Membrane Lab Technician

Summary

As a Lab Technician at AQUABATTERY, you will support membrane characterization, fabrication, and stack testing within the Tech Development team, helping advance our acid-base flow battery technology from lab to pilot scale with precision and safety.

About the role

Join AQUABATTERY, a pioneering climatetech startup with a mission to commercialise a affordable, safe and sustainable long duration energy storage (LDES) based on saltwater. Our innovative flow battery technology offers an LDES solution without relying on critical or toxic raw materials.

With fresh funding secured and our first commercial product on the horizon, this is an exciting time to become part of our growing team and contribute to building a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

As a Lab Technician, you will be at the heart of our R&D operations. You will play a vital role in bridging the gap between material science and functional hardware by setting up, executing, and optimizing our membrane characterization and stack testing activities. You will work closely with our Tech Development team to ensure our innovative acid-base flow battery technology moves from the lab to the pilot scale with precision and safety.

What you’ll be doing

Membrane Characterization & Fabrication

• Carryout experimental characterization activities, including area resistance, selectivity, and long-term stability measurements.
• Support membrane fabrication tasks, including preparation, coating, casting, and chemical post-treatment of novel ion-exchange materials.
• Assisting the development of characterization protocols to improve data accuracy and throughput.

Membrane & Stack Testing

• Assembly and disassembly of R&D-scale membrane stacks (ensuring precise alignment and sealing integrity).
• Conduct systematic stack performance validation experiments, monitoring parameters during charge/discharge cycles.

Laboratory Operations & Safety

• Maintain and operate laboratory equipment (pumps, power supplies, sensors, and hot presses), ensuring all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are accurate and up to date.
• Assisting the setup of new experimental rigs, ensuring all safety procedures and hardware interlocks are strictly followed.
• Manage and coordinate laboratory inventory, chemical waste disposal, and procurement of consumables.

Data & Reporting

• Assisting troubleshooting experimental anomalies and identifying root causes of stack or membrane failure.
• Write concise, data-driven technical reports summarizing methods, observations, and results to support R&D decision-making.

Function requirements

Education and experience

• MBO/HBO or BSc in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, or a related technical field.
• Previous exposure to electrochemistry or flow batteries is highly preferred. Experience with ion exchange membrane fabrication is a plus.

Knowledge and skills

• You have a natural drive to understand the "how" and "why" behind experimental results.
• You have a strong mechanical and manual dexterity; you enjoy the process of building, assembling, and "tinkering" with laboratory hardware.
• You have a disciplined approach to following protocols and a "safety-first" mindset, ensuring high accuracy in repetitive measurements.
• Fluency in English (written and oral) is required to work within our international team.

Why AQUABATTERY?

• The opportunity to provide vital support to the energy transition at our state-of-the-art ETCA facility.
• A collaborative, multicultural work environment where practical observations and technical insights are valued.
• A structured, performance-driven culture that supports professional growth and technical skill development.
• Competitive salary plus Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
• Work-life balance, including 25 vacation days and flexible working arrangements.
• Green pension scheme (50% employer contribution) and collective health insurance discount.
• Company bike for commuting.
• Regular team events and opportunities to shape the future of clean energy.

About AQUABATTERY

AQUABATTERY is a climate-tech start-up, based in the Netherlands. Our vision is to empower the transition to net-zero by providing the world’s most scalable, sustainable and safe long duration energy storage solution. We do so through our revolutionary technology, which enables the storage of electricity in just saltwater. The world will need high volumes of energy storage to enable reliance on renewable energy sources like solar PV and wind energy, even if the sun does not shine or the wind does not blow. Our technology has been successfully demonstrated through several pilot installations in the Netherlands and in Italy. Our international team reinforces our impact-focused culture every day; taking on challenges and celebrating successes together.