About the job
ABOUT US
At Kunin Technologies, we are pioneering the transformation of the critical mineral supply chain through innovative separation technologies designed to harness value from underutilized resources.
Metals are ubiquitous in modern technology—from solar panels and smartphones to electric vehicles. However, as global ore grades continue to decline, traditional extraction methods are proving ineffective. Currently, China leads the critical minerals market by developing advanced separation technologies that reclaim value from materials that American mines typically discard as waste.
By leveraging Kunin Technologies’ groundbreaking mass-manufacturable nano-separation systems, we are able to significantly increase the value derived from each resource, minimize waste, and enhance domestic production of critical minerals.
YOUR MISSION IN YEAR 1
You will spearhead the commercialization of an innovative ion-exchange media form and system design that separates kinetics from pressure drop, achieving significant improvements in throughput compared to traditional resin-in-column systems.
Your leadership in developing ion-exchange technology will unveil a myriad of processing innovations, extending beyond critical minerals.
By the end of 2026, we aim to accomplish the following:
- Make ion-exchange as straightforward as reverse osmosis.
- Establish novel selective elution sequencing and training configurations for multi-species partitioning.
- Launch dynamic customer unit operation cost estimation tools derived from our internally developed CFD Multiphysics digital twins.
YOUR ROLE IN LEADERSHIP
In this role, you will:
- Oversee the synthesis, functionalization, and conditioning of ion-exchange resins aligned with kinetic and selectivity targets.
- Model dimensional stability based on resin backbone composition.
- Establish qualification and stress-testing protocols for novel resin form factors.
- Implement column testing programs aimed at optimizing mass transfer, breakthrough, regeneration, and leakage control.
- Develop innovative selective elution strategies from foundational principles, translating them into multi-species partitioning in pilot systems.
- Lead collaborative development initiatives with partners focused on novel ligand development.
- Facilitate the manufacturing scale-up of new ion-exchange resin media.
WHO YOU ARE
You possess a PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Polymer Engineering, and have a minimum of 5 years of experience in resin chemistry, column science, and hydrometallurgical separation.

