WHO WE ARE:

We are on a mission to become a leading supplier of critical materials that enable the green energy and technology revolution. Our materials and technologies are required for the electric vehicle, green energy, consumer electronics, and defense industries, and our battery grade lithium and tech metals are needed for chipsets, semiconductors, and 5G.
We have a substantial interest in the Round Top, Heavy Rare Earth, Lithium and Critical Minerals deposit in West Texas. We have also developed the United States’ first rare earth and critical minerals processing facility and we own the only scalable, sintered neo-magnet manufacturing system in the Western Hemisphere. By developing this fully integrated, US-based “mine-to-magnet” critical mineral supply chain, we are poised to become the leading domestic supplier to these industries.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The R&D Process Development Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing R&D laboratory processes to support new product development and scale-up. This role works closely with cross-functional teams including R&D scientists, manufacturing, quality, and product development to ensure innovative ideas are translated into efficient, scalable, and high-quality production processes. The engineer will apply technical expertise, data-driven problem solving, and creative thinking to deliver robust solutions that support the company’s innovation pipeline and long-term growth.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in process development, R&D engineering, or manufacturing environment (internship or co-op experience may be considered).
• Strong understanding of process engineering principles, experimental design, and data analysis.
• Hands-on experience with lab- and pilot-scale equipment and process troubleshooting: particle size analyzer, light optimal microscope, pucking, polishing, powder pressing, vaccum sintering, hand held measurement equipment, cut off saws and surface grinders.
• Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment.

• Design, develop, and optimize new processes to support product development and commercialization.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and quality teams to transition lab-scale concepts into pilot- and full-scale operations.
• Evaluate process performance, analyze data, and apply statistical/engineering methods to drive improvements in yield, quality, efficiency, and cost.
• Create and maintain process documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical reports, and process flow diagrams.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective/preventive actions for process-related issues.
• Identify and integrate new technologies, equipment, and methods to improve development capabilities.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards in all process development activities.
• Provide technical support for scale-up, technology transfer, and manufacturing troubleshooting.