Center for Advanced Materials Processing Associate Facility Director

About the role

Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) invites applications for a CAMP Research Engineer / Pilot Plant Manager position within the Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP). This full‑time, in‑office/lab role is based in Butte, Montana and involves establishing and operating a new mineral‑processing testing and technology‑development facility. CAMP bridges laboratory research and commercial deployment by supporting characterization, beneficiation, extraction, separation, recovery, refining, and treatment of mineral resources and secondary materials such as ores, mine waste, tailings, waste rock, slags, concentrates, and process waters. The center provides a collaborative environment for university researchers, students, mining companies, technology developers, government agencies, and equipment manufacturers to develop practical solutions for recovering critical minerals from conventional and unconventional resources.

Responsibilities

• Direct day‑to‑day operation of the CAMP testing facility, including laboratory, bench‑scale, pilot‑scale, and demonstration‑scale equipment, procedures, scheduling, maintenance, and utilization.
• Ensure compliance with university, environmental, occupational safety, and regulatory requirements, including protocols for handling ores, tailings, slags, concentrates, process chemicals, solutions, and waste materials.
• Coordinate acquisition, installation, modification, and operation of mineral‑processing and analytical equipment and support development of facility operating budgets.
• Support development and demonstration of critical‑mineral processing technologies, including beneficiation, flotation, leaching, separation, recovery, refining, and treatment of ores, mine wastes, tailings, slags, and other secondary resources.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary research related to metallurgy, mineral processing, geology, geochemistry, engineering, environmental science, data science, AI, and process control, including technical reports, publications, patents, and technology transfer.
• Support graduate and undergraduate research and workforce development by providing hands‑on experience with industrially relevant mineral‑processing equipment and processes and helping prepare the next generation of mineral‑processing engineers, metallurgists, technicians, and operators.
• Establish and enforce comprehensive safety, environmental monitoring, chemical/material handling, and waste‑management procedures for CAMP operations while promoting a strong safety culture among employees, students, researchers, and industry partners.

Requirements

• Master's degree in metallurgy, mineral processing, chemical engineering, or a closely related field, plus 8 years of professional experience (or Ph.D. plus 5 years of professional experience) in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, pilot‑plant operations, or related industrial research.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience with laboratory or pilot‑scale mineral‑processing equipment and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage project budgets, schedules, and technical deliverables.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with mine wastes and secondary resources and with mineral‑processing technologies including flotation, leaching, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, physical separation, and beneficiation.
• Demonstrated experience advancing technologies from laboratory or pilot scale toward commercial deployment, including process modeling, automation, data analytics, AI, or digital‑twin applications.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical projects, facilities, personnel, and research programs, including federal or industry‑sponsored projects and supervision of technical staff, students, and researchers.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into practical engineering solutions and work effectively with industry, academia, and government, with strong communication, relationship‑building, safety, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurial skills.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with low deductibles and comprehensive coverage.
• Generous employer contribution toward monthly health care benefits worth $6.08 per hour.
• 5.9% retirement employer contribution for eligible employees.
• 11 Holidays per year.
• 3 weeks of Annual Leave to start.
• Generous sick leave policy that can be used for sick children, doctor and dentist appointments, as well as bereavement.
• 6 credits of coursework free per year (fees not included).
• Life and Disability Insurance.
• Reduced tuition for dependents after 4 months of employment for eligible employees.
• Employee Assistance and a Wellness Program.
• Optional Retirement Plan for eligible employees.
• Possible remote work days with supervisor approval and eligible positions.
• Benefits are dependent on position type and terms and conditions of eligibility.