Research EngineerAlameda, California

Making the Metals Powering the World Solcoa exists to stabilize the western rare-earth metal supply chain—powering every fighter jet, EV, wind turbine, phone, and generator. We’re among the very few companies outside China producing rare-earth metals—and the only one delivering a 100% U.S. supply of both light and heavy rare earths. Our carbon-zero process converts end-of-life magnets directly into metal, accelerating energy independence and securing one of the world’s most vital resources. We are a lean, well-funded team rapidly accelerating Western rare-earth production. We’re building a world-class team to solve this crisis.

The Role — Research Engineer Own difficult, first-principles R&D that unlocks rare-earth metal production at scale. You will design and execute high-temperature experiments, build and operate custom rigs, extract mechanisms from data, and translate lab breakthroughs into reproducible unit operations for our demo plant. This role is deeply technical and experimental.

• Pyrometallurgical research: calcination, vacuum/steam distillation, carbothermic/metallothermic reduction, smelting, refining.

• High-temperature electrochemistry: molten-salt/molten-oxide electrolysis, cell design, anode/cathode materials, current efficiency.

• Nuclear engineering research: molten-salt chemistries, materials compatibility, graphite/refractory behavior, high-T gas-cooled systems.

• Metal processing engineering: molten metal handling/casting, powder metallurgy (atomization, pressing, sintering), heat treatment.

What You’ll Do

• Run bench/pilot experiments to quantify kinetics, transport, and equilibria.

• Build/operate furnace systems, vacuum/inert atmospheres, retorts/crucibles.

• Develop and validate PFD-level experimental flows; compute mass/energy balances; establish operating envelopes.

• Apply thermochemical modeling (CALPHAD/Thermo-Calc/FactSage/HSC) and phase diagrams to guide conditions and materials.

• Characterize feed/products with ICP-MS/OES, XRD, SEM/EDS, LECO O/N/H,; close element balances.

• Author rigorous documentation: SOPs, test plans, hazards analyses, data packages; present results with statistical confidence.

• Collaborate with machinists/technicians to fabricate fixtures; specify sensors, heaters, seals, and vacuum hardware.

• Enforce safety for molten metals, reactive powders, hot work, compressed gases, and magnetized materials.

What You Bring Required

• Typically 3+ years (flexible) as a research engineer/assistant or PhD-level researcher with demonstrated research achievements (papers, patents, prototypes).

• Depth in at least one focus area above; strong foundation in thermodynamics, transport, reaction kinetics, and materials.

• Proven ability to build experimental setups, write/control test scripts, and produce decision-grade data.

• Hands-on with furnaces, vacuum/inert gas systems, gloveboxes, and high-T instrumentation; meticulous lab discipline.

• Data fluency (Python/MATLAB, spreadsheets); uncertainty analysis; clear, technical writing.

Preferred

• Experience with rare-earth chemistry/metallurgy (Nd, Dy, Tb), chloride/fluoride molten salts, and contamination control.

• Corrosion/materials compatibility at high temperature; selection of refractories and crucible/alloy systems.

• Basic CAD (Fusion/SolidWorks) for fixtures; simple FEA/thermal modeling; familiarity with HAZOP/MOC culture.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

• Company-provided lunch daily

• Visa sponsorship available if needed