Engineer II - Special Projects

Kunin Technologies•Chattanooga, TN

1d•$115,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

Kunin Technologies is revolutionizing the critical mineral supply chain by implementing advanced separation technologies to capture value from overlooked resources. The Special Projects group runs externally funded research programs that sit alongside our metal recovery pipeline. The current program is a DARPA-funded effort on nanocrystalline metal catalysts for energy production: preparing and characterizing palladium and nickel nanocrystal samples, cycling them through an extensive loading and triggering test matrix, and measuring the result with calibrated detection and metrology instruments. The work is milestone-driven and reported to the government sponsor at scheduled program reviews. You will be the dedicated hands in the laboratory for this program, working under the Principal Investigator and a senior engineer. You will run the sample preparation, the test cycling, and the instruments, and you will turn the raw output into clean, documented data that the milestone reports are built on.

Requirements

Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering or Physics with 1 to 2 years of related laboratory experience, or a Master's with 0 to 2 years, or a PhD.
Experimentalist comfortable with gas handling and vacuum systems and with careful, repetitive bench work across a large test matrix.
Experienced in at least one of materials synthesis, materials characterization (XRD, SEM/TEM, BET), or radiation and particle detection.
Skilled in data analysis with Python, MATLAB, or Excel, and disciplined about data provenance.
Comfortable working independently on routine tasks and asking for direction on non-routine ones.
Team player who keeps the laboratory notebook, the data, and the sponsor deliverables complete and on time.
Must be willing to relocate to Chattanooga, TN.
Must be a U.S. citizen.

Responsibilities

Prepare and characterize palladium and nickel nanocrystal samples (XRD, SEM/TEM, BET and related methods).
Operate the loading and triggering reactors and run samples through the test matrix, including gas handling and vacuum systems.
Calibrate and operate the detection and metrology equipment, and keep calibration records current.
Collect, reduce, and document experimental data; maintain the laboratory notebook and data files to program standards.
Keep the laboratory safe and orderly: current on all safety training, standard operating procedures followed and maintained, housekeeping to audit standard.
Identify improvements to laboratory workflows, test techniques, and equipment capability, and raise them with the senior engineer.
Support Kunin's metal recovery projects with bench work when the program schedule allows.