System Engineer

Department Summary

The Institute for Carbon Management (ICM) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a cross-campus technology translation organization focused on accelerating carbon management solutions from laboratory discovery to pre-commercial and commercial-scale deployment. ICM advances technologies across two primary domains: 1. Carbon dioxide removal, utilization, and avoidance, and decarbonization of foundational industries such as cement and steel. 2. Development of new supply chains and processing pathways for critical materials (e.g., Li, Ni, Co, Mn, Mo) that enable the clean energy transition while reducing the carbon footprint of extractive processes. ICM operates through agile, convergent action teams that integrate engineering, science, and systems analysis. These teams have contributed to award-winning technologies, including the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE and the Liveability Challenge, and have enabled the formation of multiple spin-out companies such as CarbonBuilt Inc., Concrete-AI Inc., and Equatic Inc.
Position Summary

The Institute for Carbon Management (ICM) at UCLA is seeking a Systems Engineer to support interdisciplinary research and technology assessment activities focused on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. The position will contribute to evaluating emerging carbon management technologies through quantitative analysis of engineering performance, economic feasibility, environmental impacts, and deployment considerations. The Systems Engineer will work with researchers and technical teams to assess technology readiness, identify opportunities and challenges associated with scale-up, and develop analytical approaches that support technology development and implementation. Responsibilities include integrating data from multiple disciplines, preparing comparative technology assessments, and communicating findings through technical documentation, reports, and presentations to inform research priorities and deployment strategies.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.
Qualifications

• Three years of more experience following degree completion in an academic, industrial, or government research environment, excluding graduate training. (Required)
• Experience conducting technical analysis, preparing research documentation, or developing analytical reports. (Required)
• Experience evaluating emerging technologies or conducting engineering feasibility studies. (Preferred)
• Familiarity with techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA), process modeling, or systems analysis. (Preferred)
• Experience working on industrial research, technology development, or deployment-related projects. (Preferred)
• Exposure to regulatory, environmental policy, or technology commercialization considerations. (Preferred)
• Strong analytical, quantitative reasoning, and problem-solving skills. (Required)
• Ability to interpret technical data and synthesize findings from multiple disciplines. (Required)
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary research teams. (Required)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. (Required)
• Familiarity with engineering optimization, environmental economics, or industrial ecology. (Preferred)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor's Degree Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. (Required)
• Master's Degree Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. (Preferred)
• PhD Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Schedule

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Union/Policy Covered

TX-Systemwide Technical
Complete Position Description