Sr. Pyrometallurgical Process Engineer

About the Role

Mariana Minerals is seeking a highly motivated Pyrometallurgical Process Engineer to lead the development and deployment of innovative high-temperature refining and thermal processing systems, supporting the critical minerals supply chain for modern energy, AI, and defense technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead pyrometallurgical process scopes from early concept development and thermodynamic modeling through procurement, detailed engineering, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and ramp-up
• Develop detailed heat and material balances for high-temperature process trains, including drying, calcination, roasting, reduction, smelting, converting, slag cleaning, refining, and off-gas treatment
• Design and validate thermal process flowsheets and PFDs/P&IDs for pyrometallurgical circuits, ensuring safety, reliability, and scalability
• Build first-principles thermodynamic and kinetic models for high-temperature reactors and furnaces to support scale-up and commercial deployment
• Model and optimize phase equilibria, slag chemistry, metal recovery, refractory performance, and energy efficiency
• Define specifications and operating envelopes for high-temperature process equipment, burners, power systems, refractory linings, and gas-handling systems
• Identify, evaluate, and implement process improvements to maximize metal recovery, minimize energy consumption, control emissions, and ensure stable furnace operation
• Collaborate with R&D, lab teams, and pilot-plant engineers to translate bench- and pilot-scale findings into robust commercial pyrometallurgical designs
• Work with environmental and controls teams to design and optimize off-gas handling systems
• Partner with software and machine-learning teams to automate process-engineering workflows and develop advanced control, optimization, and digital-twin models

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and demonstrated ability to solve challenging problems
• Strong foundation in chemical engineering, metallurgical engineering, or process engineering, with experience applying these principles to complex pyrometallurgical systems
• Experience with equipment engineering and design, including brownfield modifications, greenfield design, and troubleshooting of pyrometallurgical or chemical-process equipment
• Experience in industries such as pyrometallurgical mineral processing, large-scale mining, critical-minerals processing, industrial chemical manufacturing, or EPC/EPCM firms supporting mining and mineral processing projects

Pay

Compensation Range: $130K - $160K