Staff Mechanical Engineer

The role

You will lead the design, integration, and deployment of pilot-scale mechanical systems and processing equipment. You will work to build and maintain a minerals processing pilot plant in Houston.

What you will do

• Design, specify, and deploy mechanical systems and equipment for pilot-scale mineral processing operations
• Translate process requirements into practical mechanical and plant designs
• Support installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of pilot plant equipment
• Develop and maintain mechanical design documentation including equipment specifications, layout drawings, piping schematics, and CAD models
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, maintainability, and operational performance
• Coordinate with vendors, fabricators, and contractors during equipment procurement and installation
• Support safe plant operations by contributing to hazard reviews, equipment safety design, and mechanical integrity programs

Nice to have

• B.S., M.S., or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• 9+ years of experience in operations, process scale-up, or plant design in minerals processing, chemicals, specialty materials, oil & gas, or related industries
• Demonstrated experience driving equipment design, commissioning, operations, and reliability
• Experience designing and maintaining furnaces, pumps and fluid handling systems, pressure vessels and reactors, piping systems and valves, filtration and separation equipment, and materials handling s
• Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams including process engineering, operations, and project execution
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in hands-on plant environments
• Strong commitment to Health, Safety, and Environmental compliance and mechanical integrity standards
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and teamwork skills
• Comfortable working in fast-paced environments, wearing multiple hats, and managing ambiguity

About the company

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company. They aim to supply critical minerals by combining industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.