Research Scientist

About Zero Carbon Systems

Zero Carbon Systems (ZCS) is a clean energy and direct air capture company on a mission to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon future. We are developing and deploying breakthrough technologies designed to reduce atmospheric CO2 at scale, addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Backed by mission aligned investors and led by a team of passionate innovators, ZCS sits at the intersection of cutting edge science and real world impact. We are building a diverse, collaborative, and driven team of individuals who share our commitment to excellence, creativity, and the belief that the work we do today will shape the world of tomorrow.

If you are energized by meaningful work and want to be part of a company where your contributions directly advance the clean energy transition, we would love to hear from you.

Zero Carbon Systems seeks a Research Scientist to support research to develop, analyze, and deploy materials in various processes for use in CO2 capture research and development as part of the Materials Team. The ideal candidate should understand and apply basic analytical chemistry principles, follow safe laboratory practices, and maintain a safe working environment. This full-time onsite position, based in Brighton, Colorado reports to the R&D Manager in the Materials Team.

• Measure organic formulation properties like pH, viscosity, and density
• Evaluate reproducibility of formulations in terms of recipe repeatability, chemical properties, and carbon capture performance
• Support engineering teams with analysis of deployed materials for process monitoring, sorbent performance, and model development
• Assist development and execution of new testing protocols developed by team leads
• Troubleshoot various experiments, instruments, and specific analytical equipment.
• Collect data for materials characterization databases and process model development
• Run samples and compile data from analytical instruments such as FT‑IR, UV‑vis, TGA, DSC, viscometers, and pH meters
• Prepare materials in various formats for chemical testing and deployment on various custom built CO2 sorption equipment
• Report data compilations of various types within process relevant turnaround times
• Maintain a clean and safe lab environment
• Maintain a meticulous lab notebook and digital records of all measurements and experiments

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Engineering or Related Field
• 5-10 years experience in a lab environment
• Hypothesis-driven research, planning, and execution
• Excellent problem‑solving abilities and attention to detail
• Ability to work across multiple projects and activities at once
• Strong technical laboratory skills
• Data workup skills using Excel templates or existing Python scripts
• Strong organizational and documentation skills
• Technical writing and data presentation to report results to senior leadership
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast‑paced environment
• Prior experience working with compressed gases, gas cylinders, and gas regulators.
• Knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements for laboratory equipment

• Prior experience working with FT‑IR, UV‑vis, TGA, DSC, viscometers, pH meters, and other analytical equipment
• Chemical and sample inventory management
• Prior experience with various analytical hardware, piping, tubing, valves, and custom-built instrumentation
• Must be able to lift and carry equipment as necessary
• Ability to travel offsite during working hours to perform analysis at local service providers

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.