Oxidation and Catalysis Research Lead (Scientist/Chemist)

Your Mission

Radical Dot is hiring an Oxidation and Catalysis Research Scientist/Chemist (m/w/o) to drive the development of our oxidative chemical recycling technology.

Radical Dot transforms mixed plastic waste into high-value chemical building blocks. Moving beyond traditional methods like pyrolysis and gasification, we are pioneering a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for the chemical industry.

As an early-stage start-up, we are seeking a hands-on and adaptable leader who thrives in a dynamic lab environment. You will play a critical role in leading and delivering targeted research projects, contributing directly to our mission to tackle the global plastics crisis.

Tasks

Responsibilities will include:

• Contribute to and lead R&D projects centered around the optimization and development of our core reaction processes, potentially including oxidation, solvolysis, esterification, and hydrogenation

• Design and execute liquid oxidation experiments using high-pressure autoclave systems (e.g., Parr reactors) to improve yields, inform catalyst deactivation/poisoning understanding and improve catalyst recycling.

• Collaborate closely with the analytical team to co-develop methods for tracking of carbon/oxygen across phases and to identify products and by-products (e.g., GC, HPLC, MS, NMR, GPC, etc)

• Collaborate with external and academic partners

• Help bridge the technology transition from batch autoclave studies to continuous reactor design for our upcoming demo plant starting operation in 2027

• Work closely with the Engineering and Science teams in a collaborative "one-team" mindset to deepen the scientific understanding of our chemistry and optimize our processes.

• Supervise one or more students contributing to the project's overall objectives, if opportunities arise.

Requirements

Your Skillset

• PhD with a minimum of 2+ years of postdoctoral or industrial experience in oxidation chemistry, catalysis (homogeneous or heterogeneous), chemical R&D, or reaction engineering

• Strong hands-on expertise in oxidation chemistry and catalytic reaction development

• Experience with high-pressure reaction systems and autoclave experimentation

• Proficiency in analytical techniques for gas and liquid phase product characterization (e.g., GC, HPLC, MS)

• Familiarity with liquid phase oxidation of biomass, polymers, fatty-acids, etc. is a strong advantage

• Knowledge of oxidative radical chemistry (e.g. Radical Oxidation, Kraft oxidation, Mid-Century/Amoco process, wet-air oxidation (WAO), supercritical water oxidation (SCWO), or peroxide related oxidation chemistry) is a plus

• Familiarity with heterogeneous catalysis is a plus

• Proven ability to design mechanistic experiments (isotope labeling, kinetic modeling, in-situ spectroscopy)

• Experience in startup, pilot plant, or industrial process development environments is beneficial

• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in German is optional.

Your Mindset

• Hands-on attitude to get things done in the lab
• Innovative and creative, ready to find solutions for problems no one has solved before.
• Passionate about impact and contributing to the fight against climate change.
• Adaptable and flexible, to embrace the fast-paced changing environment of start-ups.
• Collaborative, as the world biggest problems are solved as a team.

• Have strong safety awareness, this is still chemistry!

• Personal growth mindset, ready to take more and different responsibilities with the growth of the company.

Benefits

The Offered Set Up

• Full-time role (40h/week)
• Location: Garching on TUM Campus (until December 2026, we will move in 2027 to another location in Munich)
• Starting Date: ASAP
• Compensation: 60-70k€ (to be negotiated based on experience)

🙌 Want to join the ride?

Send us your CV at careers@radicaldot.com.

Even if you don't meet every single qualification mentioned above, share with us why you believe you'd be an excellent match for this role in your application! Your unique skills and perspectives could be the perfect fit for our team.