Analytical Chemist - ICP-MS and Release Testing

Kunin Technologies•Chattanooga, TN

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Kunin Technologies is hiring an Analytical Chemist to support development and delivery of a group 14 metal chlorination plant for an industrial partner. The plant will convert metal-bearing feeds through chlorination, purification, and hydrolysis into electronic-grade metal product, with Kunin's ion-exchange media recovering metal from dilute process liquors. Bench and mini-pilot process development runs are planned in Chattanooga from December 2026 to May 2027, with commercial operation targeted for the first quarter of 2028. The role owns the analytical results against which the plant's performance is guaranteed. The chemist will develop and validate ICP-MS, ICP-OES, ion chromatography, and GC methods for chlorination products, oxide feeds, solid feeds, and process liquors. This includes sample preparation and fusion digestion that avoids loss of metal as volatile chloride, as well as release testing and certificates of analysis for bench and mini-pilot programs. The chemist will write the plant's release-test methods, define its laboratory specification and instrument list, qualify the partner's referee laboratory, and train the partner's laboratory staff and data-system users in Chattanooga and at the partner's site. The position is part of Kunin's research team in Chattanooga and works daily with the distillation process engineer, process chemists, and laboratory technicians. The role is expected to contribute to two to three projects in parallel as Kunin develops additional metal recovery and conversion plants. Extended hours and weekends are frequently required for critical project milestones.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in chemistry.
At least 5 years of trace-metal analysis by ICP-MS in a semiconductor, electronic materials, specialty gas, or high-purity chemicals laboratory.
Experience validating methods at single-digit ppb levels.
Experience preparing chlorides or other moisture-sensitive materials and using fusion or peroxide-sinter digestion of refractory solids.
Familiarity with ISO 17025 practices, including method validation, uncertainty, control charts, and proficiency testing.
Ability to work in a fast-paced and demanding atmosphere.
Creative problem-solving ability that integrates sample chemistry, instrument capability, and quality systems to certify product at parts-per-billion levels.

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD in analytical chemistry.

Responsibilities

Develop and validate methods for trace metals in chlorination products using ICP-MS at ppb levels, oxide feeds using ICP-OES or ICP-MS, solid feeds using XRF and ICP after fusion, and process liquors.
Analyze chloride and fluoride by ion chromatography and organics by GC.
Perform release testing and prepare certificates of analysis for bench and mini-pilot programs.
Coordinate sample logistics with third-party and referee laboratories.
Prepare volatile, hydrolysable chlorides and metal-bearing solids without losing metal, while maintaining contamination control at ppb levels.
Write the plant's release-test methods and specify its laboratory and instrument list.
Qualify the partner's laboratory.
Train the partner's laboratory staff and support training on the plant laboratory data system.