7.4. Chemical Engineer - Leadership Development Program
Phoenix Tailings
Other Engineering
Burlington, MA, USA
Posted on Jun 18, 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, 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 a driven, innovative Chemical Engineer for the 2nd cohort of our Leadership Development Program (LDP). This intensive program is designed for individuals ready to immerse themselves in chemical process development, push their personal limits, and build the foundation for future leadership within the company. Success in this program will require dedication, a willingness to work long days and adapt to any shift the company needs, and the flexibility to step outside of traditional job descriptions to support critical projects.
This program is not for everyone, but for those who want to challenge themselves, lead the future of clean metals production, and leave their mark on the world, Phoenix Tailings offers an unparalleled opportunity.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, optimize, and operate chemical processes across rare earth extraction, separation, and metallization systems
- Perform mass/energy balances, process modeling, and thermodynamic calculations to drive design decisions
- Conduct hands-on experimentation at lab and pilot scales to develop novel hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical systems
- Collaborate across disciplines — mechanical, electrical, materials, operations, and commercial — to ensure process requirements translate into real, reliable equipment
- Scale up unit operations to commercial scale while maintaining control over reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and material compatibility
- Evaluate reagents, solvents, and alternative pathways to improve sustainability and reduce waste
- Troubleshoot chemical process issues with a hands-on, iterative approach
- Own and improve SOPs, safety protocols, and process documentation as systems evolve from lab to plant scale
- Support commissioning and troubleshooting of pilot and commercial systems, including system startups, test plans, and failure analysis
- Grow into a future leader by taking ownership, pushing through ambiguity, and helping shape the future of clean metals refining
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field
- Hands-on experience in a lab, pilot, or plant setting — including chemical handling, process monitoring, or bench-scale experiments
- Willingness to work long hours and contribute wherever needed to move the mission forward
- Strong problem-solving mindset with a bias for action and ownership
- Strong understanding of reaction engineering, phase equilibria, fluid flow, and thermodynamics
- Demonstrated ability to translate lab-scale results into scalable, hardware-integrated processes
- Experience in designing, executing, and analyzing experiments of complex chemical systems
- Familiarity with process simulation tools (e.g., SysCAD, COMSOL, etc.)
- Grit, humility, and curiosity — you own your outcomes and constantly seek to improv
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).
