Process Technology Lead

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 how minerals are sourced, refined, and optimized by combining deep industrial expertise with software, automation, and data-driven decision-making
. Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply.

Mariana Minerals is seeking a Process Technology Lead to drive the evaluation, development, and scale-up of critical mineral processing technologies from concept through early-phase project definition. This role is focused on conceptual and basic engineering—translating laboratory and pilot-scale results into technically sound, commercially viable process concepts that can be advanced into capital projects.

In this role, you will lead technology evaluation, guide pilot test programs and design-of-experiments (DOEs), and own the technical bridge between pilot results and commercial-scale process design. You will support early-stage project development by defining process options, development pathways, and scale-up risks that inform investment, engineering, and execution decisions.

This is a senior technical role that sits at the intersection of R&D, process engineering, and project development, with a mandate to ensure technology choices are rigorous, defensible, and ready to advance.

Technology Evaluation & Concept Development

• Lead evaluation and selection of processing technologies for mineral extraction, purification, and refining

• Develop conceptual process flow sheets and block flow diagrams based on lab, pilot, and third-party technology inputs

• Assess technology readiness, scale-up risks, and integration challenges across alternative process options

Pilot Programs & Experimental Strategy

• Define pilot objectives, test scopes, and experimental plans, including design-of-experiments (DOEs)

• Guide pilot execution in collaboration with lab staff, pilot engineers, and external technology providers

• Interpret pilot data and translate results into actionable process design inputs and scale-up recommendations

Pilot-to-Commercial Technology Transfer

• Own the technical handoff from pilot results to basic engineering process definitions

• Define design bases, operating envelopes, mass and energy balances, and key scale-up assumptions

• Identify data gaps and additional test work required to support commercial design confidence

Early-Phase Project Development

• Support early-stage project studies (conceptual, pre-feasibility, and early feasibility) with robust process definitions

• Develop techno-economic inputs to inform project screening, prioritization, and development strategy

• Prepare clear, defensible technical documentation to support internal investment and external due-diligence reviews

Cross-Functional & External Collaboration

• Work closely with R&D, lab, pilot, mine, and infrastructure teams to ensure process concepts are integrated and realistic

• Engage with technology licensors, equipment vendors, and engineering firms during concept and basic engineering phases

• Support downstream detailed engineering teams by providing clear process intent and technical foundations

Technical Leadership & Knowledge Building

• Establish best practices for technology evaluation, pilot testing, and scale-up within the organization

• Mentor process engineers and technical staff on early-phase process development and experimental rigor

• Stay current on emerging technologies and processing innovations relevant to critical minerals

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a closely related field (advanced degree preferred)

• 10+ years of experience in process development, mineral processing, or chemical process engineering

• Demonstrated experience leading technology evaluation, pilot programs, and scale-up efforts

• Strong foundation in process fundamentals with the ability to translate experimental results into scalable designs

• Experience developing conceptual and basic engineering deliverables (flow sheets, mass balances, design bases)

• Background in one or…