Junior Chemist

Role overview

Ucaneo is looking for a Junior Scientist to join the Kinetics & Solvent team and contribute to the chemistry behind its Direct Air Capture technology. In this role, you will carry out laboratory experiments that help shape, test, and improve solvent systems at the intersection of chemistry, electrochemistry, and materials science.

This is a practical research role in a fast-moving environment, where experimental findings are used directly to guide product and system development decisions.

What you will do

• Design and run lab-scale experiments focused on developing and validating solvent systems.
• Study reaction kinetics and convert the results into useful input for the R&D team.
• Keep detailed records, follow established protocols, and help maintain a safe laboratory setting.

Your background

You should have an MSc in Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Materials Science, or a closely related discipline, along with solid practical lab experience. The role calls for independence in wet-lab work and familiarity with analytical methods such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemical characterisation.

Ucaneo is also looking for someone who thinks critically, questions assumptions, and is comfortable designing, running, and troubleshooting experiments with limited supervision.

Ways of working

• You approach problems as interconnected systems and take ownership of outcomes.
• You learn quickly and stay curious about the broader problem, not only the immediate task.
• You combine scientific rigour with a practical, hands-on mindset.
• You are organised, self-directed, and able to create structure without slowing progress.
• You can work comfortably amid ambiguity and collaborate across functions.
• You communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical colleagues and listen actively.

Additional requirements

• You must have a valid work permit for Germany, or be eligible to obtain one.
• The position is based in Marzahn, in an industrial co-working environment where the team has access to its own industrial halls for building and experimentation.

About the company

Ucaneo is an early-stage startup working to remove 500 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2035 through Direct Air Capture, a scale comparable to the combined weight of all people on Earth. The company is building an innovative electrochemical DAC system inspired by the human lung to capture carbon from ambient air.

The team is science-led, mission-driven, and fast-paced, with a strong bias toward action. The office and industrial hall are located at Schwarze-Pumpe-Weg 16, 12681 Berlin, with a large outdoor area planned for one of Germany's largest industrial DAC plants.

What you can expect

• The chance to contribute to a pioneering climate-tech project of first-of-a-kind scale.
• A steep learning curve with exposure to cross-functional challenges and the opportunity to help shape the project from the ground up.
• A collaborative, fast-moving setting where your decisions can have real impact.
• Competitive pay and opportunities for personal growth.
• Employee stock options.
• Learning and development budget.
• Regular team events.
• Subsidized BVG ticket.
• Laptop and a personalised work setup.
• Full responsibility for your own workstream, with flexible control over your working hours, a flat hierarchy, and strong teamwork.
• The opportunity to grow with a high-growth startup and potentially take on leadership responsibilities over time.