Hydrometallurgist

Kunin; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Equity

Gym access

Sauna

Ice bath

Job summary

A critical mineral recovery startup based in Chattanooga seeks a Hydrometallurgist to lead the development of innovative flowsheets for mineral recovery. Candidates should have over three years of experience in unit operation optimization and a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering or related field. The role offers a competitive salary between $80,000 and $150,000, along with benefits and equity. Additionally, candidates must be prepared to travel domestically and internationally for technology installation and commissioning.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in flowsheet development and unit-operation optimization.
• Hands-on experience in leaching, solid-liquid separation, and crystallization.
• Familiarity with pilot scale operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead hydrometallurgical flowsheet development for critical mineral recovery.
• Conduct laboratory experimentation to optimize separation systems.
• Pilot test hydrometallurgical operations.

Skills

Hydrometallurgy

Process modeling

Laboratory experimentation

Ion-exchange

Solvent extraction

Education

Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy or Hydrometallurgy

Tools

MetSim

Aspen Plus

HSC Chemistry

SysCAD

PHREEQC

Oli Studio

Job description

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

You will lead hydrometallurgical flowsheet development for critical mineral recovery across diverse process streams – focused on the integration of leaching, IX, SX, precipitation, crystallization, and electrowinning unit operations.

By the end of 2026, we expect:

• Two in-field pilots delivered, installed, and operating.
• Integrated mass balance, equilibria, and kinetics into a unified process model that drives dynamic cost and design choices.

WHAT YOU’LL LEAD

• Development of hydrometallurgical flowsheets across leaching, solid–liquid separation, ion‑exchange, solvent extraction, precipitation, crystallization, electrowinning, polishing, and effluent management
• Hands‑on laboratory experimentation to optimize kinetics, selectivity, throughput, purity, and regeneration chemistry for Kunin’s separation systems and integrated flowsheets.
• Pilot testing of hydrometallurgical unit operations to validate bench‑scale results.
• Process cost modeling, converting key process equilibrium, mass transfer, and reaction rates into value model assumptions.
• Cross‑functional alignment with the ion‑exchange media team on resin and reagent choices and with the process controls development team on operating windows.
• Scale flowsheets from pilot through to commercial deployment.
• Identify, vet, and down‑select key process technology vendors from pilot through commercialization.
• Lead engagement and joint‑research collaboration with National Laboratories, Universities, & Corporate R&D teams.

WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy or Hydrometallurgy
• Hydrometallurgist with 3+ years in flowsheet development and unit‑operation optimization.
• Hands‑on laboratory and pilot experience across leaching, solid–liquid separation, ion‑exchange, solvent extraction, and precipitation; electrowinning and crystallization preferred.
• Process modeling and transport analyst using MetSim, HSC Chemistry, SysCAD, and Aspen Plus.
• Excited to work in an early‑stage startup environment with high autonomy, opportunity, & expectations.
• Hands‑on technical lead, willing to work directly on bench and pilot scale operations regardless of seniority.
• Precipitate/electrolyte modelling tools (PHREEQC, Oli Studio)

COMPENSATION

This role will pay $80,000 - $150,000, benefits, and equity.

Company facilities include gym, sauna, and ice bath.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be willing to relocate to Chattanooga, TN and available to travel to customers across the United States, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and Australia for process technology installation and commissioning.