Project Engineer, Process Engineer

What you can expect:

At USA Rare Earth, we are pioneers and problem solvers, technologists and team players. Together, we:

If our task was a simple one, it would already be done. We are creative and solution-oriented, and we think outside the box to solve important problems. We know that a range of expertise and technologies is needed for success, and we work across sectors and alongside customers to deliver world‑class solutions in sustainable ways.

When we do things, we do them well. We believe that top‑tier quality leads to industry competitiveness and we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards. We move fast when executing, but safety, quality, and excellence always come first.

We have a responsibility to the planet, our consumers, our country, and each other. We put safety at the center of all we do, take accountability for our actions, incorporate sustainable practices in our processes and act with the financial best interest of our investors and consumers in mind.

Establishing a rare earth magnet supply chain is a big undertaking – and getting there is a team effort. We communicate openly, work together and challenge each other in pursuit of our goals. With every step we take we learn and get better.

We are seeking a Project Engineer
, to support the delivery of capital projects in our upstream business unit, including pilot and demonstration plants for heap leach, hydrometallurgy, and swarf recycling. Reporting to the Head of Project Management and working under senior guidance, this role provides hands‑on experience in project execution from concept to commissioning, with a focus on technical support, coordination and basic analysis. The position will assist in Pre‑Feasibility Study (PFS) activities, EPCM management and demo plant development, helping to ensure timely oxide production for downstream needs.

This is an ideal opportunity for an early‑career engineer to develop skills in a lean and dynamic environment.

• Assist in the planning, design, and execution of capital projects, including process plants, pilot plants (e.g., heap leach and hydrometallurgy demos), mine infrastructure, and magnet recycling facilities.
• Support project teams in developing scope documents, specifications, technical requirements, and project charters for upstream initiatives.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, including operations, processing, geology, mine planning, and external engineering, procurement, construction, and management (EPCM) contractors.
• Track project deliverables, schedules, budgets, critical paths, and roadmaps under senior supervision.
• Assist with EPCM management, including vendor coordination, progress tracking, and updates to project timelines.
• Gather and organize technical data for grant applications, focusing on project‑specific inputs like pilot results and economic projections.
• Review competitors’ scoping studies, Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEAs), PFSs, and Feasibility Studies (FSs) to benchmark key project metrics (e.g., capex, opex, recovery rates) and provide summary insights for team use.
• Contribute to basic techno‑economic analysis (TEA) updates by incorporating new technical data from demos and pilots.
• Participate in site visits, commissioning activities, and problem‑solving to ensure project alignment with upstream goals.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline.
• 2–5 years of relevant engineering experience in a mining/energy organization or EPCM firm.
• Strong cross‑discipline technical aptitude and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and AutoCAD or similar design software.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Previous exposure to mining or heavy industry.
• Experience with project management software (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project).
• Understanding of construction management principles.

• Familiarity with REE or critical minerals projects, including demo plant development.
• Basic experience with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel for modeling) and grant preparation.
• Proactive…