Metallurgical Engineer

China controls 98% of the world's gallium, 92% of germanium, and 93% of silicon. In 2024, China weaponized export restrictions on gallium and germanium, putting the vulnerability on full display. Each of these metals is a byproduct of heavy industry that no longer exists in the United States. We cannot reshore the supply chain because the underlying industries are gone.

PHNX is the Department of Energy's and Department of War's answer to closing that gap. We are a "solids refinery" turning industrial waste, primarily coal ash and zinc slag, into three product streams: critical metals for semiconductors and defense, cement replacement material for construction, and fertilizer for agriculture.

Our platform delivers a triple win: securing domestic critical mineral supply chains, helping power producers retire coal ash liabilities, and giving concrete producers a cheaper, lower-carbon alternative to cement. We support coal communities and remediate groundwater. PHNX was founded by Stanford, Tesla, and national lab alumni, backed by Trust Ventures, Overture, and KdT, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Department of Energy.

PHNX Materials is seeking a Metallurgical Engineer to develop and scale metal extraction processes in a hands‑on pilot plant environment. You will work closely with our R&D and process engineering teams to design flow sheets, run experimental campaigns, and solve real‑world metallurgical problems across hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical unit operations.

This is an engineering role with real ownership: you will help take processes from bench results to pilot operation and contribute to scale‑up recommendations. The role reports to the CTO and works closely with R&D, EH&S, vendors, and national lab partners.

• Pilot Plant Operations: Plan and execute bench- and pilot‑scale campaigns, evaluate equipment performance, and guide operating strategies for hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical circuits.

• Process Design: Develop and evaluate flow sheets for metal extraction and separation, including equipment selection, operating conditions, and materials of construction for high‑temperature and corrosive service.

• Process Optimization: Design experiments to improve recovery, selectivity, product purity, and reagent efficiency for critical metals from industrial byproduct feed stocks.

• Data Analysis: Analyze experimental and operating data, develop mass and energy balances, and translate findings into process improvements and scale‑up recommendations.

• Metallurgical Characterization: Interpret analytical results from techniques such as ICP, XRD, and XRF to understand feedstock variability, metal distribution, and process performance.

• Equipment and Vendors: Support equipment specifications, RFQs, and vendor evaluation, and assist with installation and commissioning of pilot equipment.

• Troubleshooting: Investigate process bottlenecks and inconsistent performance, identify root causes, and implement practical engineering solutions.

• Safety First: Incorporate safe operating practices into process design and experimental planning, contribute to hazard assessments, and develop and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Reporting: Contribute engineering content to technical reports and milestone updates for government‑funded programs

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mineral Processing, Geochemistry, or a related field.

• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of hydrometallurgical principles, including leaching, solvent extraction, and precipitation, along with…