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Scientist or Materials Engineer

Wellumio

Wellumio

Wellington, New Zealand · Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Posted on Mar 4, 2026

Liquium is seeking a Scientist or Materials Engineer to join our team and help us further develop our ammonia production catalysts to become the new industrial standard. Our unique family of catalysts are outperforming against their commercial counterparts, and we are working with international global leaders to help validate and scale our technology. You'll join a team of scientists based in Wellington, New Zealand, at our site in Gracefield, Lower Hutt. You'll actively contribute to our scientific strategy and be encouraged to be innovative and identify the next best thing. Your involvement will help translate scientific discovery to real-world impact.

About the role

As a scientist or materials engineer, you will directly contribute to the current and next-generation catalysts we are developing for ammonia production. This involves:

  • Working in chemistry laboratories with hazardous materials (Largely Inorganic materials)

  • Developing new experimental plans with detailed safety assessments

  • Characterising materials properties with X-ray Diffraction, Topography assessments, and elemental analysis

  • Collaborate with the entire team on active work programmes for global leaders in the ammonia industry

The position will be available to start from the beginning of April

About you

We are looking for people who are (1) passionate about science and (2) motivated by the opportunity and challenge of working in a start-up. This individual should be highly intelligent and motivated. Our team are provided autonomy and responsibility, so you should show initiative and be able to work with plenty of support but limited oversight.

Our ideal candidate has:

  • Master or Science/Engineering and/or Doctorate Qualifications

  • Early career experience working in either professional labs or academic

  • Excellent technical report writing skills

  • A competitive drive and a team player

  • A "Je ne sais quoi" quality for the life you lead: skills and experience beyond the lab or university


About Liquium

Liquium is an innovative developer of ammonia catalysts. Our vision and goal are that these catalysts can become the new industry standard for current and future ammonia plants. Liquium was spun out of research developed at Victoria University of Wellington in 2022. Liquium was the first recipient in the southern hemisphere to be part of the Breakthrough Energy Fellows programme (established by Bill Gates). Liquium has received multiple international awards and has just secured additional funding to support our future growth. Liquium holds multiple patents and is working with global companies representing >$20B.

Ammonia is one of the world's largest synthetic chemicals, supporting food production for 50% of the global population. However, ammonia as a zero-carbon molecule has been identified as the leading candidate for the next clean fuel for heavy applications and the hard-to-abate industries, i.e. international shipping and coal power plants. A new, highly reactive catalyst is the most effective way to help this industry become more productive and energy-efficient.

If this science, industry and team sounds interesting, then please apply.