Senior Scale-Up Engineer

About us:

ChemFinity Technologies is building critical mineral recovery systems to produce over 20 minerals from waste and mining feedstocks at low cost, using our proprietary, high-performance, high-durability sorbent filters. Up to a 6x increase in critical mineral demand is expected by 2040, to meet the supplies needed for clean energy, defense, manufacturing, and other technology sectors. However, 80% of U.S. critical minerals already come from foreign sources, and 7% of greenhouse gas emissions come from mining. Our team’s mission is to produce these minerals in ways that are cheaper, cleaner, and more accessible than existing methods such as high-temperature smelting, starting with precious metals like platinum.

Spun out of UC Berkeley in late 2022 and based in New York City, ChemFinity is backed by top-tier investor firms and over 10 top government and grant agencies, such as Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Fellows, the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E, and the U.S. EPA. ChemFinity has been recognized as top innovators in the critical minerals sector by the World Economic Forum, Forbes, and Conservation X Labs.

What you will do:

ChemFinity seeks a scale-up engineer with experience in building pilot plants to lead key aspects of the scale-up, optimization, and integration of our sorbent and critical mineral refining systems. In this role you will work creatively and hands-on with our team of chemical engineers and chemists, co-founders, and external partners as we build pilots and grow from the lab to industrial scale. Key responsibilities include:

• Design, build, commission, and validate pilot-scale process units of mineral recovery systems.

• Integrate process units together for continuous processing and recovery of critical minerals, ensuring high-purity products.

• Oversee the automation of recovery system prototypes.

• Support the modeling of our recovery systems to determine process variable sensitivities for pilot- and demo-scale systems.

• Work with external partners (e.g., suppliers, contractors, EPCs) to determine design requirements for various unit operations, help source materials and supplies for pilot plant operations, and identify design needs at larger scales.

• Prepare and manage comprehensive documentation, including flowsheets, equipment and process design criteria, technical reports, and standard operating procedures.

• Perform full-time hands-on work on-site at our Brooklyn facility.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in chemical engineering, mining engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, or other closely related field.

• 5+ years of experience in building deployable pilot systems and/or industrial chemical separations technologies. Prior experience in scaling up critical mineral recovery systems and/or sorbent technologies is a strong plus. (Note: We are considering a range of experience levels for this role.)

• Experience in programming systems automation and process controls.

• Experience in project management and successfully interfacing with external partners.

• Hands-on experience in building, operating, and troubleshooting equipment.

• An unwavering commitment to high safety standards and supportive work behavior.

Other preferred qualifications:

• Experience in scaling technologies in startups and/or from the lab to full-scale commercialization.

• Proficiency in process modeling software (e.g., Aspen or AutoCAD).

• Experience in writing grant applications and detailed technical reports.

• The desire to be in a dynamic startup environment and proactively use critical thinking to solve difficult but impactful challenges.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary range for this position is expected to be $100K-$160K. Compensation will be commensurate with experience level. For this role, we are considering candidates from a range of experience levels and highly value fit with our team.

• Competitive compensation including equity options

• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits

• 401(k) benefits with company matching

• Flexible paid time off and holidays

• Health/fitness stipend

• Open, supportive, and diverse team focused on creating major impact

Please reach out to recruiting@chemfinitytech.com if you have questions. ChemFinity Technologies is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace as a core value. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, nationality, color, sexual orientation, ancestry, religion, gender identity, age, marital status, disability status, or veteran status. We know the right candidate may not meet every criterion listed in this job description. If you believe you are a great candidate for this role and possess relevant skills not listed above, we encourage you to apply and tell us why you are a great fit!