Co-Founder & CTO - AI Catalyst Discovery Venture

About the role

ATUM Ventures is building a company spun out of A*STAR that links computation and the lab: machine learning proposes catalyst compositions, simulation screens them, and an automated experimental workflow validates the winners. The venture is based in Singapore and is looking for a founding technical leader to own the science and build the company around it.

Key responsibilities

• Direct the catalysis: choose chemistries, design discovery campaigns and interpret results
• Own the licensed workflow and the automated experimental loop end to end
• Take candidates from prediction to a manufacturable, deployable catalyst
• Build defensible IP the company owns, including new catalyst compositions worth patenting
• Work with chemical customers to turn their process problems into solvable targets
• Build the lab foundation and the science team behind it

Required profile

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Materials Science, with about 8 to 15 years of experience turning chemistry into working products
• Strong fit: heterogeneous catalysis; also open to electrocatalysis, energy materials, nanomaterials, surface and interface chemistry
• Experience in R&D at a chemicals, catalyst or materials company or a deep-tech startup
• Comfortable directing an AI and ML-driven discovery loop without writing the models yourself
• Experience building physical capability such as a lab, rig, pilot line or testing setup
• Ready to leave a stable role, take equity over salary and own the outcome

What we offer

• C-level seat and meaningful founding equity, with compensation in equity until funding is raised
• Pre-seed backing and grant access from ATUM, plus follow-on support from its investor network
• A validated workflow, a licence from A*STAR and hands-on help with product, hiring and fundraising
• Support for EntrePass applications for candidates not based in Singapore