Hydrometallurgist

Responsibilities

• Lead hydrometallurgical flowsheet development for critical mineral recovery across diverse process streams – focused on the integration of leaching, IX, SX, precipitation, crystallization, and electrowinning unit operations.
• By the end of 2026, deliver two in-field pilots, install them, and operate them.
• Integrate mass balance, equilibria, and kinetics into a unified process model that drives dynamic cost and design choices.
• Develop hydrometallurgical flowsheets across leaching, solid–liquid separation, ion-exchange, solvent extraction, precipitation, crystallization, electrowinning, polishing, and effluent management.
• Optimize kinetics, selectivity, throughput, purity, and regeneration chemistry for Kunin’s separation systems and integrated flowsheets through hands-on laboratory experimentation.
• Pilot test hydrometallurgical unit operations to validate bench-scale results.
• Perform process cost modeling, converting key process equilibrium, mass transfer, and reaction rates into value model assumptions.
• Collaborate with the ion-exchange media team on resin and reagent choices and with the process controls development team on operating windows.
• Scale flowsheets from bench to pilot to commercial deployment.
• Identify, vet, and down-select key process technology vendors from pilot through commercialization.
• Engage and collaborate with National Laboratories, Universities, and Corporate R&D teams on process technology installation and commissioning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy, or Hydrometallurgy
• Hydrometallurgist with 3+ years in flowsheet development and unit-operation optimization
• Hands-on laboratory and pilot experience across leaching, solid–liquid separation, ion-exchange, solvent extraction, and precipitation; electrowinning and crystallization preferred
• Process modeling and transport analysis using MetSim, HSC Chemistry, SysCAD, and Aspen Plus

Qualifications

Excited to work in an early-stage startup environment with high autonomy, opportunity, and expectations. Hands-on technical lead, willing to work directly on bench and pilot scale operations regardless of seniority.

Skills

• Precipitate/electrolyte modelling tools (PHREEQC, Oli Studio)

Benefits

• Compensation range: $80K - $150K
• Company facilities include gym, sauna, and ice bath
• Tennessee has no income tax
• Flexibility for extended hours during critical project phases

Pay

$80,000 - $150,000

Schedule

Available to travel to customers across the United States, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and Australia for process technology installation and commissioning