2.6. Chemical Development Engineer I

Phoenix Tailings•Burlington, MA

2d•Remote

About The Position

Phoenix Tailings is a rapidly growing clean mining and metals production startup dedicated to sustainable and economic critical metals production. Our mission is to be the world's first fully clean mining and metals production company, producing the resources needed for the next generation of our economy. We are seeking a Junior Chemical Engineer to join our dynamic team and contribute to the design, development, and optimization of innovative critical metals production systems. At Phoenix, we believe that nothing great is ever accomplished alone or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. If you are someone who shares our relentless pursuit of a better future, passion for innovation, and are excited about working with some of the top innovators in the world, then this is the place for you.

Requirements

B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
1–3 years of experience in chemical or metallurgical process development (internships and co-op experience welcome)
Familiarity with mass and energy balances, process modeling, and basic process calculations
Experience interpreting or developing PFDs and P&IDs
Hands-on experience with laboratory or pilot-scale chemical equipment
Comfortable using tools for data analysis and reporting (Excel, Python, or similar)
Solid communication skills and ability to clearly document technical work

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with rare earth chemistry or hydrometallurgy is a plus
Driven by curiosity, mission, and a desire to help solve one of the most important resource challenges of our time

Responsibilities

Design and execute laboratory-scale experiments across the rare earth extraction and metallization process flowsheet
Build and validate process models including comprehensive mass and energy balances
Optimize chloride leaching, dissolution, and filtration operations to improve efficiency and product quality
Support the development of advanced separation techniques for REE purification and concentration
Develop robust precipitation processes for conversion of rare earth chlorides into high-purity oxides
Contribute to early-stage metallization process R&D for converting oxides into individual rare earth metals
Analyze experimental data and use findings to drive iterative improvements to the process
Specify and evaluate equipment required for pilot and commercial-scale implementation
Document all research procedures, findings, and recommendations with technical precision
Ensure all experiments and development efforts align with EH&S and sustainability standards