Dr. Mohd. Ariffin Hj. Aton holds a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Leeds, UK. He started his professional career as a process engineer with Esso Refinery in Port Dickson in 1970 and later joined the academia as a Lecturer in Chemical Technology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) from November 1975 till 1989.

In November 1982, he was appointed as the Dean of the Physical & Applied Science Faculty and in 1984 as the Dean (Founder) of the Engineering Faculty.

In 1989 Dr. Mohd. Ariffin left UKM to join the corporate world by taking up a position at Petronas Research & Scientific Services (PRSS). In 1992 he was appointed as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of PRSS till August 1996. Upon the corporatisation of SIRIM Berhad in September 1996 he was appointed as the President and Chief Executive and at the same time serves as Chairman of various SIRIM Subsidiaries. He is also a Board member of Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and a PNB nominee to the Board of Titan Chemicals Corp. Berhad and Chairman to Perisai Petroleum Teknologi Berhad.

Dr. Mohd. Ariffin was appointed as the President of the Malaysian Association of Research Scientists (MARS) and he sits in various national committees such as the National Council For Research and the Advancement of Science, Selangor Information Technology Council, Malaysian Scientific & Technology Information Council, Jawatankuasa IT dan Internet Kerajaan (JITIK), Advisory Council on Nuclear Technology (MPTN) and Malaysian Standards & Accreditation Council.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Malaysia, Chartered Member of Institute of Chemistry Malaysia, Fellow of the Malaysian Scientific Association, Fellow of the Malaysian Academy of Science, Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences as well as Member for Industrial Advisory Board of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. In June 2003 he was appointed as the Advisor, Institute of Materials Malaysia (IMM). In 2003 he was conferred the title of Special Professor by the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. In 2004, Dr. Mohd. Ariffin Hj. Aton was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in recognition of his contributions in the engineering profession.

Dr. Mohd. Ariffin has contributed significantly to the development of the local manufacturing sectors particularly the small and medium companies while at the same time promoting research and development activities as well as stimulating the growth of knowledge-based activities that have served to build a resilient, sustainable and dynamic companies in the country.

In recognition of his contributions in science and technology he was conferred the Selangor State Honours - Darjah Kebesaran Dato' Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (DSSA) by the Sultan Selangor on 11 March 2000