Senior R&D Scientist -Pyrometallurgy

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—unlocking the materials required for aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing while eliminating waste and emissions from mining.

At Phoenix, we believe nothing great is ever accomplished alone—or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. You’ll be joining a team building the foundational infrastructure for the modern world
, developing entirely new ways to produce rare earth and critical metals domestically, cleanly, and at scale.

• 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 Senior R&D Scientist to advance high-temperature metallurgical processes and high-vacuum systems that enable cleaner, more efficient production of critical metals. This role is for a hands‑on scientist who can design experiments, operate complex thermal and vacuum equipment, and translate process data into meaningful improvements. You will help develop the core technology Phoenix Tailings is building to produce the metals that power the modern world.

• Design and execute pyrometallurgical experiments focused on critical metals recovery, refining, purification, and production.
• Operate and troubleshoot high‑temperature furnaces, vacuum furnaces, induction systems, thermal reactors, condensers, pumps, seals, gauges, and related high‑vacuum equipment.
• Develop and optimize process conditions including temperature profile, pressure, atmosphere, residence time, feed composition, reaction pathway, and product collection.
• Evaluate metal behavior under high‑temperature and low‑pressure conditions, including volatilization, reduction, condensation, phase formation, impurity removal, and material compatibility.
• Analyze metals, slags, residues, condensates, and intermediate products to understand recovery, purity, yield, impurity behavior, and process stability.
• Build process‑performance relationships that connect operating conditions to throughput, energy use, product quality, equipment reliability, and scalability.
• Identify failure modes in thermal and vacuum systems, including leaks, contamination, refractory degradation, material loss, thermal stress, and process instability.
• Convert experimental data into clear technical recommendations that advance Phoenix Tailings’ clean metals production platform.

• PhD in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2–3+ years of experience in pyrometallurgy, high‑temperature processing, vacuum metallurgy, thermal process development, extractive metallurgy, or related applied R&D.
• Hands‑on experience operating high‑temperature furnaces, vacuum furnaces, induction systems, thermal reactors, vacuum pumps, gauges, seals, and related equipment.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, phase equilibria, reaction kinetics, heat transfer, mass transport, volatilization, reduction, and condensation behavior.
• Experience designing and running experiments involving metals, oxides, salts, slags, refractories, reactive materials, or high‑temperature process streams.
• Familiarity with analytical and characterization techniques such as ICP‑OES/MS, XRF, XRD, SEM/EDS, TGA/DSC, particle analysis, or related tools.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex thermal and vacuum systems and translate results into practical process improvements.

Pay Range: $130,000–$170,000 total cash compensation plus equity. 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.

• 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…