Lead Hydrometallurgist

Connecticut Innovations; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation

Collaborative team environment

Job summary

FAST Metals, a portfolio company of Connecticut Innovations, seeks a Lead Hydrometallurgist to own development, scale-up, and execution of hydrometallurgical processes at the Fort Lauderdale facility. This hands-on role translates bench chemistry into operable pilot systems.

You will lead lab studies, design and operate pilot systems, and prepare mass/energy balances using METSIM and SYSCAD while collaborating with internal teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Chemical/Mining Engineering, Materials Science, or closely related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years hands-on experience in hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, pyrometallurgy or metal recovery with base metals/REE.
• Experience developing, commissioning, and operating lab-scale and pilot-scale hydrometallurgical processes.
• Strong knowledge of leaching, purification, and recovery techniques.
• Proficiency in mass and energy balances and process models (METSIM/SYSCAD).
• Ability to scale from lab to pilot operations and work on-site in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Responsibilities

• Lead lab-scale hydrometallurgical studies including leaching, purification and metal recovery.
• Design, commission and operate pilot-scale systems at the Fort Lauderdale facility and troubleshoot daily operations.
• Develop and maintain detailed mass and energy balances using METSIM/SYSCAD.
• Translate bench-scale results into pilot-ready flowsheets and SOPs.
• Drive scale-up decisions considering technical risk, operability and economics.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to integrate unit operations into broader flowsheets.
• Maintain safety, environmental and documentation standards across lab and pilot operations.

Skills

Hydrometallurgy

Pilot-scale operations

Mass & energy balances

METSIM / SYSCAD

On-site Fort Lauderdale

Education

Bachelor’s in Metallurgy or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

METSIM

SYSCAD

Job description

Are you ready to join Connecticut Innovation’s vibrant community of innovators? Connecticut Innovations (“CI”) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm, and we are passionate about serving our portfolio of 220+ companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology, and climate tech.

Come join one of our quickly growing portfolio companies, Fast Metals!

About FAST Metals

FAST Metals is developing next-generation hydrometallurgical processes to recover critical and strategic metals from industrial waste streams and secondary feedstocks. Our mission is to enable domestic, low-cost, and low-carbon production of metals essential to advanced manufacturing, energy, and defense applications.

We are a technically driven, fast-moving startup operating from lab-scale development through pilot-scale demonstration, with a clear path to commercialization.

The Role

FAST Metals is seeking a Lead Hydrometallurgist to own the development, scale-up, and execution of our hydrometallurgical processes at our Fort Lauderdale facility. This is a hands-on, lab- and pilot-focused role responsible for translating bench-scale chemistry into robust, operable pilot systems.

You will lead laboratory studies, commission and operate pilot-scale equipment, and generate the technical data required to advance FAST Metals’ technologies toward commercial deployment.

• Lead laboratory-scale hydrometallurgical studies, including leaching, purification, and metal recovery, to optimize process performance and recoveries.
• Design, commission, and operate pilot-scale hydrometallurgical systems at the Fort Lauderdale facility, owning day-to-day pilot operations and troubleshooting.
• Develop and maintain detailed mass and energy balances using industry-standard tools such as METSIM and/or SYSCAD to support process design and scale-up.
• Translating bench-scale results into pilot-ready flowsheets, mass balances, SOPs, and operating protocols.
• Drive process scale-up decisions by evaluating technical risk, operability, and economic trade-offs.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to integrate hydrometallurgical unit operations into broader process flowsheets.
• Maintain rigorous safety, environmental, and documentation standards across lab and pilot operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field (advanced degree preferred).
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, pyrometallurgy or metal recovery with base metals and rare earth elements (REE).
• Demonstrated experience developing, commissioning, and operating lab-scale and pilot-scale hydrometallurgical processes.
• Strong working knowledge of leaching systems and downstream purification and recovery techniques.
• Proven experience preparing mass and energy balances and process models, preferably using METSIM and/or SYSCAD.
• Ability to scale processes from laboratory studies to pilot operation.
• Willingness to work full-time on-site in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

What We Offer

• A senior, hands-on technical role with direct ownership of process development and pilot operations.
• Competitive salary and equity compensation, commensurate with experience.
• A collaborative, mission-driven team focused on building real, deployable metallurgical solutions.

FAST Metals is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We have strict wage minimums, generous benefits, and personal leave policies. Our goal is to provide safe, rewarding, and empowering work environments for all who interact with our company.