Mechanical EngineerCharleston, South Carolina
The RoleWe are looking for a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and operate our first copper processing and refining systems.
This is not a support role. You will take process concepts from first principles through commissioning and into production, and you will own performance, reliability, and output.
What You'll Do
- Design and build mechanical systems. Own mechanical performance across the plant.
- Translate process concepts into equipment specifications, mechanical layouts, and fabrication drawings
- Select and integrate mechanical equipment across the flowsheet
- Work closely with chemical and controls engineers to build a functioning plant
- Commission mechanical systems, including hands-on troubleshooting on the plant floor
- Define maintenance procedures, inspection intervals, and reliability KPIs
- Analyze equipment data and drive improvements in yield, quality, and throughput
- Interface directly with vendors, fabricators, and contractors to execute quickly
- Contribute to development of in-house controls and automation systems, using AI and process data to accelerate development, improve reliability, and continuously optimize
Red Metals Non-Negotiables- Bias for Action
We move fast. Speed beats polish. We use every tool, especially AI, to accelerate decisions, execution, and learning. - Grit
We do hard things because they matter. We keep pushing when others quit. - Ownership
We own outcomes, not tasks. We see problems, fix them, and follow through across functions. - Signal
We cut through noise. We communicate clearly and directly so decisions are fast and execution stays sharp. - Craft
We take pride in our work. Quality, care, and precision are the standard.
What We're Looking For- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, or equivalent hands-on experience demonstrating mechanical engineering capability
- 3-8+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, ideally in metals, mining, refining, or heavy industry
- Strong fundamentals in mechanical design, process development, and materials, whether developed through formal education or practical experience
- Experience taking mechanical systems from design into real operation
- Comfortable working on the plant floor in an industrial environment
- Ability to operate with incomplete information and make sound decisions quickly
Strong Pluses:
- Experience with mechanical processing or sorting of mined or secondary materials
- Experience with copper or non-ferrous metals processing
- Experience commissioning industrial equipment
- Familiarity with process control systems and instrumentation
- Startup or early-stage experience
Why Red Metals- Build a company from zero, not optimize an existing system
- Direct ownership of critical process and operational decisions
- Work on a problem that matters: rebuilding U.S. industrial capacity
- Small team, high trust, no bureaucracy
LocationThis role is based in Charleston, South Carolina and requires on-site work.
