Senior R&D Engineer (Kitchener) (Winnipeg)

Senior R&D; Engineer — Reactor Engineering, Scale-Up & Catalyst Development Help take a peer-reviewed, patent-protected, customer-validated photocatalytic methane-pyrolysis platform from bench prototype to pre-pilot and onward to the first containerized field skid. Position Details Title: Senior R&D; Engineer — Reactor Engineering, Scale-Up & Catalyst Development Compensation: Competitive senior-engineer salary, stock options, health benefits, conference and training budget, and IP-inventor incentives. Start Date: ASAP About CarbonLume Inc. CarbonLume is a Canadian deep‑tech spin‑out from the University of Toronto and incubated through Velocity. Our LED‑driven photocatalytic platform converts methane from natural gas or biogas into battery‑grade carbon nanotubes and clean turquoise hydrogen at substantially lower temperatures and energy intensity than conventional methane decomposition technologies. The chemistry has been published in Energy & Environmental Science and EES Catalysis and is protected by US Patent 12,319,580 B2 and two April 2026 provisional patent filings. CarbonLume is currently at TRL 4, targeting a TRL 5 pre‑pilot by Q4 2027, a TRL 6 field skid in 2027–2028, and a TRL 7 pre‑commercial system by 2029–2030. The company is funded gate‑by‑gate, with a $2M pre‑seed round currently closing. The Role We are hiring a senior engineer/scientist to lead the reactor‑engineering and catalyst‑development workstreams central to our next 18–24 months of scale‑up. This is a highly hands‑on role working directly with the CEO and technical advisors on reactor design, multiphysics modelling, catalyst formulation, scale‑up, and pilot integration. Most of your time will be spent at the reactor, in COMSOL/Aspen/Python, and in the catalyst lab, with limited supervision responsibilities for junior researchers and graduate‑student secondees. Responsibilities You will lead the mechanical, optical, and process design of bench and pre‑pilot photoreactors while conducting multiphysics simulations covering radiation transport, optical absorption, heat and mass transfer, particle tracing, and residence‑time distribution. You will oversee reactor BOM sign‑off, LED‑ring and optics integration, gas‑handling skid development, and HAZOP activities at each TRL gate. You will drive the scale‑up from TRL 4 to TRL 5/6 by developing the dimensional‑analysis framework that maintains performance across scales, specifying long‑lead equipment, and coordinating with fabrication and external engineering partners. You will also lead catalyst formulation, screening, and testing activities, including supported metal catalyst synthesis, screening‑rig development, catalyst aging studies, and down‑selection criteria. Operando diagnostics responsibilities include in‑situ reactor measurements using thermocouple arrays, online GC, quadrupole‑MS, Raman spectroscopy, and IR thermography, alongside post‑reaction characterization using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and BET to identify deactivation mechanisms and improve catalyst performance. Candidates with techno‑economic and life‑cycle modelling experience may also support Aspen Plus flowsheets, GAMS‑based TEA modelling, and cradle‑to‑gate LCAs. Required Qualifications Candidates should hold a PhD or MASc in chemical engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline, with research or industrial experience in heterogeneous gas‑phase catalysis or reactor engineering. Applicants should have direct hands‑on experience designing and scaling gas‑phase catalytic reactors, preferably fluidized‑bed or annular systems, along with strong multiphysics modelling capabilities using COMSOL or equivalent CFD and heat/mass‑transfer tools validated against experimental data. The ideal candidate will also have catalyst formulation and screening experience involving supported metal catalysts such as Ni, Fe, or Cu, post‑reaction characterization expertise across XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and BET, and a demonstrated ability to fabricate, commission, debug, and deliver hardware systems under tight timelines. Eligibility to work full‑time in Canada is required, with sponsorship considered for exceptional candidates. Strongly Preferred Experience in methane pyrolysis, photocatalysis, photothermal catalysis, LED‑driven photoreactors, carbon nanotube processing, Aspen Plus, GAMS, TEA/LCA modelling, or patent development in catalysis, photoreactor design, or hydrogen technologies. What We Offer CarbonLume offers a competitive compensation package with equity participation, health perks, conference and training support, and inventor incentives tied to patent filings. This is a high‑impact technical role within a rapidly scaling Canadian climate‑tech company, offering direct collaboration with published technical leadership and globally recognized advisors across catalysis, energy systems, and carbon markets. How to Apply Please send your CV, a one‑page cover letter outlining how you would approach MS‑1 (reactor design freeze) and MS‑2 (pre‑pilot shake‑down) during your first 26 weeks, one representative technical artefact, and three references to: with the subject line: Senior R&D; Engineer — [Your Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Technical questions may be directed to: Equal Prospect & Accessibility CarbonLume Inc. is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team reflective of Canada’s research and energy‑transition workforce. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process. Work Location In person #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2pwm2w