The questions below represent the types of inquiries you will face. They are designed to test your theoretical knowledge, your practical laboratory skills, and your ability to analyze and communicate complex data. Use these to practice structuring your responses.

Catalyst Synthesis & Materials Science

These questions evaluate your fundamental understanding of the chemistry and materials science required to build next-generation fuel cells.

• How do you control the nanoparticle size and distribution during the synthesis of PGM ORR catalysts?
• What characterization techniques do you rely on most to verify the structure of a newly synthesized catalyst?
• Can you discuss the specific challenges associated with scaling up the synthesis of a catalyst from the bench to a larger batch?
• Describe your experience with non-PGM catalysts. What are the main hurdles in matching the performance of traditional PGM materials?

Experimental Design & Testing

Interviewers use these questions to gauge your hands-on experience and your ability to design rigorous, repeatable electrochemical tests.

• Walk me through your step-by-step process for preparing an ink and fabricating an MEA.
• How do you account for uncompensated resistance (iR drop) during your half-cell RDE measurements?
• Describe the specific Accelerated Stress Test (AST) protocols you use to evaluate carbon support corrosion.
• If a full-cell test fails prematurely, what is your diagnostic process to determine if the failure was due to the catalyst, the membrane, or the assembly process?

Behavioral & Core Values

These questions assess how you work within a team, handle adversity, and align with the innovative culture at Altair Engineering.

• Tell me about a time when your research hypothesis was proven wrong by your data. How did you pivot?
• Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team (e.g., mechanical engineers or data analysts) to solve a complex problem.
• How do you ensure safety and compliance when introducing a new, unproven chemical synthesis method in the lab?
• Give an example of how you embody the principle of "Seek Technology and Business 'First'" in your daily research.

Cell Testing and Durability Evaluation

Synthesizing the material is only half the job; testing its real-world viability is the other. You will be evaluated on your ability to conduct half-cell measurements and full-cell testing. Strong candidates will demonstrate a meticulous approach to evaluating durability and carbon support corrosion.

Be ready to go over:

• Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) Measurements – Best practices for film preparation, evaluating kinetic currents, and calculating specific/mass activities.
• MEA and CCM Fabrication – Ink formulation, coating techniques, and pressing parameters for Membrane Electrode Assemblies and Catalyst Coated Membranes.
• Accelerated Stress Tests (AST) – Designing protocols to simulate long-term degradation, specifically targeting catalyst dissolution.
• Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) – Using EIS to diagnose cell resistance and mass transport issues.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Explain your methodology for fabricating an MEA. How do you ensure uniform catalyst distribution?"
• "How do you set up an AST to specifically isolate carbon support corrosion from catalyst degradation?"
• "Describe a time when your full-cell testing data contradicted your half-cell RDE results. How did you reconcile the data?"

Technical Communication and Project Management

As a Data Scientist in a research capacity, your ability to translate raw experimental data into technical plans, reports, and proposals is essential. Interviewers want to ensure you can communicate honestly and broadly with a multidisciplinary team.

Be ready to go over:

• Data Interpretation – How you process, analyze, and visualize electrochemical data.
• Technical Reporting – Structuring presentations and proposals to secure project buy-in.
• Cross-functional Collaboration – Working with mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, and product managers to align research with business goals.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to present highly complex failure-analysis data to a non-expert stakeholder."
• "How do you prioritize your time when balancing water electrolysis support projects with your primary fuel cell research?"

Key Responsibilities

As a Data Scientist and Fuel Cell Research Scientist at Altair Engineering, your daily routine is anchored in the laboratory but driven by data analytics and strategic research goals. You will spend a significant portion of your time designing and synthesizing nano-sized PGM ORR catalysts tailored for low-temperature fuel cells. This involves formulating hypotheses, executing chemical synthesis, and strictly monitoring the resulting material properties.

Beyond synthesis, you will be heavily involved in testing and validation. You will routinely conduct half-cell measurements using RDE setups to establish baseline kinetics, and then scale those findings by fabricating MEAs for full-cell testing. Running Accelerated Stress Tests (AST) will be a regular responsibility, requiring you to carefully log, analyze, and interpret data regarding catalyst dissolution and support corrosion over time.

Finally, your role bridges the gap between the lab bench and the broader business. You will continuously prepare technical plans, write comprehensive reports, and deliver presentations that summarize your data-driven findings. You will also step in to support related initiatives, such as water electrolysis projects, ensuring that your research efficiently supports the multidisciplinary team’s overall objectives.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be successful in this highly specialized role, candidates must bring a blend of elite academic training and practical laboratory experience. Altair Engineering expects candidates to hit the ground running with minimal foundational training in electrochemistry.

• Must-have skills – A Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Must-have skills – At least 4 years of related research experience (academic or industrial).
• Must-have skills – Direct, hands-on expertise in electrocatalyst synthesis, MEA/CCM fabrication, and RDE/full-cell testing.
• Must-have skills – Strong analytical capabilities to process experimental data and translate it into technical reports.
• Nice-to-have skills – Hands-on experience with the synthesis and characterization of non-PGM catalysts.
• Nice-to-have skills – Familiarity with Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) catalysts and PEM water electrolyzers.