7.5. Senior Separation Scientist
Phoenix Tailings
Woburn, MA, USA
Posted on Jan 26, 2025
About Phoenix Tailings
Phoenix Tailings is a rapidly-growing clean mining and metals production startup dedicated to sustainable and economic critical metals production. Our mission is to be the world's first fully clean mining and metals production company, producing the resources needed for the next generation of our economy.
Why Phoenix Tailings
At Phoenix Tailings, we believe that nothing great is ever accomplished alone or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. If you are someone who shares our relentless pursuit of a better future, passion for innovation, and are excited about working with some of the top innovators in the world, then this is the place for you.
Our Values:
● You are only crazy if you are wrong, it’s ok to be wrong
● Lead with Compassion
● Be Resourceful
● Listen
● Hustle
Who We Are Looking For:
Phoenix Tailings is seeking an innovative and highly skilled Senior Separation Scientist in a relevant field to lead the development and optimization of separation processes for rare earth element recovery. This role focuses on advancing solvent extraction and other separation techniques to ensure the efficient and sustainable recovery of critical resources essential for clean energy, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics.
As a Senior Separation Scientist, you will leverage your expertise to drive innovation, lead experimental programs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve breakthrough advancements in separation science.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and optimize advanced solvent extraction and separation processes for the selective recovery of rare earth elements from complex feedstocks.
- Lead research programs to explore novel extractants, solvent systems, and separation techniques.
- Conduct experimental studies at the laboratory and pilot scale to validate and refine process designs.
- Analyze experimental data to develop process models, identify performance bottlenecks, and implement improvements.
- Develop and optimize flowsheets for the integration of separation processes with upstream and downstream operations.
- Stay at the forefront of advancements in separation technologies and rare earth processing to identify opportunities for innovation
- Lead separation-focused projects, ensuring timely delivery within budget and meeting required specifications.
- Prepare detailed technical reports, proposals, and presentations for technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership and stakeholders.
- Collaborate with engineering, R&D, and operations teams to align separation processes with organizational goals.
- Provide strategic input on the company’s technology roadmap and resource allocation to advance rare earth element recovery.
- Monitor market trends and regulatory developments to identify challenges and opportunities in separation science.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field with a focus on separation science or solvent extraction.
- 5+ years of postdoctoral or industrial experience in the design and development of separation processes, particularly for metals or rare earth elements.
- Extensive knowledge of solvent extraction, ion exchange, and related separation technologies.
- Strong understanding of chemical equilibrium, mass transfer, and thermodynamics as applied to separation processes.
- Experience in scaling processes from laboratory to pilot or industrial scale.
- Experience in rare earth element processing or critical metals recovery.
- Knowledge of high-temperature processes or electrochemical methods.
- Familiarity with regulatory and environmental considerations for industrial separation processes.
We offer a competitive compensation package that is based on expertise. We also offer the following benefits:
- Healthcare, we care about you and your family: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Stock: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
- Family Focus: Parental leave and flexibility for families.
- Time Off: Flexible vacation policy to encourage people to get out and see the world.
- Team Fun: Regularly scheduled events, and celebrations.
- Learning: Learning and development Opportunities to grow your skills and career.
- Great team: Working with fun, hard-working, kind people committed to making a difference!
- Flexible culture: We are results-focused. We don’t work at the office every day.
At Phoenix Tailings, we have an open culture that values learning, and we are looking to grow the team with enthusiastic individuals who share our vision of sustainable mining.
Phoenix Tailings, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity at all levels. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information, or any other applicable protected characteristics, and these characteristics will not be a factor for consideration of any work-related decisions (including but not limited to hiring, firing, compensation, and discipline).
