Sorbent Development Lead

Deep Sky is the world's first technology-agnostic carbon removal project developer. As a commercial venture, we build carbon removal infrastructure projects and sell carbon credits to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

We have strong fundamentals:

- Experts at complex market systems and finding product-market fit

- Proven success in scaling startups and operating sophisticated businesses

- Strong relationship with capital markets, government, and regional communities in Canada

We envision a future where:

- Tech-based carbon removal projects are the benchmark for premium sustainable and measurable carbon removal within a network of - mandatory and voluntary carbon credit markets

- The planet's carbon equilibrium has been restored through both drastic emission reductions and large-scale carbon removal

- Carbon removal facilities are considered everyday infrastructure; appreciated for their vital service and light footprint

Deep Sky is at the forefront of combatting climate change through innovative carbon removal technologies. Our mission is to develop and implement scalable solutions for direct air capture systems. Our first ambitious project, Deep Sky Alpha , is a pilot innovation and commercialization facility where we identify leading technology developers to partner and scale to commercial production.

We are seeking a Sorbent Development Lead to drive the discovery, development, and testing of novel solid sorbents for Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems to support our technology partners. This role is at the intersection of science and engineering, requiring expertise in sorbent material development, lab and pilot system design, and the integration of sorbents into DAC technologies. This role will be based at Deep Sky Alpha in Innisfail, Alberta.

In this role, you will work very closely with the Chief Carbon Scientist and Head of Engineering to:

• Characterize sorbents after use in pilot facilities for failure analysis, degradation, and quality control
• Lead the discovery and development of novel solid sorbents, including materials such as functionalized amine polymers, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites, and porous carbons.
• Design, synthesize, and optimize sorbent materials to improve CO₂ capture capacity, selectivity, stability, and regeneration efficiency.
• Oversee the construction and commissioning of a state-of-the-art sorbent lab to design and build lab-scale and pilot-scale systems for rapid sorbent screening and testing under controlled conditions.
• Develop protocols for high-throughput evaluation of sorbent performance, including adsorption/desorption kinetics, energy requirements, and durability.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to develop scalable systems for integrating sorbents into operational DAC units.
• Work closely with mechanical and chemical engineers to incorporate sorbent materials into DAC systems, ensuring compatibility with system design and performance goals.
• Optimize process conditions (eg, temperature, pressure, airflow) to maximize sorbent efficiency and minimize energy requirements.
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technicians focused on sorbent development and system testing.

An ideal candidate has:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on direct air capture, carbon capture, adsorption materials, gas separations, or related technologies.
• 7+ years of experience in solid sorbent development, including sorbent design, synthesis, and application testing.
• Proven experience in designing and building lab and pilot-scale systems for gas separation or sorbent testing.
• Hands-on experience with DAC systems or similar gas adsorption technologies is highly desirable.
• Expertise in solid sorbent materials such as amine resins, MOFs, zeolites, activated carbons, and hybrid materials.
• Proficiency in materials characterization techniques, including BET surface area analysis, TGA, XRD, SEM, and FTIR.
• Strong understanding of adsorption/desorption mechanisms, thermodynamics, and kinetics.
• Experience with process engineering for gas handling systems, including airflow control, thermal management, and pressure optimization.
• Familiarity with computational tools for modeling adsorption processes and system performance is a plus.

Why join Deep Sky?

• A competitive salary based on experience and participation in the capital of our innovative company in the climate field.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, vision, dental, and unlimited vacation.
• Be at the forefront of climate innovation, driving solutions with real-world impact.
• Work with a dynamic and passionate team committed to sustainability and technological excellence.
• Enjoy opportunities for professional growth and innovation in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.