Lead Hydrometallurgist — Lab-to-Pilot Scale-Up

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

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.