Principal Production Engineer -Burlington

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.

At Phoenix Tailings, 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.

• You are only crazy if you are wrong, it’s ok to be wrong
• Lead with Compassion
• Be Resourceful
• Listen
• Hustle

Phoenix Tailings is seeking a visionary Principal Production Engineer to take ownership of the scale-up and technical leadership of our pilot production systems. In this strategic role, you will serve as the technical authority on clean metals production systems, lead critical process development efforts, and directly influence how lab-scale innovations are transformed into commercial-scale operations. You will work cross-functionally with R&D, Engineering, and Operations, and have significant influence on the buildout of Phoenix Tailings’ next-generation critical metals infrastructure.

Your contributions will directly accelerate our path toward a scalable, fully clean metals production platform.

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

Salary Range: $140,000-$180,000

• Lead the design, deployment, and optimization of pilot-scale production processes for rare earth and critical metals
• Drive process scale-up strategies from R&D proof-of-concept through full pilot validation and production integration
• Serve as the primary technical owner of high-impact production systems, with deep understanding of process inputs, outputs, and constraints
• Identify and eliminate bottlenecks in throughput, quality, reliability, and equipment performance
• Apply advanced mechanical or chemical engineering principles to optimize process efficiency, safety, and scalability
• Translate experimental data into actionable engineering decisions and long-term production solutions
• Develop and maintain high-quality technical documentation, including process flow diagrams, equipment specs, and SOPs
• Provide technical mentorship to other engineers and foster a culture of excellence in production and process engineering
• Partner with leadership to define capital plans, facility upgrades, and infrastructure expansion based on process needs
• Ensure strict adherence to safety, quality, and environmental standards as systems scale

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline (Master’s or PhD preferred)
• 7–10+ years of experience in process engineering, pilot-scale production, or advanced manufacturing
• Proven track record leading the scale-up of complex mechanical or chemical processes from benchtop to pilot and beyond
• Deep knowledge of production system design, operations, and process optimization in high-complexity environments
• Experience with critical metals, high-temperature systems, electrochemical, or chemical processing preferred
• Hands-on expertise with industrial equipment, instrumentation, process controls, and safety systems
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• Passion for clean technology, sustainable manufacturing, and solving big industrial challenges

We offer a competitive compensation package that is based on expertise. We also offer the following benefits:

• Healthcare, we care about you and your family: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Stock: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
• Family Focus: Parental leave and flexibility for families.
• Time Off: Flexible vacation policy to encourage people to get out and see the world.
• Team Fun: Regularly…