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PHNX Materials is a critical-minerals refinery backed by the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of War, converting industrial waste (coal ash, zinc slag) into three product streams: critical metals for semiconductors and defense, cement replacement for construction, and fertilizer for agriculture. The company addresses a strategic vulnerability: China controls 98% of global gallium, 92% of germanium, and 93% of silicon, and weaponized export restrictions in 2024.
You will lead process design and engineering for fluid and gas-phase systems in ash processing and chemical recovery, with particular focus on sulfuric acid and other volatile or corrosive compounds. Key responsibilities include:
• Develop and refine process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and mass/energy balances for pilot and full-scale systems
• Design and specify unit operations: scrubbers, absorbers, degassers, pressure vessels, neutralizers
• Translate lab-scale R&D results into scalable, field-ready engineering solutions; troubleshoot performance and modify designs as needed
• Model fluid and gas behavior across complex chemical systems, optimizing for pressure, temperature, and chemical compatibility
• Support material selection and corrosion mitigation strategies for process piping, tanks, and equipment
• Interface with EPC contractors and vendors on equipment design, process integration, and procurement
• Ensure system safety, emissions control, and compliance with environmental regulations for chemical handling and gas management
• Work cross-functionally with R&D, operations, and external engineering partners during scale-up phase
This is a hands-on technical role shaping novel chemical systems at scale in a mission-driven startup environment with significant growth potential.
REQUIREMENTS:
• 5+ years of chemical process engineering experience with direct exposure to sulfuric acid or similar chemical facilities
• Ideally, experience setting up and operating manufacturing facilities
• Strong command of fluid dynamics, gas-phase transport, and reactive chemical systems
• Proficiency in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS) and hands-on process design experience
• Experience collaborating across R&D and engineering functions to bring new technologies to life
• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in Chemical Engineering or related discipline
• Commitment to safety, environmental responsibility, and engineering rigor
• U.S. national (funding obligation)
