Principal Sustainability Engineer

Phoenix Tailings is seeking a Principal Sustainability Engineer in Cambridge, MA, to lead sustainability strategies in rare earth metals refining and recycling. Responsibilities include integrating carbon capture, conducting lifecycle assessments, and evaluating emerging technologies. Ideal candidates will have a Master's degree, 8+ years of experience in sustainability, and expertise in clean technology. The role emphasizes collaboration with R&D and engineering teams to promote sustainable practices.
Position: 4.3. Principal Sustainability Engineer
About Phoenix Tailings Phoenix Tailings is a rapidly growing clean mining and metals production startup dedicated to sustainable and economic critical metals production. Our mission is to be the world's first fully clean mining and metals production company, producing the resources needed for the next generation of our economy.

Why Phoenix Tailings At Phoenix, we believe that nothing great is ever accomplished alone or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. If you are someone who shares our relentless pursuit of a better future, passion for innovation, and are excited about working with some of the top innovators in the world, then this is the place for you.

Our Values:
• You are only crazy if you are wrong, it's ok to be wrong
• Lead with Compassion
• Be Resourceful
• Listen• Hustle Who we are looking for:
Who We Are Looking For:

We are seeking a Principal Sustainability Engineer to drive our sustainability strategy across our rare earth metals refining, recycling, and materials development operations. In this role, you will lead cross-functional initiatives that integrate carbon capture, lifecycle analysis (LCA), and emissions reduction into our core technology platforms. You'll also bring a strategic investment lens, evaluating early-stage technologies through techno-economic analysis and guiding their integration into our process roadmap.

This position is ideal for an experienced technical leader with deep knowledge of carbon management, recycling streams, and sustainable materials. You'll work closely with R&D, process engineering, and external technology partners to ensure our systems are built for long-term environmental and economic viability.

Key Responsibilities Lead the integration of carbon capture, utilization, and storage strategies into Phoenix Tailings' production systems

Conduct lifecycle assessments (LCAs) and emissions inventories to guide decision-making and regulatory compliance

Develop techno-economic assessments for emerging technologies and support strategic decisions for commercialization

Collaborate with R&D and engineering teams to embed sustainability into process and product design

Evaluate early-stage technologies for strategic fit, technical feasibility, and environmental impact

Guide sustainability reporting and disclosures for customers, investors, and regulatory bodies

Build partnerships across industry and government to advance Phoenix Tailings' decarbonization objectives

Qualifications:

Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field (Ph.D. a plus)8+ years of experience in sustainability, decarbonization, or clean technology engineering ideally in the metals or chemical processing industry Strong expertise in CCUS, recycling waste streams, hydrogen, sustainable materials, or circular economy solutions

Deep understanding of LCA tools (e.g., Sima Pro, GREET) and lifecycle emissions modeling

Proven ability to lead techno-economic and technology readiness assessments for early-stage innovation

Familiarity with U.S. and international climate tech policy and regulatory frameworks

Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills

We offer a competitive compensation package that is based on expertise. We also offer the following benefits:

Healthcare, we care about you and your family: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage Stock:
Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company. Family Focus:
Parental leave and flexibility for families. Time Off:
Flexible vacation policy to encourage people to get out and see the world. Team Fun:
Regularly scheduled events, and celebrations. Learning:
Learning and development Opportunities to grow your skills and career. Great team:
Working with fun, hard-working, kind people committed to making a difference! Flexible culture:
We are results-focused. We don't work at the office every day. At Phoenix Tailings, we have an open culture that values learning, and we are looking to grow the team with enthusiastic individuals who share our vision of sustainable mining. Phoenix Tailings, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity at all levels. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information, or any other applicable protected characteristics, and these characteristics will not be a factor for consideration of any work-related decisions (including but not limited to hiring, firing, compensation, and discipline).