Metallurgical Engineer — Pilot-Scale Metal Recovery

Polymer; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive cash

Meaningful equity

Job summary

PHNX Materials is seeking a Metallurgical Engineer to develop and scale metal extraction processes in a hands-on pilot plant. You will work with R&D and process engineering teams to design flowsheets, run campaigns, and solve metallurgical challenges in hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical operations.

You will advance processes from bench results to pilot operation, reporting to the CTO and collaborating with R&D, EH&S, vendors, and national lab partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant engineering/science field such as Metallurgical, Chemical, Materials Science, Mineral Processing or Geochemistry.
• Strong understanding of hydrometallurgical principles including leaching, solvent extraction and precipitation; mineral processing fundamentals; pyrometallurgical experience is a plus.
• Hands-on engineering ability to translate concepts into practical bench and pilot plant setups and operating improvements.
• Experience with DoE or process modeling software (Aspen, FactSage, HSC Chemistry) is advantageous for design and optimization.
• Ability to work independently, communicate findings clearly, and collaborate across disciplines in a fast-moving startup.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute bench- and pilot-scale campaigns for hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes.
• Develop and evaluate flowsheets for metal extraction and separation, selecting equipment and operating conditions for high-temperature and corrosive service.
• Design experiments to improve recovery, selectivity, product purity, and reagent efficiency from industrial byproducts.
• Analyze experimental data, construct mass and energy balances, and recommend scale-up steps.
• Interpret ICP, XRD, XRF data to understand feedstock variability and process performance.
• Support equipment specifications, RFQs, and vendor evaluation; assist with installation and commissioning of pilot equipment.
• Investigate bottlenecks, identify root causes, and implement practical engineering solutions.
• Incorporate safety into process design and planning; contribute to SOPs and hazard assessments.
• Contribute to technical reports and milestones for government-funded programs.

Skills

Hydrometallurgy

Leaching

Solvent extraction

Precipitation

Mineral processing

Pyrometallurgy

Hands-on engineering

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mineral Processing, Geochemistry

Tools

DoE

Aspen

FactSage

HSC Chemistry

Job description

PHNX Materials is seeking a Metallurgical Engineer to develop and scale metal extraction processes in a hands-on pilot plant. You will work with R&D and process engineering teams to design flowsheets, run campaigns, and solve metallurgical challenges in hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical operations.

You will advance processes from bench results to pilot operation, reporting to the CTO and collaborating with R&D, EH&S, vendors, and national lab partners.