Lab Technician, Polymer Chemistry

Captura is a climate technology company that has developed a Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) process to remove carbon dioxide from seawater, thereby amplifying the ocean's natural ability to absorb atmospheric carbon. The company's core technology is a high-performance bipolar membrane electrodialysis system that extracts dissolved CO2 from seawater without the use of additives or by-products, then returns the treated water to the ocean to draw down additional atmospheric carbon. Captura operates a 1,000 ton-per-year pilot plant in Hawaii and manufactures its electrodialysis platform from a production facility in Pasadena, California. Captura's mission is centered on harnessing the ocean as a scalable, natural resource for climate healing while prioritizing ocean health throughout its operations. The company was invented at Caltech and has received support from prominent backers including XPRIZE, Frontier, and the U.S. Department of Energy. In June 2026, Captura raised $12.5 million in the first close of its Series B financing round to expand its electrodialysis platform. Beyond carbon removal, Captura's electrodialysis technology serves a range of industrial sustainability markets, including direct lithium extraction, desalination, wastewater valorization, energy storage, and electrochemical carbon capture. The company has also secured a supplier deal to provide ocean-captured CO2 for an electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) plant in France, demonstrating the commercial versatility of its platform.

About the Role

Captura is seeking an experienced and hands-on Lab Technician to join our growing startup at a pivotal early stage in our ion exchange polymer and membrane development. This is a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the development and scale-up of next-generation ion exchange membranes through hands-on laboratory work. The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years of practical laboratory experience in organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, materials development, or a related field, with strong laboratory skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to safe and organized laboratory practices. The Lab Technician will play an important role in executing day-to-day experimental work, supporting polymer synthesis, operating and maintaining analytical instruments, and ensuring that the laboratory remains safe, clean, organized, and efficient.

Responsibilities

• Perform organic synthesis and polymerization experiments following established procedures and experimental instructions provided by research chemists - up to 5-liter size reactors and 5-gallon size processing containers.
• Carry out routine laboratory operations under supervision of research chemists - reagent preparation, weighing and transferring chemicals, solution preparation, reaction setup, workup, precipitation, filtration, washing, and solvent removal.
• Monitor reaction parameters such as temperature, viscosity, and conversion to ensure optimal conditions for polymerizations.
• Maintain accurate and timely laboratory notebooks, sample records, and analytical data.
• Assist with operation and routine maintenance of laboratory instruments and characterization equipment - NMR, GPC, viscometer, etc.
• Organize laboratory chemicals, solvents, consumables, glassware, and other supplies.
• Maintain high standards of laboratory hygiene, cleanliness, and organization, including proper cleaning and organization of glassware, equipment, benches, fume hoods, and shared laboratory areas.
• Follow established SOPs, chemical hygiene plans, and EHS procedures for safe handling of chemicals, solvents, equipment, and laboratory waste

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a related field, or equivalent relevant laboratory training and experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in chemical, polymer, materials, or similar laboratory environment.
• Experience with organic synthesis, polymerization, or related chemical laboratory work.
• Experienced and comfortable with the safe handling of laboratory chemicals and organic solvents, including THF, DMF, DMSO, DCM, chloroform, methanol, and similar solvents.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to consistently follow written experimental procedures and SOPs.
• Good laboratory documentation, organization, and housekeeping practices.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, or move laboratory supplies and solvent/chemical containers, typically up to 50 lb, with appropriate handling equipment and safety procedures when required.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with R&D and closely support.
• Willingness to put in additional time during peak periods, such as key deadlines or launches.

Featured Benefits

Compensation

The approximate salary range for this role is $75,000–$95,000. Actual compensation depends on factors unique to each candidate, including geographic location, education, experience, qualifications, and job-related skills. It is not typical for someone to be hired above the midpoint of the range. This range reflects base salary only — total compensation includes the benefits and rewards outlined below, and will be considered as a whole when we present an offer.

Benefits & Total Rewards

• Health coverage: Medical, dental and vision fully covered for employees, with partial coverage for dependents
• Equity: Stock option grant, with amount determined based on role and experience
• Retirement: 401(k) with match
• Time off: 3 weeks PTO plus company holidays and a paid winter break between Christmas and New Year's
• Growth: Ground-floor opportunity to build and scale the manufacturing and supply chain function as Captura grows