Role SummaryAlta is seeking a Distinguished Engineer with recognized industry-level expertise in Extractive Metallurgy to join our growing Engineering and Operations team and help shape the technical strategy behind our path to commercialization. This role will be Alta's internal technical authority on Extractive Metallurgy process technology, advising on the technical direction for design and operations, guiding the scale-up path from lab through pilot and demonstration to commercial plants. As a key contributor to our innovation pipeline, they will translate technical insight into recommendations that inform decision making.
A successful candidate will bring deep, hands-on experience in hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy with both design and operating experience in comparable plants and a track record of influencing technical and business decisions. This role will own and advance metallurgical process development and operational support across laboratory, pilot and commercial scales. The ideal candidate has expertise in extraction of rare earth elements from ore bodies and end of life components (including mechanical liberation and separation of end-of-life magnet containing components). They will partner cross-functionally with the R&D, Process Design Engineering, and Plant Operations teams to improve yield, purity, robustness, and will serve as the subject matter expert accountable for the technical integrity of Alta's end-to-end flowsheets. A strong desire to collaborate across disciplines including chemistry, biology, and engineering is a must. The role requires full-time, on-site presence at our Boulder office and may occasionally involve off-hours work.
Key ResponsibilitiesMetallurgical Process Expertise- Provide Metallurgical Subject Matter Expertise to various functions of the company and operational scales (R&D, Design and Operations)
- Serve as the technology owner for Extractive Metallurgical processes including but not limited to mechanical liberation, leaching, selective precipitation, impurity removal, roasting, and calcination
- Develop and own the integrated flowsheets for all commercial scale plants including end-of-life magnet feeds, REE-bearing intermediates from primary sources and etc
- Lead scale-up and TRL advancement, including testwork planning, interpretation of data, and integration with Engineering stages
- Own the relationship and engagement with internal and external R&D resources/OEMs, and external consultants
- Identify and mitigate technical risks related to scale-up, impurity control, reagent consumption, solids handling, and impact on/from other processes
- Develop standard processes to manage flowsheet development/validation
- Develop and maintain the Process Technology Manual to be used across scales, design, operation, and maintenance of plants
Design Support- Serve as the technology SME for projects at all scale (pilot, demonstration, and commercial)
- Lead feasibility studies of new projects and project justification
- Serve as the SME to the design team (EPCMs and internal) on commercial plant design, including deployment/validation of the flowsheet through the various Engineering stages (FEL1-3 and DE)
- Provide key safety, environmental, design and operability guidance to the design team
- Perform design reviews, technical risk assessments and resolve technical queries pertaining to process technology
- Advise the team on metallurgical unit operation selection through Safety/CAPEX/OPEX analyses supported by experience, data or testing
- Lead vendor and EPC/EPCM discussions on process technology from the owner's perspective
- Lead commissioning, performance qualification, start-up, and operator training
Operations Support- Develop standards/guidelines including Basis of Safety and Basis of Operation pertaining to the technology
- Develop technical talent through mentoring and training
- Provide technical support at all scales by troubleshooting major process issues and creating a pipeline of improvements
- Capture operating lessons and feed them back into design and into the way we scale.
Technical Leadership and Collaboration- Act as the go-to technical resource for Process Engineering, Operations, Chemistry, Biology, and the rest of the Engineering team.
- Effectively communicate process findings, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Mentor engineers, operators, supervisors, and managers on hydrometallurgical fundamentals to enhance their knowledge and capabilities
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's or Master's in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- 12+ years of relevant experience in extractive metallurgy (lower years of experience will be considered for PhD holders)
- Hands-on design and operating experience in extractive metallurgy
- Established experience with mechanical liberation/separation, leaching, impurity removal, precision separation, solvent extraction, ion exchange, roasting, calcination, filtration, precipitation etc
- Experience with processes across multiple scales, including pilot/demonstration and commercial plants.
- Strong quantitative skills, including mass balances, data analysis, and experimental design
- Experience working for operating companies, Engineering companies, and/or licensors.
- Demonstrated ability to serve as a technical advisor to leadership, design and operations teams.
Preferred Qualifications- Direct experience with rare earth ores, concentrates, or recycled feedstock
- Scale-up of critical mineral technologies including First Of A Kind (FOAK)
- Demonstrated ability to deliver technical results against fixed milestones and compressed timelines
- Knowledge of Industrial scale chromatography separation is an asset
Compensation & BenefitsThe starting pay range for this position is $130,000 - $190,000, commensurate with educational background and work experience.
Benefits include:
- 401(K) with Company Match
- Medical, Dental, Vision plans (or equivalent)
- Flexible Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Sick Leave
- Generous Holiday Schedule
Certain project activities require advance approval from the U.S. Government sponsor before individuals who are not U.S. citizens may participate. Alta will coordinate this process as needed. 
