VP of Manufacturing

WHO WE ARE

Kunin Technologies is revolutionizing the critical mineral supply chain by implementing advanced separation technologies to capture value from overlooked resources.

Metals are everywhere, in solar panels, smartphones, electric vehicles, but as ore grades plummet globally, traditional extraction methods are failing. China dominates critical minerals markets by developing superior separation technologies that extract value from materials American mines discard as waste.

Utilizing Kunin Technologies' breakthrough performance, ion-exchange media significantly more value can be produced from each resource, reducing waste, and unlocking metal abundance.

To achieve metal abundance, humanity must bring separation science down its own Moore’s Law: fix the idiot cost index for micro and nano scale separation materials. This requires mass manufacturing novel ion-exchange media form factors which previously struggled from high costs.

THE ROLE

We are automating the roll-to-roll processing of ion-exchange media. This is a similar serial production challenge to battery electrodes. You are responsible for execution: taking the demonstration line from design freeze through procurement, construction, installation, commissioning, and nameplate operation, on schedule and on budget. You own the plan, the critical path, and the outcome.

You lead the new team in Chattanooga, TN comprising a radiochemist, beam systems engineer, chemical process engineer, and control engineer. We need this built in < 6 months to feed our growing critical metals project pipeline.

By the end of Q1 2027, we expect this line to be installed and operating at nameplate.

This demonstration line becomes the basis of a greenfield manufacturing facility in Series A – B, at 10X the scale, with automated material handling and integrated back–end exchange media equipment packaging and integrated front-end continuous microfiber media sheet production.

This role expands to cover greenfield construction, facilities design, project siting, and hiring of the dedicated production staff that will run the plant.

From Q2 - Q3 2027 we will integrate front-end continuous microfiber web production, replacing delivered roll processing. From Q3 – Q4 2027, we will integrate semi-automated equipment assembly.

By 2030, we want to be the world’s largest volume producer of ion-exchange media.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execution of the roll-to-roll line build: master schedule, budget, procurement of long-lead equipment, contractor management, installation, and commissioning through nameplate operation

• Day-to-day leadership of the Chattanooga engineering team; stage-gate reporting to the founders; de-risking the critical path

• Facility readiness: power, cooling, ventilation, chemical storage and handling, waste streams, permitting, and code compliance

• Vendor and contractor accountability: FATs and SATs, installation subcontractors, and service agreements

• Safety ownership across construction and operations: procedures, training, and compliance from the first delivery to steady-state production

• Series A – B expansion groundwork: greenfield site selection and project siting, facilities design at 10X scale, and hiring of dedicated production staff

QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERRED SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering field - chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineer preferred.

• 8+ years delivering capital projects or production lines with direct ownership of schedule and budget - battery, converting, chemical plant, or similar process-line buildouts preferred.

• Has personally taken a production line or plant from purchase order to nameplate operation.

• Experience hiring and leading multi-disciplinary engineering and production teams.

• Experience with facility design, utilities, permitting, and site selection.

• Ability to work in fast paced and demanding atmosphere

• Creative problem solving that brings together reactive chemistry, radiochemistry, material handling, fluid mechanics disciplines.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Position located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Travel to partners' facilities may be intermittently required.

• Must be a U.S. citizen.

• Extended hours and weekends frequently required to support critical project milestones.

"The Whole World Is Ion-Exchange And The Rest Are Merely Details!"

Dr. Robert Kunin of Rohm and Haas, The Pioneer of the Ion-Exchange Industry, 1951