2.4. Chemical Development Engineer II

United States·BurlingtonFull Timemid

OtherDevelopment Engineer

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Overview

About Phoenix Tailings: Phoenix Tailings is a rapidly growing clean mining and metals production startup dedicated to sustainable and economic critical metals production.

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About Phoenix Tailings:

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.

Why Phoenix Tailings:

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.

Our Values:

● You are only crazy if you are wrong, it’s ok to be wrong

● Lead with Compassion

● Be Resourceful

● Listen

● Hustle

Who We Are Looking For:

Phoenix Tailings is looking for a Development Engineer II to help scale and refine our rare earth element (REE) extraction and metallization technologies. This role is core to accelerating our R&D and deployment of clean, economically viable processes that enable sustainable access to critical materials. As a key member of the technical development team, you’ll have the opportunity to directly shape the future of critical metals infrastructure in the U.S. through deep technical experimentation and innovation.

This pay range reflects the expected compensation for this role and may vary based on experience and qualifications.

Salary Range: $90,000- $130,000/year

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

B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline

3–6 years of hands-on experience in process development, hydrometallurgy, or chemical processing

Proficiency in designing experiments and interpreting data to solve complex technical challenges

Demonstrated expertise in solid-liquid separation, precipitation, and chemical extraction techniques

Strong foundation in process engineering including mass and energy balance modeling

Experience with laboratory instrumentation and analytical tools (e.g., ICP-OES, XRD, SEM)

Clear, structured technical writing skills for documentation and reporting

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative R&D environment

Familiarity with rare earth chemistry and metallurgical challenges preferred

Experience with process simulation tools (e.g., HSC Chemistry, Aspen Plus) is a plus

This pay range reflects best estimate for the total cash compensation which includes salary + discretionary bonus for this role. Total package may vary based on experience and qualifications.

Pay Range: $90,000- $130,000 total cash compensation plus equity

Healthcare: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee

Stock Options: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.

Time Off: Unlimited PTO.

Learning: Learning and development opportunities to grow your skills and career.