Description

Role Overview

We’re seeking an ambitious founding member of the technical staff to take ownership of our lab-scale process for extracting critical minerals, precious metals, and rare earth elements from electronic waste. The ideal candidate has a strong background in chemistry, materials science, or chemical/metallurgical engineering, with hands-on lab experience and an eagerness to push the frontier of sustainable metal recovery.

You’ll work closely with the founding team to design, execute, and optimize experimental protocols, with the goal of identifying scalable and environmentally responsible extraction pathways. As one of our earliest technical hires, you’ll have the opportunity to grow into a leadership role, managing experiments, mentoring junior researchers, and shaping the company’s R&D roadmap. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead and execute lab-based research to develop and optimize electrochemical and chemical extraction processes for e-waste.
• Design experiments, run tests, and analyze results to identify the most efficient leaching, separation, and recovery pathways.
• Manage lab operations, including reagent procurement, safety compliance, and equipment setup.
• Collaborate with robotics and process-engineering teams to integrate lab findings into scalable production systems.
• Take ownership of independent research projects and help build out a growing technical team.
• Contribute to technical documentation, data analysis, and experimental reports. 

Requirements

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, or a related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on lab experience in wet chemistry, electrochemistry, or materials processing.
• Experience (or strong interest) in metal leaching, electrowinning, or mineral extraction.
• Proven ability to design and execute experiments independently.
• Strong analytical mindset and data-driven approach to problem solving.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Desire to develop professionally, take initiative, and lead future R&D teams.

Additional Details

• Flexible work environment, but in-person presence in the San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles/El Segundo is strongly preferred.
• Must be willing to work extended hours or weekends during key project phases.