Senior Cell Development Scientist

Ayrton Energy•Calgary, AB

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Ayrton Energy is seeking a Senior Cell Development Scientist to join their Technology Development team. This role is for an individual with experience in scaling up PEM or AEM systems from prototype to production. The ideal candidate enjoys working on the forefront of energy systems technology, finding solutions to new challenges, and has experience taking electrochemical systems from bench to pilot or production. The role involves meaningful development work, including designing experiments, interpreting data, and advancing science, within a lab environment that allows for hands-on work across cell testing, materials characterization, and fabrication. The position is with a small, motivated team at an early-stage company focused on building new technology for a sustainable future.

Requirements

Master’s or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
5–10 years of industry experience in PEM or AEM fuel cell, electrolyzer, battery or related electrochemical cell development, testing, or materials characterization, with experience in a scale-up or production environment.
Hands-on laboratory experience with cell and stack test equipment and analytical techniques.
Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data rigorously, and draw sound conclusions.
Experience translating lab-scale findings into scalable processes or identifying barriers to scale-up.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Must be legally authorized to work in Canada and able to work on-site at Ayrton Energy’s facility in Calgary.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with PEM or AEM fuel cell stack development, testing, and optimization in an industry setting.
Experience with SEM, EDS, or other materials characterization tools.
Familiarity with membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication, ink formulation, or catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) processes.
Track record of contributing to the transition of cell technologies from lab to pilot or production scale.
Familiarity with hydrogen safety and hazardous area classification standards.

Responsibilities

Lead and contribute to the development, testing, and optimization of Ayrton’s electrochemical cell and stack systems.
Design and execute experiments to evaluate cell performance, durability, and degradation mechanisms, bringing a scale-up lens to lab-stage development decisions.
Perform cell characterization and materials analysis (e.g., SEM, EIS, polarization curves) and translate results into actionable development insights.
Support electrode and MEA fabrication, including ink formulation, coating processes, and quality assessment.
Identify and flag failure modes, manufacturability challenges, and scale-up risks early in the development cycle.
Collaborate closely with chemistry and engineering teams to integrate learnings across disciplines.
Contribute to building robust test protocols, data analysis workflows, and laboratory documentation that support repeatable, production-relevant development.
Support hazard reviews, risk assessments, and safe operating procedures in laboratory and shop environments.