Process Chemist - Group 14 Metals

Kunin Technologies•Chattanooga, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Kunin Technologies is developing a group 14 metals (germanium, tin, and silicon) chlorination plant for an industrial partner. The process will convert metal-bearing feeds into electronic-grade metal products through chlorination, purification, and hydrolysis, with Kunin’s proprietary ion-exchange media recovering metal from dilute process liquors. Bench and mini-pilot process development will take place in Chattanooga from December 2026 to May 2027. The plant is planned to be built from modular skids alongside civil works, with commercial operation targeted for the first quarter of 2028. The partner will build and operate the plant; Kunin owns the process, design package, performance guarantee, and operating-team training. The Process Chemist will conduct bench and mini-pilot chemistry experiments, including chlorination, hydrolysis, calcination, and ion-exchange recovery. The role involves establishing process windows, closing metal and impurity mass balances, preparing product samples, and generating the experimental data used as the plant’s design basis. Beginning in March 2027, the chemist will run continuous mini-pilot campaigns around the clock with laboratory technicians. The position is part of Kunin’s research team in Chattanooga and reports to the Lead Organic Chemist. The chemist will work with the distillation process engineer, Senior Process Engineer, and analytical chemist. As a founding member of the Capital Projects team, the person is expected to work on two to three projects in parallel after the first plant passes its project gates. Key milestones include establishing the solid-feed chlorination and hydrolysis window and delivering two high-purity oxide samples by February 5, 2027, and completing both mini-pilot campaigns with closed mass balances by May 7, 2027.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering.
At least 2 years of laboratory process development experience in hydrometallurgy, inorganic chemistry, or specialty chemicals.
Comfort handling chlorine, concentrated hydrochloric acid, and moisture-sensitive chlorides under nitrogen in glass and PFA equipment.
Competence in ICP-OES sample preparation, mass-balance spreadsheets, and clear experimental write-ups.
Ability to work in a fast-paced and demanding atmosphere.
Creative problem-solving that combines inorganic chemistry, careful experimentation, and plant thinking to turn bench results into a design basis.
Ability to work extended hours and weekends frequently to support critical project milestones.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering.
Experience with chlorination, acid leaching, precipitation, or calcination.

Responsibilities

Conduct bench chlorination, hydrolysis, and calcination experiments on metal-bearing oxide and solid feeds, including handling chlorine and HCl.
Run ion-exchange loading and elution studies on dilute metal liquors using Kunin media, including breakthrough, elution, cycling, and fouling studies.
Close metal and impurity mass balances across chlorination, distillation, hydrolysis, recovery, and calcination.
Operate continuous mini-pilot campaigns, including shift coverage, sampling plans, and campaign reports.
Prepare and document product samples and experimental records that support the plant design basis.
From March 2027, run around-the-clock continuous mini-pilot campaigns with laboratory technicians.
Contribute to design and delivery work across multiple projects in parallel after the first plant passes its gates.