Head of Engineering

Upcycle

X is transforming plastic waste into high-value chemicals through a zero-emissions electrocatalytic platform. We are entering a critical phase where engineering rigor and rapid iteration will determine commercial success.

The Head of Engineering will own reactor and system scale-up, translating laboratory validation into industrially deployable systems. Success in this role means building a robust, scalable electrochemical architecture and leading the technical roadmap toward commercial deployment.

• Lead design and scale-up of electrochemical reactor systems
• Own stack architecture, performance optimization, and durability strategy
• Identify and mitigate scale-related technical risks
• Translate lab-scale results into manufacturable system designs
• Develop and execute the engineering roadmap and milestones
• Support technical due diligence with investors and partners
• Build and lead the engineering team as the company grows
• Collaborate closely with scientific team members to integrate catalyst and system advancements

• 3+ years of experience working on electrolyzer or electrochemical system scale-up
• Experience beyond catalyst screening, ideally at stack or system level
• Familiarity with degradation, membranes, electrodes, mass transport, and thermal management
• Demonstrated ability to take systems from prototype toward scaled implementation
• Experience making architecture tradeoffs under cost and manufacturing constraints
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills
• Startup or product development experience preferred
• PhD welcome but not required

If you have experience building and scaling electrochemical systems and want to help convert waste into premium chemicals, we would love to hear from you.