Senior Research Engineer

Job description

VVater is America's Next Water Company, delivering the future of purification through its award-winning Farady Reactor (CES Best of Innovation 2025, World Future Award 2025, Time Best Invention Award 2025), proprietary ALTEP (Advanced Low Tension Electroporation Process), Advanced Dissolved Air Flotation, and Micro & Nano Bubble technologies. Unlike outdated chemical, filter, and membrane systems, VVater's electric-field breakthroughs eliminate PFAS, microplastics, microorganisms, and other contaminants with record retention times, without toxic byproducts or costly consumables. With over 4.3B gallons treated and validation from global leaders, VVater is scaling into municipal drinking water and wastewater, DPR/IPR, onsite reuse for data centers, commercial buildings, and resorts, residential purification, and consumer health water, delivering a 60% smaller footprint, 40% CapEx savings, 80% OpEx savings, and 40% less energy use. **Job Description:** **THIS IS AN ONSITE POSITION BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. NO REMOTE OR HYBRID AVAILABILITY FOR THIS POSITION** The Senior Research Engineer is a core member of VVater's Research and Development team, responsible for advancing the electrochemical and electric-field technologies at the heart of our platform. You will lead research, experimentation, and development across our Farady Reactor, ALTEP, Advanced Dissolved Air Flotation, and Micro and Nano Bubble technologies, taking ideas from hypothesis through bench-scale proof, pilot validation, and into deployable product. This is a hands-on, senior technical role for a scientist-engineer who is equally comfortable at the whiteboard, at the bench, and next to a running commercial machine. You will design and run experiments, analyze complex electrochemical and water-quality data, interpret the underlying mechanisms, and translate what you learn into real improvements in performance, efficiency, and cost. You will help define VVater's research agenda and push the fundamental science that keeps us years ahead of conventional water treatment. You are curious, rigorous, and driven. You want to understand why something works at a fundamental level, and you want to see your research turn into technology that treats real water at scale. **Key Responsibilities** **Research & Development** • Lead research and development across VVater's electrochemical and electric-field treatment technologies, including the Farady Reactor, ALTEP, electrocoagulation, electroporation, advanced oxidation processes and advanced reduction processes. • Formulate hypotheses, design rigorous experiments, and drive research from concept through bench-scale, pilot-scale, and field validation • Investigate the fundamental electrochemistry and physics underlying VVater's processes to deepen understanding and unlock new performance • Develop and improve treatment processes for target contaminants including PFAS, microplastics, microorganisms, nutrients, and dissolved constituents amongst others. **Experimentation & Testing** • Design, build, and operate bench-scale and pilot-scale experimental systems and test rigs • Conduct laboratory experiments to evaluate electrode materials, reactor configurations, operating parameters, and process chemistry • Plan and execute test campaigns with clear objectives, controls, and statistically sound methodology • Support pilot and field testing of new technologies, including installation, operation, monitoring, and troubleshooting **Data Analysis & Interpretation** • Collect, analyze, and interpret complex electrochemical, water-quality, and process performance data • Identify trends, isolate root causes, and translate data into actionable design and process improvements • Build models, tools, and analyses that turn experimental results into predictive understanding • Use modern data and AI tools (Claude, Grok, ChatGPT, Python, and others) to accelerate analysis, modeling, and documentation **Technology Development & Transfer** • Translate research findings into design specifications, process parameters, and improvements that engineering and operations can build and deploy • Partner with the process, mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering teams to move technology from lab to product • Contribute to intellectual property development, including invention disclosures and patent support • Support scale-up from bench to pilot to full commercial systems **Documentation & Communication** • Prepare clear, rigorous technical reports, research summaries, test plans, and presentations • Communicate research findings, recommendations, and project status to technical and executive audiences • Maintain thorough, well-organized research records and documentation • Contribute to the body of knowledge that defines VVater's technology advantage **Qualifications** • Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field (Bachelor's with exceptional, directly relevant experience will be considered) • 5+ years of hands-on research and development experience in electrochemistry, electrochemical engineering, water treatment, membrane separation, or a closely related area (advanced degree research experience may count toward this) • Deep working knowledge of electrochemistry and electrochemical processes, wet chemistry, and water treatment fundamentals • Demonstrated track record of independently designing, running, and interpreting rigorous experiments and test campaigns • Strong hands-on laboratory skills and familiarity with water quality analysis, instrumentation, and testing techniques • Strong data analysis skills; proficiency with Python, MATLAB, or equivalent, and comfort with modern AI tools • Proven ability to translate research into real-world engineering outcomes • Excellent problem-solving ability, scientific rigor, and attention to detail • Excellent written and verbal communication; able to explain complex science clearly • Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and thrive in a fast-paced environment **Preferred Qualifications** • Direct experience with electrocoagulation, electrodialysis, electroporation, advanced oxidation, or advanced electrochemical water treatment • Experience with electrode materials, reactor design, or electrochemical cell development • PFAS destruction or removal research experience • Experience taking a technology from bench through pilot to commercial scale • Published research, patents, or a demonstrated record of innovation in water treatment or electrochemistry • Familiarity with process modeling and simulation **As a part of our process to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of all applicants, assessment tests are required as part of our recruitment process. Unfortunately, should you elect not to participate in completing the assessment tests, your application will not be able to progress to the next stage or will not be taken into consideration during evaluation.**