Applications Scientist

ChemFinity Technologies; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, and life insurance

401(k) with company matching

Flexible paid time off and holidays

Health/fitness stipend

Equity options

Job summary

ChemFinity Technologies is looking for an Applications Scientist in New York City. This role involves supporting rapid testing and applied R&D for mineral recovery systems using innovative technologies.

The ideal candidate will have a background in chemistry or metallurgy and 3+ years of industry experience, along with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a dynamic startup environment. Competitive compensation, including health benefits and equity options, is offered.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of industry experience or a Ph.D. in mineral processing, liquid-phase separations, or resource recovery.
• Experience operating and troubleshooting ICP-OES or similar analytical instruments.
• Experience in scaling technologies from lab to commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Perform rapid testing of mineral recovery performance.
• Support R&D on proprietary sorbents and mineral recovery.
• Assist in scale-up efforts for sorbent synthesis.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Experimental intuition

Fundamental chemistry

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, metallurgy, or related field

Ph.D. in related field

Tools

ICP-OES

Process modeling software (Aspen or AutoCAD)

Job description

ChemFinity Technologies is building critical mineral recovery systems to produce over 20 minerals from waste and mining feedstocks at low cost, using our proprietary, high-performance, high-durability sorbent filters. Up to a 6x increase in critical mineral demand is expected by 2040, to meet the supplies needed for clean energy, defense, manufacturing, and other technology sectors. However, 80% of U.S. critical minerals already come from foreign sources, and 7% of greenhouse gas emissions come from mining. Our team’s mission is to produce these minerals in ways that are cheaper, cleaner, and more accessible than existing methods such as high-temperature smelting, starting with precious metals like platinum.

Spun out of UC Berkeley in late 2022 and based in New York City, ChemFinity is backed by top-tier investor firms and over 10 top government and grant agencies, such as Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Fellows, the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA‑E, and the U.S. EPA. ChemFinity has been recognized as top innovators in the critical minerals sector by the World Economic Forum, Forbes, and Conservation X Labs.

What you will do:

ChemFinity seeks an Applications Scientist to support rapid performance testing, new and ongoing customer projects, and applied R&D work. In this role you will work creatively and hands‑on with our team of chemists, engineers, co-founders, and external partners as we build pilots and grow from the lab to industrial scale. Key responsibilities include:

• Perform rapid testing of sorbent and mineral recovery performance whenever new customer samples arrive.
• Support R&D and piloting efforts across the team on proprietary sorbents, critical mineral recovery, and hydrometallurgical leaching.
• Assist scale‑up efforts in sorbent synthesis and production.
• Help improve and validate material formulations.
• Conduct ICP‑OES and other characterization tests.
• Maintain accurate lab documentation and sample logs.
• Perform full‑time hands‑on work on-site at our Brooklyn facility.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in chemistry, metallurgy, or related field. A Ph.D. is a plus.
• For this role, we are considering a range of experience levels. We are targeting a minimum of 3+ years of industry experience or a Ph.D., ideally in mineral processing, liquid‑phase separations, sorbent technologies, water treatment, and/or resource recovery.
• Experience in operating and troubleshooting ICP‑OES and/or other similar analytical instruments.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, experimental intuition, and fundamental chemistry.
• The desire to be in a dynamic startup environment, own projects, and proactively use critical thinking and team collaboration to solve difficult but impactful challenges.
• An unwavering commitment to high safety standards and supportive work behavior.

Other preferred qualifications:

• Experience in scaling technologies in startups and/or from the lab to full‑scale commercialization.
• Proficiency in process or prototype modeling software (e.g., Aspen or AutoCAD).
• Proficiency in programming automated systems and process controls.
• Experience in writing grant applications and detailed technical reports.
• Experience in project management.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary range for this position is expected to be $80K–135K. Compensation will be commensurate with experience level. For this role, we are considering candidates from a range of experience levels and highly value fit with our team.

• Competitive compensation including equity options
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
• 401(k) benefits with company matching
• Flexible paid time off and holidays
• Health/fitness stipend
• Open, supportive, and diverse team focused on creating major impact

Please reach out to [e-mail] if you have questions. ChemFinity Technologies is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace as a core value. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, nationality, color, sexual orientation, ancestry, religion, gender identity, age, marital status, disability status, or veteran status. We know the right candidate may not meet every criterion listed in this job description. If you believe you are a great candidate for this role and possess relevant skills not listed above, we encourage you to apply and tell us why you are a great fit!