Help close the carbon cycle.

Helix Carbon is an electrochemistry startup in Cambridge, MA, decarbonizing industrial chemicals by converting point-source CO2 emissions into carbon-neutral fuels and chemicals. Using catalysts and materials developed in-house, we create CO2-based carbon feedstocks that compete in traditionally fossil-reliant markets. Our drop-in electrolyzers integrate with existing iron and steel facilities to upcycle CO2 emissions into valuable feedstocks.

Open roles

Two part-time, 12-week internships for the Spring 2027 semester, starting in January 2027.

Eligibility: Candidates must be either actively enrolled in, or within one year of graduating from, a bachelor's or master's program. They must also be attending a Massachusetts institution of higher education or be primarily residing in Massachusetts full-time.

Prepare and run experiments that develop our CO2 reduction cell, and help scale it toward pilot size.

  • Spring 2027
  • Starts January 2027
  • Part-time
  • On-site
  • Cambridge, MA
  • 12 weeks

As a member of our chemistry team, you will help with the development and preparation of our novel CO2 reduction cell for scaled industrial decarbonization.

This is a part-time, on-site internship at Helix Carbon in Cambridge, MA, for the Spring 2027 semester, starting in January 2027. You will be responsible for assisting with the preparation and execution of experiments, and data analysis to develop electrochemical processes for CO2 conversion. The role also involves collaborating with our multidisciplinary team and contributing to scale-up work and long-term technology initiatives.

Who you are

  • You love getting your hands dirty. You are comfortable with the theory behind the science, but you also aren't afraid to jump in and mix new formulations, experiment with new materials, and test systems until they break.
  • You are a curious scientist. Our catalytic system is novel. As a result, we'll face some novel engineering challenges that require creative, clever solutions from people like you with subject matter expertise but also an ability to bring in new ideas and connect concepts across technical disciplines.
  • You can connect the science to the big picture. You are passionate about applied research and driving real-world impact. That desire motivates your scientific priorities, and you bring the lenses of technoeconomics, scalability, and safety to your research beginning at the bench. You're a strong communicator who can structure and illustrate these complex research goals and methods clearly.

Your responsibilities

  • Help design, build, test, and optimize gas-phase electrochemical cells for the conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemical products.
  • Play a role in catalysis optimization.
  • Participate in design-for-manufacturing initiatives as we scale our system to pilot plant size.

Your qualifications

  • Experience with wet-lab chemical research and general knowledge of safety procedures. Preferred experience in electrochemical engineering, with knowledge of electrochemical cell design (electrolyzer or fuel cell) and/or electrocatalysis.
  • Preferred experience with characterization tools to analyze material and cell properties, such as SEM, XRD, and electrochemical analysis (e.g., EIS, CV, CA, CP). General knowledge of the theory behind these techniques is preferred.
  • Previous work in electrochemical CO2 capture or conversion is preferred, but not required.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to present technical information clearly in written and verbal form.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office.
  • Experience with catalyst development and characterization is a plus.

Eligibility

  • Candidates must be either actively enrolled in, or within one year of graduating from, a bachelor's or master's program.
  • Candidates must be attending a Massachusetts institution of higher education or be primarily residing in Massachusetts full-time.
  • Internship duration: 12 weeks during the Spring 2027 semester, starting January 2027.

Design and model our electrolyzer systems, from CAD through thermal and fluid dynamics simulation.

  • Spring 2027
  • Starts January 2027
  • Part-time
  • Hybrid
  • Cambridge, MA
  • 12 weeks

As a member of our engineering team, you will help with the development and preparation of our novel CO2 reduction cell for scaled industrial decarbonization.

This is a part-time, hybrid internship at Helix Carbon in Cambridge, MA, for the Spring 2027 semester, starting in January 2027. You will have a hand in the design and modeling of our electrolyzer systems, including thermal and fluid dynamics simulations to guide the development of our CO2 conversion system. The role also involves collaborating with our multidisciplinary team to iterate on cell design as well as balance of systems, including fluid management.

Who you are

  • You love getting your hands dirty. You are comfortable with the theory behind the science, but you also aren't afraid to jump in and build things, experiment with new materials, and test systems until they break.
  • You can connect the modeling to the physical. You have good intuition about the physical impact of design changes. You understand how to ask the right questions to validate those intuitions, then answer them with software tools that reduce experimental cost and time.
  • You can connect the science to the big picture. You are passionate about applied research and driving real-world impact. That desire motivates your scientific priorities, and you bring the lenses of manufacturability and safety to design. You're a strong communicator who can structure and illustrate these complex research goals and methods clearly.

Your responsibilities

  • Help design, build, test, and optimize gas-phase electrochemical cells for the conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemical products.
  • Conduct flow-field analysis to determine optimal gas flow through our systems, and identify potential issues prior to manufacture.
  • Participate in design-for-manufacturing initiatives as we scale our system to pilot plant size.

Your qualifications

  • Bachelor's or master's student, or recent graduate, in mechanical engineering or chemical engineering.
  • Experience with SolidWorks (or similar) for CAD is required.
  • Experience with at least one fluid dynamics simulation package (COMSOL, SolidWorks Flow Simulation, etc.) is required.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to present technical information clearly in written and verbal form.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office.
  • Experience with Aspen Plus or other chemical process simulation software is a plus, but not required.

Eligibility

  • Candidates must be either actively enrolled in, or within one year of graduating from, a bachelor's or master's program.
  • Candidates must be attending a Massachusetts institution of higher education or be primarily residing in Massachusetts full-time.
  • Internship duration: 12 weeks during the Spring 2027 semester, starting January 2027.

Apply

We believe a circular, renewable materials economy is possible through electrochemistry. If you'd like to be part of that mission, choose a role and send your resume, along with anything else that shows your work, such as a transcript, portfolio, or project summary.

You'll receive a confirmation email once your application comes through.

PDF, DOC, or DOCX. Resume must be <2 MB.
    Up to 3 files: PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, or JPG, each under 5 MB.