We operate a fully integrated rare earth production platform spanning extraction, separation, refining, and metallization with a zero waste and zero emissions philosophy. The company is focused on restoring America's leadership in critical minerals and building the foundation for a secure domestic supply chain powering defense, energy, robotics, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
At Phoenix, we believe nothing great is ever accomplished alone - or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. You’ll be joining a team building the foundational infrastructure for the modern world, developing entirely new ways to produce rare earth and critical metals domestically, cleanly, and at scale.
Phoenix Tailings is looking for a Director of Pilot Plant Engineering to lead the development, execution, and operation of our pilot-scale rare earth separation and metallization programs in Burlington.
This leader will sit between R&D and Manufacturing, helping move new technologies through pilot development in a structured, disciplined, and scalable way. You will be responsible for setting project priorities, coordinating engineering work, managing pilot timelines and resources, and ensuring that lessons learned at the pilot scale are translated into clear requirements for production.
You will help build a pilot organization that not only proves new technology, but creates the processes, documentation, operating discipline, and execution model required to move that technology into commercial manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead pilot-scale engineering programs for Phoenix Tailings' rare earth separation and metallization technologies, driving projects from early development through production handoff.
- Establish project plans, priorities, schedules, milestones, and resource requirements for pilot initiatives, ensuring teams remain focused on the most critical technical and business objectives.
- Coordinate work across R&D, engineering, operations, manufacturing, vendors, and external partners to keep pilot programs aligned and moving forward.
- Systematize pilot plant operations by establishing clear operating procedures, documentation, data collection practices, maintenance standards, and project execution processes.
- Oversee the design, modification, commissioning, and improvement of pilot equipment and systems required to evaluate and scale new rare earth processes.
- Plan and lead pilot campaigns that generate the technical and operational information required to make confident scale-up and commercialization decisions.
- Identify project risks, equipment limitations, schedule constraints, and resource gaps, and drive timely solutions to keep pilot programs on track.
- Translate pilot results into clear engineering recommendations, operating requirements, and scale-up plans for manufacturing and future capital projects.
- Build and develop a high-performing pilot engineering team capable of executing multiple complex programs while maintaining strong technical standards and operational discipline.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Process Engineering, or a related technical discipline; an advanced degree is a plus.
- 8+ years of experience in pilot plant engineering, process development, scale-up, manufacturing engineering, chemical processing, metals production, minerals processing, or a similarly complex industrial environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading pilot, demonstration, scale-up, or first-of-a-kind engineering projects from planning through execution and operational handoff.
- Strong project management skills, including experience managing schedules, priorities, resources, technical risks, vendors, and multiple concurrent workstreams.
- Experience working with complex process equipment and translating developing technology into reliable, repeatable operating systems.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate technical teams across R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and operations to achieve defined project and scale-up objectives.
- Experience developing structured operating procedures, engineering documentation, project plans, and technical requirements that support successful technology transfer.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to build teams, create accountability, and drive execution in a fast-moving development environment.
- Experience in rare earths, chemical separations, metals refining, metallurgy, or related process industries is strongly preferred.
What we Offer
This pay range reflects best estimate for the total cash compensation which includes salary + discretionary bonus for this role. Total package may vary based on experience and qualifications.
Pay Range: $140,000- $180,000 total cash compensation plus equity
Healthcare: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee.
Stock Options: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
Time Off: Unlimited PTO.
Learning: Learning and development opportunities to grow your skills and career.
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