Senior Scientist

FC Renew, LLC, is an early‑stage deep tech development company enabling the hydrogen transition and accelerating electrification of essential hardware and systems for defense and commercial use. Our core technology is a life‑extension renewal process for proton exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cells for transportation applications that extends their lifetimes by 6x while creating a 5.3x reduction in total cost of ownership.

Our research and development is currently supported and funded by the U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and Launch

TN.

We are seeking a Senior Research Scientist to join our fast‑paced team at our main research laboratory at the Spark Innovation Center of the University of Tennessee’s Cherokee Farms Campus (Knoxville, TN) with occasional laboratory work at various laboratories within Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, TN) which is about 15–30 minutes away.

The Senior Research Scientist will have a hybrid role involving laboratory work and management, overseeing and leading other laboratory researchers and technicians. This position reports directly to the CEO.

The ideal candidate will have an expert background in at least one of the following areas: electrochemistry, hydrogen fuel cell testing, hydrogen fuel cell catalyst synthesis and analysis, electroplating, colloidal systems, heterogenous electrocatalysts, and/or surface science and modification techniques.

• Plan, lead, and execute laboratory efforts of relevant projects surrounding hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, and reversible fuel cells.
• Work on research, design, prototyping, test, and characterization of cutting‑edge hardware.
• Develop skills and oversee the work of other laboratory technicians, researchers, and paid student interns.
• Perform electrochemical diagnostics and end‑of‑life analysis to characterize polarization behavior, transport resistances, electrochemical surface area, and kinetic activities.
• Operate analytical equipment such as Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).
• Support and execute research and product development projects for hydrogen fuel cells.
• Develop and integrate new products, procedures and/or prototypes.
• Implement and manage tests to characterize components, processes, and fuel cell performances and support troubleshooting efforts in test stands.
• Develop experimental procedures and document standard operating procedures.
• Collect, reduce, and analyze data.
• Document, archive, and present findings.
• Utilize electrochemical diagnostics to conduct in‑situ testing of fuel cell stacks.
• Work with external industrial stakeholders to execute demonstration projects.
• Attend regular team meetings internally and with the project partners.
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related engineering or science with 6+ years in a laboratory and product development setting with emphasis on experimental work and product development.
• M.S. in Electrochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related engineering or science with 4+ years in a laboratory and product development setting with emphasis on experimental work and product development.
• Ph.D. in Electrochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related engineering or science with 2+ years in a laboratory and product development setting with emphasis on experimental work and product development.

• Knowledge of fundamental engineering principles that relate to hydrogen fuel cells.
• High level of versatility and interest to work with test equipment, including: fuel cell test stations, potentiostats, analytical instruments, and electrochemical diagnostics (cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, hydrogen pump).
• Fundamental knowledge of electrochemical processes related to hydrogen fuel cells, related mechanical and electrical systems, e.g. tube‑bending and Swagelok fittings, wiring, and instrumentation.
• Strong and proactive problem‑solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to work both independently and in team contexts, comfortable with…