Electrochemist R&D

About Us

Fortescue is both a proud West Australian company and a global green solutions business. We are recognised for our culture, innovation and industry-leading development of infrastructure, mining assets and green energy initiatives.

Our Opportunity

Work Location: Balcatta, Perth – Fortescue’s green iron research & development facility is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people

Roster: Monday to Friday  

12-month fixed term or secondment

In this expert role as an Electrochemist / Materials Scientist, you will be a core member of the R&D Minerals team and responsible for the design and development of advanced solutions for green iron electrochemical technology. 

Reporting to the R&D Manager and working closely with the science and engineering teams, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a rapidly expanding and dynamic workplace. Candidates must be able to bring a flexible mindset, challenge traditional thinking, and be prepared to work outside of their comfort zone.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in creating a safe working environment
• Creatively contribute to the R&D team in a positive manner while achieving stretch targets
• Lead innovative research and development projects for green iron technology in a laboratory and pilot prototyping setting
• Interface daily with multidisciplinary R&D team including engineers, scientists, project management, workshop trades, and commercial & legal to translate basic research into commercial systems and applications.
• Lead the development of next generation materials for electrochemical and chemical systems, at lower cost and greater efficiency, with applications into mineral processing and green energy industries.
• Assist in the identification and assessment of materials characterisation, analysis, microscopy and microanalysis technology acquisitions
• Initiate, negotiate, develop and manage external and internal R&D opportunities
• Make recommendations for new materials technologies in Fortescue projects, and work with engineering teams to develop and implement solutions into manufacturing processes
• Ensure IP protection of developed methods and processes through translating scientific research into patents.

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD in Materials Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a related discipline, with 2-3 years of post-PhD industry or academic research experience
• Expertise in electrochemistry, battery research, electrocatalysis, photovoltaics development or alike, with highly desired background in electrochemical reduction, electrowinning, water electrolysis, HER, OER
• Experience in materials design and synthesis, solid-state materials, surface modification, or catalyst materials
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to work in a fast-paced environment
• Background in fundamental electrochemical testing including RDE, mechanistic CV studies, EIS, Tafal plots, durability assessment
• Experience with advanced materials characterisation techniques such as SEM/EDS, microscopy, spectroscopy techniques
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Excel and Word for data processing and reporting
• Adherence to high standards of safety and work collaboratively with all team members
• Independent thinker that can contribute out-of-box ideas.

Our Commitment

Fortescue is deeply committed to providing a safe culture that builds respect, fosters inclusiveness, and values diversity. We celebrate individual strengths and team members from all backgrounds are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Our global workforce drives and promotes an inclusive culture, both within our organisation and throughout the communities we interact with across the world. Diverse backgrounds include First Nations Peoples, people with differing abilities, LGBTIQ+ community, gender, neurodiverse, cultural diversity, all age groups, and those with an intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

https://fortescue.com/careers 

Internal Candidates / Current Contractors please apply via Success Factors Careers Portal. For further information on how to apply please visit the Fortescue Hub. 

Fortescue reserves the right to close applications early should a suitable pool of candidates be identified. Fortescue will never contact you to ask for payment of any kind, whether directly or through a third party.