1.3. Lead Upstream Process Engineer in Burlington

Energy Jobline ZR; Burlington; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading clean mining company in Burlington is seeking a Lead Upstream Process Engineer. This role focuses on the design and optimization of processes for rare earth elements, requiring extensive experience in chemical engineering. Candidates should have strong skills in solvent extraction and process documentation. Benefits include healthcare coverage, stock options, and a flexible work culture.

Benefits

100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Ownership in a venture-backed company

Flexible vacation policy

Learning and development opportunities

Regular team events

Flexible work culture

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in process engineering, ideally in separations or chemical processing.
• Demonstrated experience in PFDs and P&IDs.
• Practical experience scaling up lab processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of upstream chemical processes.
• Design PFDs and evaluate unit operations.
• Collaborate with engineers to ensure process integrity.

Skills

Solvent extraction

Mass and energy balance calculations

Process design documentation

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Aspen

ChemCAD

SysCAD

Job description

Energy Jobline is the largest and fastest growing global Energy Job Board and Energy Hub. We have an audience reach of over 7 million energy professionals, 400,000+ monthly advertised global energy and engineering jobs, and work with the leading energy companies worldwide.

We focus on the Oil & Gas, Renewables, Engineering, Power, and Nuclear markets as well as emerging technologies in EV, Battery, and Fusion. We are committed to ensuring that we offer the most exciting career opportunities from around the world for our jobseekers.

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 of our economy.

Why Phoenix Tailings

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.

Our Values

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

Who We Are Looking For

Phoenix Tailings is seeking a Lead Upstream Process Engineer to drive the design, optimization, and scale-up of critical separation and purification processes for rare earth elements. This engineer will lead efforts from bench-scale experimentation to full-scale deployment, applying rigorous mass and energy balance modeling and designing systems grounded in process fundamentals. Candidates should bring experience in solvent extraction or experience with related separation technology as well as thrive at the interface of chemical engineering, design documentation, and field-scale implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development, modeling, and optimization of upstream chemical processes including dissolution, solvent extraction, and impurity control
• Translate R&D findings into scalable processes by developing comprehensive mass and energy balances
• Design and review process documentation including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
• Evaluate and refine unit operations through data-driven testing at lab, pilot, and production scales
• Specify and support the integration of separation technologies and associated control strategies
• Collaborate with mechanical and controls engineers to ensure process integrity and scalability
• Troubleshoot and continuously improve upstream operations through root cause analysis and technical iteration
• Produce clear documentation including SOPs, technical reports, and engineering standards

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering or closely related field
• 8+ years of experience in process engineering, preferably with a focus on separations, chemical processing, or hydrometallurgy
• Demonstrated experience designing and interpreting PFDs and P&IDs for integrated process systems
• Proficiency in mass and energy balance calculations and familiarity with modeling tools (e.g., Aspen, ChemCAD, SysCAD)
• Practical experience scaling up lab processes to pilot or production systems
• Familiarity with solvent extraction, filtration, and precipitation-based systems
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills

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 scheduled events and celebrations
• Learning: 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

Equal Opportunity

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

AI in Hiring

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this job please press the Apply Button and follow the application process. Energy Jobline wishes you the very best of luck in your next career move.