Carbon Materials Development Specialist

Company Description

With increasing electrification needs and growing demand for lightweight and sustainable materials, the global need for advanced carbon materials is rapidly increasing. CarboMat is developing innovative technologies to produce low-cost, sustainable carbon products, including carbon fibers and battery anode materials, from low-value industrial by-products. Over the past several years, CarboMat has developed proprietary technologies with the potential to significantly reduce the energy consumption and production cost associated with conventional carbon material manufacturing. As we continue to grow and scale our technologies, our goal is to contribute to a net-zero future while establishing Canada as a leader in advanced carbon materials and clean technology.

CarboMat is seeking a highly motivated Carbon Materials Development Specialist to support the development, optimization, and characterization of carbon-based feedstocks and precursor materials for advanced carbon products, with a particular focus on polyaromatic hydrocarbon feedstock processing. The successful candidate will play a key role in feedstock preparation and processing, spinnable mesophase development, materials characterization, and optimization of material properties to support laboratory- and pilot-scale carbon fiber production.

The successful candidate will be a core member of a small and rapidly growing team of engineers, researchers, and scientists and will report directly to the company’s technical leadership.

About the position

Duration: Carbon Materials Development Specialist

Duration: Full-Time, 1 year (Possibility of Extension)

Starting Date: September 1, 2026

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Role Description

Lead and support the development, preparation, processing, and optimization of carbon-based feedstocks and precursor materials for carbon fiber and other advanced carbon material applications e.g. batteries
Design and conduct experimental procedures for feedstock preparation, purification, fractionation, thermal treatment, blending, modification, and other material processing steps as required.
Develop and optimize spinnable mesophase materials, with a focus on achieving suitable material properties for stable melt spinning and subsequent carbon fiber processing.
Investigate the relationship between feedstock composition, chemical structure, molecular characteristics, mesophase development, rheological properties, and final carbon fiber performance.
Conduct laboratory- and pilot-scale experiments to develop and optimize precursor materials and establish reproducible processing protocols.
Characterize feedstocks, mesophase materials, precursors, and intermediate products using relevant analytical and material characterization techniques, including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, TGA, DSC, GPC, CHNS, microscopy, rheology, and other methods as required.
Analyze experimental data to establish relationships between material properties, processing conditions, spinnability, and final product performance.
Troubleshoot material preparation and processing challenges, including issues related to material consistency, thermal behavior, rheology, spinnability, and reproducibility.
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), experimental protocols, material specifications, and data-recording systems for feedstock and mesophase development activities.
Maintain detailed technical records and prepare experimental reports, technical summaries, presentations, and other documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
Contribute to the development of intellectual property, technical reports, funding proposals, and scientific publications where appropriate.
Ensure that laboratory and pilot plant activities are conducted in accordance with applicable safety procedures, hazard assessments, and best practices.
Support junior technical staff, interns, and students involved in carbon materials development activities.

Skills and Qualifications

Master's degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, Petroleum Engineering, or a closely related discipline, or a bachelor's degree with relevant industrial or research experience.
Minimum of 1-2+ years of experience in carbon materials synthesis, petroleum-derived materials synthesis, pitch preparation, mesophase development, polymer processing, thermal processing, materials development, or related areas is strongly preferred.
Minimum of 2-3+ years of experience with laboratory-scale or pilot-scale material processing equipment and an ability to independently conduct and optimize experimental procedures.
Knowledge of carbonaceous feedstocks, pitch chemistry, mesophase development, molecular structure-property relationships, or carbon fiber precursor development is considered a strong asset.
Experience with material characterization techniques such as FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, TGA, DSC, GPC, CHNS, microscopy, rheology, or related analytical techniques.
Experience with experimental design and the ability to analyze complex material characterization datasets and translate results into actionable material and process improvements.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Excellent technical writing, documentation, communication, and organizational skills.
A strong hands-on mindset and willingness to work directly with laboratory- and pilot-scale material processing equipment.
The candidate must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or otherwise legally authorized to work in Canada.

Our Commitment
CarboMat is deeply committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Our core values, including integrity, innovation, accountability, inclusivity, adaptability, and teamwork, guide our daily interactions and decision-making. We believe that by embracing these values, our employees contribute not only to the success of our organization but also to their own personal and professional growth. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We invite you to explore how your skills and values align with our company, and we look forward to discussing how you can make a meaningful impact as a valued member of our team.

Application Instructions

Please forward your application package, which includes 1) a cover letter and 2) a resume, explaining how you meet the required qualifications to hiring@carbomatinc.com.

Only candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.