Engineering Lead - Plant Hardware
We're looking for a hands-on, highly skilled engineering leader to take ownership of design, fabrication, and integration of custom hardware required for metallic sponge production. This is a critical technical leadership role where you'll bridge process engineering with real-world manufacturing. You will be the primary decision maker for build vs. buy decisions on plant equipment. You will be responsible for ensuring that all custom equipment—such as Kroll reactors, chlorinators, and vacuum distillation units—are manufacturable, scalable, and optimized for performance. You'll work at the intersection of cutting-edge materials science and advanced manufacturing, driving the rapid prototyping and deployment of hardware that will power a first-of-its-kind facility.
Responsibilities
- Work with process & facilities engineering to make buy vs. build decisions
- Lead the design and development of all custom process hardware, including Kroll reactors and vacuum distillation units
- Conduct design-for-manufacturing (DFM) reviews and iterate designs to reduce lead times and costs
- Oversee the fabrication and assembly of hardware, ensuring adherence to specifications and timelines
- Lead the prototyping and testing of hardware components, iterating quickly to optimize performance and reliability
- Develop and execute test plans for hardware validation, including thermal, mechanical, and chemical stress testing
- Work closely with the process & facilities engineering to ensure seamless integration of hardware into the plant layout and process flow
- Oversee installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting of hardware systems during pilot and production phases
- Design hardware systems that are modular and scalable, enabling rapid replication and deployment as the facility expands
- Identify opportunities to improve hardware performance, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency
Qualifications
- Proven success in solving engineering challenges that require complex build vs. buy decisions for which there is no existing commodity hardware
- Proven success in designing, building, and testing fluid-handling systems with challenging temperatures and pressures
- Proven success in leading engineering teams, ideally in equipment/hardware manufacture
- Expertise in materials selection and evaluation, ideally with field experience with high-performance and low-corrosion alloys
- Familiarity with advanced manufacturing techniques, CNC machining, and welding of exotic alloys
- Extensive experience with DFM, rapid prototyping, and working with suppliers to fabricate custom components
- Experience in pyrometallurgy or chemical/oil & gas systems is a plus
- Experience with very large-scale components (think 30ft tall distillation columns or large cryogenic tanks) is a plus
- Experience with reactive metals is a plus
Compensation & Benefits
Base salary range: $180k–$270k
Significant equity compensation aligned with public benchmarks for founding team members
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: location, job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short & long-term disability insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. We have a flexible paid time-off (PTO) policy.