Distinguished Engineer, Extractive Metallurgy

Role details

About Us Alta is reinventing how the world sources critical minerals — using protein-based chemistry to extract rare earth elements and other essential materials from challenging feedstocks with unmatched selectivity. By dramatically reducing the cost and environmental impact of mineral separation, Alta is making it possible to unlock new sources of supply for 21st-century technologies. As global demand accelerates, securing these materials has become one of the most urgent challenges facing U.S. competitiveness and national security.

Backed by top investors and government partners, Alta is growing fast and hiring mission-driven scientists and engineers to help us scale our platform and transform the future of mining. How we work Speed is part of our DNA. We’re building first-of-a-kind technology and facilities, which means the path isn’t always mapped. We’re comfortable with ambiguity: making sound, timely decisions guided by clear priorities, adapting quickly as we learn, and keeping a relentless focus on moving our business forward. We commit to fixed milestones on compressed timelines and hold ourselves accountable without compromising on safety or rigor.

Role Summary Alta 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 Responsibilities

Metallurgical 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 & Benefits The 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. EOE Alta Resource Technologies is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We believe that varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds strengthen our team and drive better outcomes for our clients and partners.

We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the business. Alta participates in e-Verify for all positions. If you require accommodations at any point in the hiring process, please let your recruiter know. For information about Alta's privacy practices, see our Privacy Policy.