The Context
Syntra Refining Corp. is an advanced technology company bridging the North American midstream processing gap. Syntra processes critical minerals—specifically energy minerals—from both variable waste streams and primary feed sources. The company's proprietary, zero-waste smart refineries (SynHubs™) produce high-purity lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper. Following the successful validation of an operating pilot, Syntra is now advancing the construction and commissioning of a commercial market-entry facility in Halifax.
Syntra is seeking a Senior Chemical/Process Engineer to lead the advancement and physical scale-up of the proprietary SynCore™ technology. This is a First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) infrastructure build. This role acts as the operational bridge between process chemistry and industrial execution. Reporting directly to the executive team, this individual will lead the technology progression and manage both internal interdisciplinary teams and external engineering partners to advance the project and commission the facility.
The Scope of Work
- Support Scale-Up: Drive the engineering transition from an operating pilot to continuous commercial operations, ensuring adherence to strict Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and yield requirements.
- Interdisciplinary Integration: Act as the nexus between lead process chemists, automation/controls engineers (AI Digital Twin integration), and mechanical operators to ensure seamless system integration.
- Vendor & Project Management: Support external EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management) firms and equipment vendors. Translate the core flowsheet into actionable industrial compliance and physical plant architecture.
- Operational Baseline: Establish the standard operating procedures, safety protocols, and process control parameters required to transition the team from an R&D framework into a project-oriented execution and continuous operations model.
- Problem Resolution: Anticipate and resolve physical scaling bottlenecks related to fluid dynamics, continuous flow-through chemistry, and equipment tolerance.
Qualifications
- Designation: Registered (or immediately eligible for registration) as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) preferred.
- Education: Minimum Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering (Master's preferred).
- Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in industrial processing, chemical refining, or hydrometallurgy. Experience moving a process from TRL 7 to TRL 9 is highly preferred.
- Technical Skills: Deep technical familiarity with solid-liquid separation (e.g., filter presses), high-pressure piping, and hydraulic calculations (e.g., pump sizing).
- Independence & Leadership: A natural leader and independent thinker who operates effectively without a pre-existing playbook. Proven ability to align cross-functional, interdisciplinary teams (scientists, engineers, trades) toward project commissioning deadlines.
- Commercial Awareness: Understands that engineering decisions directly impact capital efficiency (CAPEX/OPEX) and timeline-to-revenue.
The Opportunity
This role offers the opportunity to be at the ground floor of a systemic shift in how energy minerals are processed in North America. This is a mandate to build tangible, hard-tech infrastructure that actively solves the midstream gap and secures domestic supply chains.
To Apply
Please submit a resume alongside a brief outline of a previous pilot-to-commercial scale-up project managed.
Work Location: In person
