficiency in electrochemical diagnostics such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), as well as flow cell operation.
  • Experience optimizing systems for scalability, efficiency, and long-term stability.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues in electrochemical flow cells, particularly in CO₂ reduction applications.
• Collaborative Spirit: Comfortable working in a cross-functional team to integrate your developments with MEA engineering and catalyst optimization.
• Mindset: Comfortable in an early-stage startup environment—motivated, flexible, and ready to take on the challenges of building a company from the ground up.
• Adaptability: A willingness to learn new techniques and take on new  challenges as the technology and company evolve.

Why Join C+UP?

• Be part of a mission-driven startup working to decarbonize industry and address the climate crisis.
• Play a pivotal role in the development of groundbreaking technology.
• Collaborate with small, highly-driven team to shape the technical and strategic direction of the company.
• Grow your career while making a tangible impact on climate change.

How to Apply:
Submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and motivation for joining C+UP by email to [email protected].

MEA Development Scientist/Engineer

Location: Chicago, IL
Company: C+UP Inc., a climate-focused startup
Job Type: Full-time, in-person

C+UP is a startup at the forefront of industrial decarbonization, focused on tackling the climate crisis by developing our electrochemical technology to convert CO₂ into valuable small hydrocarbons. We are building a team of passionate innovators to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems—industrial emissions. We are hiring our core team—these are our first hires beyond the founders, and they will play a crucial role in shaping our technology, culture, and success.

We are seeking a Membrane-Electrode Assembly (MEA) Development Scientist/Engineer with experience in roll-to-roll manufacturing—particularly of gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs)—to join our team. As one of our first technical hires, you’ll play a critical role in scaling our manufacturing processes from the lab to industrial applications.

This role will focus on scaling the MEA from single-cell prototypes to full-scale
production. You’ll collaborate closely with our stack engineer and catalyst scientist, but will also need to have (or be eager to learn) electrochemical testing techniques to evaluate your MEAs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and scale-up of membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) for CO₂ reduction systems.
• Transition from lab-scale single-cell prototypes to full-scale roll-to-roll manufacturing for MEAs, focusing on gas-diffusion electrodes.
• Optimize materials, processes, and assembly techniques for high performance, durability, and scalability.
• Collaborate with the electrochemical stack engineer and catalyst scientist to integrate MEAs into the broader system.
• Conduct electrochemical performance tests (e.g., cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy) to evaluate MEA performance and durability.
• Solve technical challenges related to the production and integration of MEAs in an electrochemical system.
• Work toward industrial-scale production of MEAs and support the transition to manufacturing.
• Take initiative and adapt as the company evolves, contributing beyond your core expertise.

Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrochemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience:
  • Experience (3+ years for master’s candidates, or relevant research for PhD candidates) with MEA development in the fuel cell, electrolyzer, battery, or thin-film manufacturing industries.
  • Proven expertise in roll-to-roll manufacturing, particularly with gas-diffusion electrodes or similar thin-film coating processes.
  • Familiarity with electrochemical testing techniques to evaluate and optimize MEA performance.
• Technical Skills:
  • Knowledge of materials and processes used in MEA fabrication, including catalysts, membranes, and gas-diffusion electrodes.
  • Ability to scale MEA development from single-cell to full-scale production, collaborating with production teams for manufacturing readiness.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, especially in scaling up electrochemical systems.
• Collaborative Spirit: Comfortable working in a cross-functional team to integrate your developments with stack engineering and catalyst optimization.
• Mindset: Comfortable in an early-stage startup environment—motivated, flexible, and ready to take on the challenges of building a company from the ground up.
• Adaptability: Eager to learn new electrochemical techniques and take on a key role in scaling innovative CO₂ reduction technologies.

Why Join C+UP?

• Be part of a mission-driven startup working to decarbonize industry and address the climate crisis.
• Play a pivotal role in the development of groundbreaking technology.
• Collaborate with small, highly-driven team to shape the technical and strategic direction of the company.
• Grow your career while making a tangible impact on climate change.

How to Apply:
Submit your resume and cover letter detailing your experience and motivation to join C+UP by email to [email protected].