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Role Summary

Alta is seeking a Hydrometallurgy Process Development Engineer to own and advance hydrometallurgical process development across laboratory, pilot, and commercial scales. The ideal candidate will design, optimize, and scale hydrometallurgical unit operations including leaching, precipitation, impurity removal, and calcination for rare earth elements from ores and concentrates. They will work cross-functionally with R&D and Engineering/Operations teams to improve yield, purity, robustness, and economics of Alta’s end-to-end flowsheets.

A successful candidate will:

• Develop and optimize hydrometallurgical flowsheets for commercial-scale systems
• Lead and support the development and commercialization of hydrometallurgical unit operations that are quantitatively understood, scalable, and integrated with Alta’s separation platform
• Drive process development efforts to improve recovery, purity, and robustness through data and experimentation
• Provide mass balance models and quantitative insights to guide technical and business decisions
• Work with external subject matter experts to augment internal capabilities and accelerate timelines

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Process Design

• Provide hydrometallurgical subject matter expertise across the organization
• Lead the design and optimization of hydrometallurgical flowsheets for REE-bearing ores, concentrates, and intermediate streams
• Own unit operations including leaching, selective precipitation, impurity removal, and calcination
• Translate bench-scale chemistry into pilot and commercial-scale process designs, including operating envelopes, equipment sizing, and integration with upstream and downstream systems
• Identify technical risks related to scale-up, impurity control, reagent consumption, and solids handling, and develop mitigation strategies
• Operate effectively across lab, pilot, demo, and commercial environments, acting as a player-coach

Quantitative Analysis & Modeling

• Develop and maintain mass balance models across hydrometallurgical processes
• Track yield, recovery, purity, and losses at each unit operation
• Use data to drive design decisions, trade studies, and process optimization
• Support techno-economic analysis (TEA) including reagent costs, throughput, and waste streams

Experimental Design & Data Integration

• Design statistically sound experiments to improve yield and product purity
• Partner with Process Engineering and Analytical Chemistry teams to define sampling plans, analytical methods, and data quality requirements
• Interpret analytical data (ICP-OES/MS, solids characterization, particle size distribution, etc.) to inform process improvements
• Ensure experimental work is scalable, reproducible, and well-documented

Scale-Up & Deployment

• Support pilot system design, commissioning, and operation, including troubleshooting
• Define operating procedures, control strategies, and performance metrics
• Translate pilot learnings into robust commercial process designs
• Work with external partners, vendors, and test facilities

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering teams to align hydrometallurgical operations with system performance goals
• Provide technical mentorship and review for junior engineers and scientists
• Clearly communicate technical findings, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field
• ~5+ years of relevant experience in engineering, technology, or operating environments (lower experience considered for PhD holders)
• Hands-on experience in hydrometallurgy, including leaching, precipitation, and calcination
• Proven ability to design and scale chemical processes from lab to pilot and toward commercial systems
• Strong quantitative skills, including mass balances, data analysis, and experimental design
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, R&D-driven environment
• U.S. citizenship is required.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to lead a breakthrough program redefining U.S. supply chain resilience in critical materials.
• A mission-driven, high-trust team operating at the intersection of innovation, national security, and sustainability.
• High Impact & Visibility: direct interaction and reporting to executive leadership.

Compensation & Benefits

• The starting pay range for this position is $145,000 - $200,000, commensurate with educational background and work experience.
• Benefits include:
  • 401(K)
  • Medical, Dental, Vision plans (or equivalent)
  • Flexible Time Off
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Company Holidays