8.4. Production Engineer II - Burlington

Phoenix Tailings • Burlington, MA

3d • Onsite

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. Phoenix Tailings is looking for a hands-on Production Engineer II with a background in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering to join our R&D and Pilot Production team. In this role, you will play a critical part in scaling up the future of clean critical metal production. You’ll work directly on the pilot production floor, helping to optimize early-stage technologies, validate new processes, and drive the transition from lab-scale innovations to scalable industrial systems. Your work will directly impact the development of sustainable pathways for rare earth metals manufacturing—one of the foundational infrastructures of tomorrow’s technology.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field
• 2–4 years of experience in a hands-on production, pilot plant, or R&D manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated ability to operate, troubleshoot, and improve complex mechanical and chemical systems
• Strong data collection and analysis skills to support process development and optimization
• Excellent communication skills, self-starting mindset, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment

Nice To Haves

• Experience with early-stage or pilot-scale industrial equipment is a strong plus
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, 24/7 facility with rotating shifts (including occasional nights/weekends)

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and improve pilot-scale equipment used in critical metal refining and materials processing
• Execute and support experimental production runs, capturing data to validate and optimize new processes
• Perform mechanical and process troubleshooting on custom-built and commercial equipment
• Track and analyze key process metrics to drive performance improvements in yield, throughput, and stability
• Support equipment setup, calibration, and transitions between R&D and production runs
• Collaborate with R&D, Process Engineering, and Operations to translate process designs into practical pilot workflows
• Maintain accurate production logs and technical documentation to support process knowledge transfer
• Drive implementation of process improvements to enhance safety, scalability, and reproducibility
• Ensure rigorous adherence to safety protocols and foster a proactive safety culture on the floor

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: Mid Level