Chemical Development Engineer II

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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.

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.

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

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.

• 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

• Healthcare: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Stock ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company
• Parental leave and flexibility for families
• Flexible vacation policy to encourage travel
• Regular events and celebrations
• Learning and development opportunities to grow your skills and career
• Great team:
  Working with fun, hard-working, kind people committed to making a difference
• Flexible culture:
  We are results-focused. We don’t work at the office every day

Phoenix Tailings, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity at all levels. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other applicable protected characteristics. These characteristics will not be a factor for consideration of any work-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, firing, compensation, and discipline.