We are looking to add a Scientist to our client's growing team in Houston. This is a hands-on role that involves working in a lab environment (and potentially commercial site). The scientist will be responsible for contributing to the design and development of water and wastewater treatment products/plants, particularly those related to direct lithium extraction (DLE).
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead development and implementation of DLE technologies in the US.
- Identify and evaluate new materials, sorbents, membranes, and process configurations for DLE applications.
- Design and conduct laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to evaluate extraction performance and optimize process parameters.
- Analyze and interpret experimental data to drive decision-making and improvements in extraction efficiency, cost reduction, and sustainability.
- Support patent filings and intellectual property (IP) development related to innovative lithium extraction methods.
- Produce technical documentation, SOPs, and reports to support process validation and regulatory compliance.
SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION REQUIRED or PREFERRED:
- Ph.D., M.S., or Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field.
- At least 3-5 years of industry hands-on experience with DLE technologies, including ion-exchange, adsorption, solvent extraction, or membrane-based separation techniques. Examples:
- Working with lithium brine resources and optimizing lithium recovery efficiency.
- Sorbent material development and characterization for lithium extraction.
- Previous involvement in pilot plant operations or commercial-scale lithium extraction projects.
Excellent critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
Experience in process development, scale-up, and technology transfer in an industrial setting.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with cross-disciplinary teams.
Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.