Role Summary

Alta is seeking a talented Process Engineer to join our growing Engineering and Operations team. This role will lead the operation, maintenance and improvement of our Demonstration Facility, contribute to technology improvement and support design work for the semiworks facilities. This role will be a key contributor to our innovation pipeline.

A successful candidate should have Operational experience in the Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas, and/or Mining Process Industries. There should be a strong desire to collaborate across disciplines including chemistry, biology, and engineering. The role requires full-time, on-site presence at our Boulder Facility.

Key Responsibilities

Plant Systems Development:

• Develop and implement Process Safety, Environmental and relevant SHE procedures
• Develop and implement Operations, Maintenance and Reliability systems/strategies
• Create a body of knowledge for the Operation of Alta’s mineral separation process that will inform the design and operation of commercial scale facilities
• Lead the development of the plant training plan

Plant Operation:

• Lead the Operations and Maintenance activities of the plant
• Lead and support all Process Safety related activities (including managing of the deviation process, MOC, Risk Assessments, PHAs, etc)
• Monitor performance of process equipment
• Provide technical support to the Operations team for day-to-day and long-term troubleshooting
• Identify and implement process and equipment improvement opportunities
• Produce necessary reports for safety management, production, and technology improvements
• Liaison with supply chain and facilities department to maintain raw materials and spare parts
• Liaison with supply chain to ship products
• Support hiring activities for the plant

Technology Improvement:

• Contribute to technology improvement and optimization studies/projects
• Work with the R&D team to create Design of Experiments to be executed at various scales
• Interface with licensors and vendors to improve design of key equipment
• Support design work for the semiworks facilities

Other Responsibilities:

• Support development of Engineering Standards
• Participation in conferences and events
• Become the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Alta’s rare earth element process technology

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Chemical Engineering or Metallurgical Engineering
• At least 2 years of experience in a similar position in a Chemical/Petrochemical, Mining
• Processing plants and/or Demo/Pilot scale facilities
• Sound working knowledge of hydraulics, mass transfer, heat transfer and reaction engineering
• Process Safety Management knowledge
• Ability to create and implement systems
• Ability to lead Operators
• Mechanically inclined and can troubleshoot and fix equipmentPreferred Qualifications
• Operational experience with unit operations such as adsorption, column separation, chromatography, solid/liquid separation, solids handling, rotary kilns/calciners and other hydrometallurgy-related unit operations would be an asset
• PLC/DCS programming and troubleshooting knowledge would be an asset
• Hands-on experience working on scaling-up technology from pilot to commercial scale
• U.S. citizenship 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 $85,000 - $140,000 and is 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