Extractive Metallurgist

Moab, UT

About the role

About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

The Role

We are seeking an Extractive Metallurgist to join our growing technical team in Moab, UT. This role will play a critical part in the development, optimization, and scale-up of mineral processing systems for Mariana’s global operations. The ideal candidate brings strong process engineering and metallurgical expertise, ideally in zinc or copper, and thrives in fast-paced, startup environments where independence, creativity, and problem solving are essential.

You’ll work closely with operations, engineers, machine learning experts, and data scientists to develop innovative solutions that improve efficiency, recovery, and throughput across our projects.

What You'll Do

  • Design, test, and optimize mineral processing flowsheets for new and existing projects.

  • Lead laboratory, pilot-scale, and plant trials for process validation and improvement.

  • Analyze metallurgical data to improve recovery, efficiency, and cost performance.

  • Collaborate with engineering teams on process design and scale-up.

  • Partner with data scientists and ML engineers to integrate advanced analytics and predictive models into process optimization.

  • Support commissioning and ramp-up of new facilities, with significant travel to sites.

  • Contribute to Mariana’s culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and safety.

What You'll Bring

  • Degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or Process Engineering.

  • Hands-on mineral processing experience (zinc or copper preferred, broader base considered).

  • Proven ability to work independently in dynamic environments, with strong problem-solving skills.

  • Experience working in startup or entrepreneurial settings.

Desired Qualifications

  • Background in industrial technology or product development.

  • Experience collaborating with machine learning engineers or data scientists.

  • Exposure to digitized process monitoring and automation systems.

Our culture is built on four principles:

Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people.

Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions.

Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale.

Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!

About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company focused on supplying the minerals critical to modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. It engineers, builds, and operates mines and refineries using its proprietary MarianaOS platform, which integrates capital project execution, refinery operations, and mine management into a single AI and machine learning stack. The company targets domestic U.S. critical mineral supply for sectors facing supply chain vulnerabilities, including copper and lithium.

Other roles at Mariana Minerals

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Job details

Location

Moab, UT

Company

NameMariana Minerals
IndustryArtificial Intelligence (AI)
Team Size3

Funding

Total raised

$400M

Last stage

Series A

Investors

a16z

Founders

TC

Turner Caldwell

CEO & Co-Founder

LinkedIn
JL

Juan Lozano

Co-Founder & CTO

BT

Baker Tilney

Co-Founder & CFO

LinkedIn

What happens next.

No applications, no recruiter spam. Just the intro.

01

Confirm the fit

A few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.

02

I pitch you to the company

I write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.

03

A meeting lands on your calendar

If they’re a yes, I book the chat. You show up — that’s the whole job-hunt.