Engineer IV - Special Projects

Kunin; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Kunin Technologies seeks a technical leader for a split role combining DARPA nanocrystal catalyst program leadership with hands-on process development for metal recovery projects.

You will design experiments, develop analysis methods, and mentor the Engineer II while also leading bench-scale campaigns and equipment specifications. The role requires relocation to Chattanooga, TN and U.S. citizenship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering or related field; advanced degrees preferred.
• 10+ years of R&D/engineering experience in metal processing or related field.
• Experience leading experimental programs and mentoring junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Design experiments and parameter studies for nanocrystal catalyst program.
• Develop analysis methods and models; interpret results vs milestones.
• Direct the Engineer II and ensure quality of all program deliverables.
• Hands-on process development for metal recovery projects; bench and pilot campaigns.

Skills

R&D leadership

Process development

Python MATLAB

Hydrometallurgy

Education

PhD in Chemical Eng

MS in Chemical Eng

Tools

XRD

SEM/TEM

BET

Job description

U.S. CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED: This position is open only to U.S. citizens. Applications from candidates who are not U.S. citizens will not be considered.

Who We Are

Kunin Technologies is revolutionizing the critical mineral supply chain by implementing advanced separation technologies to capture value from overlooked resources.

Metals are everywhere, in solar panels, smartphones, electric vehicles, but as ore grades plummet globally, traditional extraction methods are failing. China dominates critical minerals markets by developing superior separation technologies that extract value from materials American mines discard as waste.

Utilizing Kunin Technologies' breakthrough mass manufacturable nano-separation systems, significantly more value can be produced from each resource, reducing waste, and unlocking domestic critical mineral production.

MISSION FOR YEAR 1

Kunin's Special Projects group runs externally funded research programs that sit alongside our metal recovery pipeline. The current program is a DARPA-funded effort on nanocrystalline metal catalysts for energy production: preparing and characterizing palladium and nickel nanocrystal samples, cycling them through an extensive loading and triggering test matrix, and measuring the result with calibrated detection and metrology instruments. The work is milestone-driven and reported to the government sponsor at scheduled program reviews.

This is a split role. Half your time is technical lead on the DARPA program, reporting to the Principal Investigator: you design the experiments and parameter studies, build the analysis methods, interpret results against the Phase 1 and Phase 2 milestones, and direct the Engineer II. The other half is hands-on process development for Kunin's metal recovery project pipeline: expect to spend as much time at the bench as on P&IDs and commercial equipment specifications.

By the end of 2027, we expect

• The Phase 1 experimental program designed, executed, and interpreted: parameter studies across crystallite size, species, isotope concentration, and loading and triggering temperatures, with validated analysis methods and models.
• Phase 1 milestone deliverables and program review packages written and delivered on the sponsor's schedule, with the Engineer II trained and productive.
• At least one metal recovery process developed from bench data through a reviewed process design basis, P&ID, and commercial equipment specification.
• A documented recommendation on whether and how Phase 2 should proceed, backed by the Phase 1 data.

What You'll Lead

• Experimental design and parameter studies for the nanocrystal catalyst program, from sample preparation through loading and triggering cycling to detection and metrology.
• Analysis methods and models for the program data; interpretation of results against the Phase 1 and Phase 2 milestones.
• Day-to-day direction and mentoring of the Engineer II; ownership of the quality of every program deliverable.
• Technical reports and presentations for government program reviews, with the Principal Investigator.
• Hands-on process development for Kunin's metal recovery projects: bench and pilot campaigns, mass and energy balances, process design basis, P&IDs, and commercial equipment specification.
• Laboratory safety and standard operating procedures for the Special Projects laboratory, including safety training and audits.
• Cross-functional coordination with process engineering, research, and operations to hit project milestones and timelines.

Who You Are

• Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering or Metallurgical Engineering with 10+ years of progressively responsible R&D, plant, or engineering experience, or a Master's with 8+ years, or a PhD with 4+ years.
• Deep expertise in at least one of metal hydride and deuteride systems, catalysis and surface chemistry, nanomaterials, or nuclear and radiation measurement.
• Experimentalist fluent in gas handling and vacuum systems, materials synthesis and characterization (XRD, SEM/TEM, BET), or radiation and particle detection.
• Practitioner of hydrometallurgical process development with a record of taking bench results into process design and equipment specification.
• Modeler skilled in data analysis and reduction with Python or MATLAB; record of leading experimental programs, peer-reviewed publications preferred.
• Communicator who writes the milestone report, presents it to the sponsor, and makes the Engineer II better every week.

Compensation

This role will pay $140,000 - $225,000, benefits, and equity.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to relocate to Chattanooga, TN.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Extended hours and weekends frequently required to support critical project milestones.

Chattanooga is more beautiful than expected, and Tennessee has no income tax.

"The Whole World Is Ion-Exchange And The Rest Are Merely Details!"

Dr. Robert Kunin of Rohm and Haas, The Pioneer of the Ion-Exchange Industry, 1951