Process Chemist - Hydrometallurgy (Laboratory & Pilot)

The company Syntra Refining Corp is a critical-minerals refining company based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We convert waste streams, recycled materials and mineral intermediates into high-purity critical mineral products through a continuous, closed-loop hydrometallurgical circuit that operates without smelting or organic solvent extraction, at zero liquid discharge. We operate a pilot refining circuit and analytical laboratory in Dartmouth, and we are building a demonstration plant in the Halifax area. This is a first-of-a-kind operation. The position The Process Chemist is responsible for the laboratory and pilot work through which the refining process is developed and qualified. The role sits at the center of the technical program: designing test work, interpreting what it shows, and carrying the outcome into the design of the demonstration plant. The Process chemist will: Design and execute bench and pilot test programs across the separation and purification circuits Develop the process chemistry for recovery of critical and battery minerals from variable and complex feed, taking material from input through to high-purity product output. Establish operating windows, reagent regimes and impurity rejection strategies, and define the conditions under which they hold. Own sampling design, mass balance closure and stage-by-stage reconciliation. Direct analytical method development and quality control within the laboratory. Maintain the technical record (test plans, campaign reports, deviations and invention disclosures) to a standard that withstands external review. Carry pilot outcomes into the process design basis for the demonstration plant, in coordination with the internal engineering team and external engineering contractors. Syntra Refining Corp is an early-stage company with a demonstration plant in front of it. Decisions move quickly, the distance between a laboratory result and a capital decision is short, and there is no separation between the people who generate the data and the people who act on it. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, sound judgment, and the initiative to take ownership of outcomes without needing constant direction. Qualifications A degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, extractive or process metallurgy, or a related discipline. Three to seven years of applied hydrometallurgical experience in a laboratory or pilot plant environment. Command of the underlying chemistry (leaching, separation, purification, precipitation and crystallization) as it applies to critical and battery minerals. Ability to take a feed material through to a specified product output, ideally in hydrometallurgy or another process-intensive sector with directly relevant experience. Rigor with data: balances that close, results that reconcile, and the judgement to investigate a discrepancy rather than accommodate it. Competence and discipline in the handling of strong acids, bases and metal salts. The ability to work effectively both independently and within a small, interdependent technical team. Genuine curiosity about the chemistry, and a willingness to learn unfamiliar aspects of it. Strong attention to detail, clear reporting skills, and the initiative to move work forward independently. A strong sense of ownership, and comfort in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Comfort in an early-stage operating environment that moves quickly and demands a high degree of autonomy Assets Battery materials, black mass, mixed hydroxide precipitate, or nickel and cobalt sulphate production. Continuous or counter-current separation processes. Design of experiments and statistical analysis. Closed-circuit water management and industrial water treatment. Working to a customer product specification. To Apply Applications should include a curriculum vitae and a brief covering note describing one process chemistry problem you personally resolved: the problem, your approach, and how you established that the result was sound. Employment is conditional on execution of our confidentiality and assignment-of-inventions agreement. Syntra Refining Corp is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and we especially encourage applications from members of equity-deserving groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

The Process Chemist designs and executes bench and pilot test programs to develop refining processes for critical and battery minerals. They are responsible for translating laboratory outcomes into the process design basis for a demonstration plant.

Requires a degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or metallurgy with 3-7 years of applied hydrometallurgical experience. Candidates must demonstrate rigor with data and competence in handling strong acids, bases, and metal salts.

• Data analysisPreferred

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Hydrometallurgy
• Process Chemistry
• Laboratory Design
• Pilot Plant Operation
• Mass Balance
• Analytical Method Development
• Leaching
• Separation
• Purification
• Crystallization
• Data Analysis
• Chemical Engineering
• Sampling Design
• Quality Control
• Reagent Management
• Technical Reporting

• Science & Research
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Environmental & Sustainability
• Energy

Minimum education

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum experience

5+ years

Apply by

Sep 18, 2026

Posting language

English

Working hours

40 hours per week

Seniority

Mid-Senior level

Application method

Direct apply is available