Position SummaryThe Process Metallurgist designs, executes, and reports client-funded metallurgical testwork programs across a range of commodities and flowsheets, and works alongside McCarl's Technical Services engineering group to carry that testwork forward into process and plant design. This role spans the full lab-to-engineering handoff - generating the metallurgical data that anchors flowsheets, mass/water balances, and study-level cost estimates.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and manage testwork scopes, budgets, and schedules for gold, base metals, tungsten, rare earths, lithium, and critical minerals projects.
- Execute and supervise comminution, gravity, flotation, leach (cyanidation/CIL, acid, POX), and solid-liquid separation testwork.
- Design test matrices, interpret results, and translate data into flowsheet recommendations and preliminary mass/water balances.
- Collaborate with McCarl's Technical Services engineering clients and staff on process design, plant design, process modeling and simulation, and equipment sizing that build directly on lab results.
- Provide the metallurgical basis and testwork inputs for Class 4/5 estimates, PEA, and FEED-level studies; support scale-up assumptions and design criteria.
- Author clear, defensible client test reports and technical memoranda; present findings to clients and study teams.
- Coordinate sample prep, assaying, and mineralogy (QEMSCAN/MLA) with internal and external labs; ensure QA/QC integrity.
- Maintain laboratory safety, data management, and chain-of-custody standards.
- Support proposal development and client business development as a technical resource.
Qualifications- B.S. in Metallurgical/Mineral Processing or Chemical Engineering.
- Hands-on metallurgical testwork experience in a commercial lab, operating plant, or consultancy - from roughly 1 year for early-career candidates through 10+ years for senior hires.
- Working knowledge of unit operations across at least two commodity groups; flotation and hydrometallurgy strengths valued.
- Strong data analysis, technical writing, and client communication skills.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, multi-project environment with competing deadlines.
- A track record of leading testwork programs end to end and owning client relationships.
- Direct experience taking lab results into process/plant design, flowsheet development, or study-level engineering (PEA/FEED).
- Hands-on proficiency with process simulation tools (e.g., METSIM, JKSimMet, Factsage, HSC, Aspen, Limn).
- Experience mentoring or supervising junior technical staff.
