Full-Time
Lead Upstream Process Engineer
Posted on 10/31/2025
Phoenix Tailings
51-200 employees
Extracts metals from mining waste.
No salary listed
Burlington, MA, USA
In Person
 Process Engineering |
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- B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering or closely related field
- 8+ years of experience in process engineering, preferably with a focus on separations, chemical processing, or hydrometallurgy
- Demonstrated experience designing and interpreting Process Flow Diagrams and Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams for integrated process systems
- Proficiency in mass and energy balance calculations and familiarity with modeling tools (e.g., Aspen, ChemCAD, SysCAD)
- Practical experience scaling up lab processes to pilot or production systems
- Familiarity with solvent extraction, filtration, and precipitation-based systems
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills
- Lead development, modeling, and optimization of upstream chemical processes including dissolution, solvent extraction, and impurity control
- Translate R&D findings into scalable processes by developing comprehensive mass and energy balances
- Design and review process documentation including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
- Evaluate and refine unit operations through data-driven testing at lab, pilot, and production scales
- Specify and support the integration of separation technologies and associated control strategies
- Collaborate with mechanical and controls engineers to ensure process integrity and scalability
- Troubleshoot and continuously improve upstream operations through root cause analysis and technical iteration
- Produce clear documentation including SOPs, technical reports, and engineering standards
Phoenix Tailings uses a waste-to-resource approach in metals production. It extracts valuable metals and rare earth elements from mining waste instead of mining new ore, using clean energy and zero-waste technology so no waste is produced and hazardous chemicals are avoided. The process enables recovery of metals from existing mining byproducts, with revenue generated from selling the extracted metals and rare earth elements to industries like renewable energy that rely on metals. Compared with traditional metal production, Phoenix Tailings differentiates itself by turning mining waste into a source of metals, reducing environmental impact and improving supply chain sustainability. Its goal is to provide a cleaner, more sustainable metals supply through waste-to-resource processing that minimizes environmental costs.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series C
Total Funding
$75.4M
Headquarters
Woburn, Massachusetts
Founded
2019
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Exeter, NH facility ramps to 400 metric tons annually by Q3 2026, capturing US defense and EV demand.
- $116.6M Series B funding from Traxys, Sumitomo, and Eni Next accelerates facility expansions and hiring.
- $1.6M federal grant funds wastewater extraction, diversifying feedstock beyond tailings for circular supply.
What critics are saying
- China's 90% refining dominance imposes export restrictions, compressing Phoenix margins 40-60% within 12 months.
- Machinery Partner integration fails if Cazalot or Blair depart, delaying AI yield gains versus Energy Fuels.
- Exeter production slips past Q3 2026 trigger Nomura debt covenants, forcing asset sales by 2027.
What makes Phoenix Tailings unique
- Phoenix Tailings uses predictive complexation and electrochemistry to refine rare earths from tailings without toxic waste.
- Modular, net-zero process powered by renewables produces metals cost-competitively versus China's acid-heavy methods.
- AI integration from Machinery Partner acquisition optimizes yields and automates refining for domestic supply chains.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Stock Options
Family Planning Benefits
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Professional Development Budget
Flexible Work Hours
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 8%1 year growth
↑ 3%2 year growth
↑ 1%Phoenix Tailings raises $40.2M in sereis B-3 amplification funding. February 20, 2026 Phoenix Tailings, a Woburn, MA-based rare earth metals production company, raised $40.2M in Series B-3 amplification funding. The round was offered exclusively to existing investors and select strategic partners and consisted of $30.2M in equity led by Olive Tree Capital, Phoenix Tailings' Series A lead investor, and $10M in venture debt from Nomura. The raise brought the total of the Series B funding to $116.6M. The round also added strategic partners including Traxys, Eni Next, and Geodesic Alliance Fund. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts Led by CEO Nicholas Myers, Phoenix Tailings is a rare earth metals production company building a stable, circular rare earth supply chain from tailings to metal. It operates domestic refining facilities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and produces finished rare earth metals and alloys for global customers. 20/02/2026
US rare earth refiner Phoenix Tailings has raised $30.2 million in a Series B round, valuing the company at $360 million. The round was backed by metals trader Traxys North America, which also signed a memorandum of understanding with Phoenix to work towards an offtake agreement for rare earth metals. Other investors include Olive Tree Capital and Geodesic Alliance Fund. The funding will expand Phoenix's facilities that recover key minerals from mining waste, extract additional rare earth elements and support executive hiring. The investment reflects growing efforts to build US critical minerals supply chains independent of China, which controls 60% of global rare earth mining and over 90% of refining capacity. CEO Nick Myers said the round closed quickly due to strong investor interest in rare earths.
Rare-earth refiner Phoenix Tailings Inc. has raised $30.2 million from investors, including metals trader Traxys North America LLC, to expand facilities that recove…
Phoenix Tailings has been selected to receive $1.6 million in federal funding to develop technology for extracting critical minerals from wastewater. The funding supports the company's strategy to build a circular rare earths supply chain from tailings and non-conventional resources through to finished metal. Phoenix combines flexible extraction and separation technologies with modular metallisation cells to create a scalable platform for domestic critical metal supply. The company operates without reliance on Chinese inputs, equipment or technology, aiming to establish an independent US and allied critical metals ecosystem. The technology is designed to support advanced manufacturing and technology growth by providing reliable access to critical minerals essential for next-generation industries.
Phoenix Tailings, a startup based in Woburn, has secured $76 million in funding. The company specializes in extracting valuable metals from mining waste, aligning with the growing interest in sustainable materials.