Who we are:
Demand for critical minerals to power the energy transition is growing exponentially. Yet, we know mining deeper and broader, and building landfills higher and wider, works against our fight to save the planet. At Nth Cycle, we see the path forward. We believe the critical minerals needed for the energy transition are already in circulation today. We just didn’t have a clean, profitable way of retrieving them, until now.
Nth Cycle is a metal processing technology company. Our electro-extraction technology helps recyclers and miners capture more critical minerals—for use in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, among other things—while dramatically reducing costs and emissions. We are the heart of metals processing; we are the crucial step that profitably separates critical minerals from other elements, transforming them into production-grade feedstocks for the energy transition.
Our Culture:
You won’t find another team like ours. We believe in open, honest communication, and enjoying our work while changing the world. And we value the perspectives and opinions of our colleagues while pushing each other to excel.
We’re a dynamic team looking for a new team member who’s also passionate about addressing climate change and advancing the clean energy industry. Consistent with our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we value colleagues with the ability to work on diverse teams and with a diverse range of people.
If this is you, keep reading.
Job Overview:
The Senior Commercial Hydrometallurgist bridges the gap between technical process engineering and corporate financial strategy. This role scales bench-top hydrometallurgical concepts into commercially viable, industrial-scale processing plants. You will drive metallurgical process design, optimize existing flowsheets, and build robust technoeconomic models to guide capital investment decisions.
Key Responsibilities:
Process Design & Simulation:
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Build, calibrate, and optimize steady-state process simulation models using Metsim.
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Define complex unit operations including leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrowinning, and precipitation.
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Scale bench-scale and pilot-plant data into full-scale industrial process flowsheets.
Mass & Energy Balance:
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Develop rigorous, elemental mass and energy balances for complex multi-component systems.
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Track deleterious elements, water balances, and reagent consumption across the entire flowsheet.
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Identify process bottlenecks, yield inefficiencies, and opportunities for metal recovery optimization.
Commercial & Technoeconomic Analysis (TEA):
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Lead technoeconomic evaluations for scoping, pre-feasibility (PFS), and definitive feasibility studies (DFS).
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Estimate capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) for hydrometallurgical facilities.
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Conduct sensitivity analyses on volatile inputs like reagent costs, energy prices, and metal recovery rates.
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Translate technical engineering metrics into financial KPIs including NPV, IRR, and payback periods for executive leadership.
Technical Project Management:
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Manage metallurgical testwork programs conducted at external commercial laboratories.
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Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) teams during detailed design phases.
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Draft comprehensive technical reports, process descriptions, and investment memorandums.
Required Qualifications:
Education & Experience:
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Degree: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Extractive Metallurgy.
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Experience: 8-12 years of experience in hydrometallurgical process engineering, with a strong focus on commercial or corporate development environments.
Technical Skills:
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Metsim Proficiency: Advanced capability in building dynamic or steady-state Metsim models from scratch.
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Mass Balance: Expert Excel/VBA or specialized software skills for mass balance validation and data reconciliation.
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Financial Acumen: Proven experience building detailed engineering cost models and TEA frameworks.
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Chemistry Knowledge: Deep understanding of aqueous chemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics.
Salary range: $110K to $140K.
