ISR Reactive Transport Modeller – Geochemistry (m/w/d)

About Hades

Hades is a modern mining company on a mission to transform how the world accesses critical resources and energy. Founded in 2025, we’re developing ultra-deep drilling technologies that push the limits of what’s possible underground. Based in Munich, we’ve raised €20M in pre-seed and seed funding from leading European resilience investors. We’re now building a world-class team to bring this vision to life.

Why Join Hades?

At Hades, you'll be part of a high-growth, high-impact deep-tech startup making a tangible difference. Our mission is critical: to secure sovereignty for Europe through the responsible and efficient extraction of vital materials and energy. We offer:

- Impactful Work: Contribute directly to solving global challenges related to resource scarcity and energy independence.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: Work at the forefront of ultra-deep drilling, leveraging advanced engineering and innovative approaches.
- Growth Potential: Join a rapidly expanding company with significant opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Dynamic Environment: Thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and entrepreneurial setting in the heart of Munich.
- Purpose-Driven Mission: Be part of a team dedicated to a sustainable and secure future for Europe.

## The Role
In ISR, the ore body is the reactor. Recovery, reagent consumption and groundwater impact are all set by the chemistry between lixiviant, minerals and formation water. You are the person who predicts that chemistry.
Working with our Senior ISR Engineer and Hydrogeologist, you build the geochemical and reactive-transport models behind Hades' In-Situ Recovery (ISR/ISL) business line. You design leaching chemistries, forecast recovery curves and reagent demand, and quantify the risks of mineral precipitation, clogging and contaminant mobilisation. Because Hades' drilling technology targets deeper, harder host rocks than conventional sandstone-hosted ISR, you will work with mineral assemblages, temperatures and pressures for which few calibrated models exist.

Responsibilities

- Geochemical characterisation: Define ore and gangue mineralogy, formation-water chemistry and redox conditions from core, assay and groundwater data; build the thermodynamic and kinetic basis for modelling.
- Lixiviant design: Evaluate acid, alkaline, oxidant and complexing chemistries; predict dissolution kinetics, selectivity and reagent consumption for each target commodity.
- Reactive-transport modelling: Develop and calibrate coupled flow–chemistry models (PHREEQC, PHT3D, TOUGHREACT, CrunchFlow or equivalent) to forecast head grade, recovery over time and pregnant-solution composition.
- Laboratory programmes: Specify and interpret batch, column and core-flood leach tests; use the results to parameterise and validate models.
- Formation damage and scaling: Predict precipitation of gypsum, iron oxyhydroxides and other secondary phases, gas evolution and permeability loss, and propose mitigation.
- Environmental geochemistry: Model mobilisation and attenuation of metals and radionuclides, excursion chemistry and natural attenuation; set the geochemical basis for restoration targets and post-closure predictions.
- Process interface: Deliver solution-chemistry forecasts to the process team for ion exchange, solvent extraction or precipitation design.
- Permitting: Prepare the geochemical sections of permit applications and environmental impact assessments.

## Qualifications
Essential:

- PhD or MSc in geochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, chemical engineering, environmental sciences or a related field
- 3+ years of applied experience in geochemical or reactive-transport modelling
- Expert user of PHREEQC and at least one coupled reactive-transport code (PHT3D, TOUGHREACT, CrunchFlow, PFLOTRAN, OpenGeoSys or similar)
- Strong grounding in aqueous geochemistry, mineral dissolution/precipitation kinetics, redox and sorption processes
- Experience designing or interpreting leach, column or core-flood experiments
- Ability to critically assess thermodynamic databases and model uncertainty
- Fluent English, written and spoken
- Willingness to relocate to the Munich area
Preferred:

- Direct ISR/ISL, heap-leach or hydrometallurgy experience (uranium, copper, rare earths or similar)
- Modelling of high-temperature or high-salinity systems (Pitzer), or geothermal geochemistry
- Experience with radionuclide or metal transport in environmental or permitting contexts
- Familiarity with ion exchange, solvent extraction or precipitation processes
- Scripting and model automation (Python, PhreeqPy, PEST)
- German language skills

Why Hades?

We offer

- An opportunity to make a huge impact on the future of Europe by increasing resilience and providing a path to resource and energy sovereignty
- A human-centered company culture with super nice and supportive colleagues
- A great sense of community through team events and fun in and outside the office
- Highly competitive compensation and benefits package

If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and contributing to a more sustainable future, we encourage you to apply now.