3.2. Lead Separation Engineer

Phoenix Tailings • Burlington, MA

1d

About The Position

Phoenix Tailings is seeking a Lead Chemical Process Engineer – Separation with deep expertise in solvent extraction and process development to own the scale-up of rare earth separation systems from bench to pilot to commercial-scale production. This role will be instrumental in building the technical foundation of our separation technologies and will take a leadership role in developing both the process and the team that will bring it to life. You will help define how clean rare earth separations are designed, built, and scaled in the U.S. and directly shape the future of sustainable critical materials.

Requirements

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in solvent extraction, hydrometallurgy, or chemical process development
• Proven success scaling chemical separation processes from lab to pilot to production
• Deep understanding of separation chemistry, extractant systems, and multi-stage liquid-liquid extraction equipment
• Experience designing and operating pilot systems such as mixer-settlers, centrifugal contactors, or columns
• Strong background in data analysis, process modeling (e.g., Aspen, MATLAB), and scale-up engineering principles
• Demonstrated ability to lead and grow technical teams, with strong mentoring and collaboration skills
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with evolving priorities

Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of solvent extraction process development: from bench-scale R&D through pilot and into full-scale commercial deployment
• Design, operate, and optimize bench-scale experiments to evaluate separation performance and extractant chemistry
• Develop and operate pilot-scale solvent extraction systems, collecting real-time data and translating findings into scalable design improvements
• Define scale-up strategy, equipment selection, and process control logic for transition to production-scale systems
• Create and maintain detailed process documentation, including mass balances, PFDs, SOPs, and operational guidelines
• Build and mentor a growing separation process team, including chemical engineers and technicians
• Identify critical process bottlenecks and propose engineering solutions using both experimental and modeling approaches
• Ensure safety, reliability, and process integrity across all phases of development
• Contribute to broader separation technology roadmaps and help set technical direction for future rare earth and critical metal systems

Benefits

• 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee
• Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Learning and development opportunities to grow your skills and career.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees