Laboratory Technician – Pilot Plant & Ion-Exchange

Kunin; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Kunin Technologies in Chattanooga, Tennessee is building a chlorination and ion-exchange pilot plant for a group 14 metal project. You will set up and operate reactors, distillation columns, hydrolysis vessels, and ion-exchange modules, handling chlorine and acids safely while logging samples and running ICP-OES analyses.

You will work with process chemists and engineers on mini-pilot campaigns, maintain records, and ensure safety and equipment readiness across shifts during critical milestones.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in chemistry, chemical technology or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 1+ years in a chemical, metallurgical or pilot-plant laboratory; experience with corrosive or hazardous gases preferred.
• Mechanically capable: comfortable assembling glass and PFA systems, pumps, heaters and instrumentation.
• Careful record keeper; comfortable with spreadsheets and laboratory data systems.
• Ability to work in fast paced and demanding atmosphere.
• Team player who takes ownership of shared equipment and keeps the laboratory safe and organized.

Responsibilities

• Set-up, operation and turnaround of bench reactors, laboratory distillation columns, hydrolysis and filtration equipment, dryers, calciners and ion-exchange modules
• Safe preparation and handling of chlorine, concentrated HCl, moisture-sensitive chlorides and nitrogen-blanketed systems; scrubber and PPE checks
• Sampling on schedule, sample preparation, ICP-OES and wet-chemistry measurements, and sample logging
• Shift operation of the continuous mini-pilot during campaigns, including start-up, steady-state logs and shutdown
• Equipment maintenance, reagent and consumable inventory, waste handling and laboratory records

Skills

Chemistry

Pilot-plant operations

Reactor operation

Laboratory data systems

Team player

Record keeping

Education

Associate/Bachelor degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

ICP-OES

Glass and PFA systems

Pumps and heaters

Job description

Kunin Technologies in Chattanooga, Tennessee is building a chlorination and ion-exchange pilot plant for a group 14 metal project. You will set up and operate reactors, distillation columns, hydrolysis vessels, and ion-exchange modules, handling chlorine and acids safely while logging samples and running ICP-OES analyses.

You will work with process chemists and engineers on mini-pilot campaigns, maintain records, and ensure safety and equipment readiness across shifts during critical milestones.