Staff Process Engineer

Staff Process Engineer

Oakland, CA or Remote/Commuting

About Magrathea

Based in Oakland, California, Magrathea is a global category leader in critical mineral production technology. Our mission is to rebuild the magnesium metal supply base, delivering secure access to one of the most critical materials on Earth. Magnesium is essential to the aluminum, steel, titanium, nuclear, defense, and aerospace industries but 95% of global supply comes from China where large amounts of coal are used to make metal. This isn’t just an economic risk: it’s a national security threat, and Magrathea is fixing it. We’ve developed a next-generation electrolytic process to make magnesium metal from seawater and brines, unlocking a new path to industrial independence and to a cleaner environment for future generations. We’re backed by the earliest believers in Tesla and SpaceX, major European industrial families, and the U.S. Department of Defense. If you’re ready to make a lasting real-world impact, let's talk.

Is Magrathea for me?

You’ll be joining a high-performance team of builders on a mission to stand up the first major electrolytic magnesium smelter this century. We’re doing it this decade. There are no pointless positions here, no layers of middle management, no meetings about meetings: just a hyper focus on execution. You’ll be hands-on from day one, shaping the core of a technology that will have major impacts on national security, clean technology, and industrial resilience. If you’re the kind of person who runs toward hard problems, thrives under pressure, and wants to build something history will remember you for, this role is for you.

Ideal Background

• BS or MS in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience operating in a variety of real industrial settings including engineering, design, chemical plant construction, and operations-focused roles
• Experience developing and communicating process design packages with engineering companies and other important project delivery partners, ideally for first-of-a-kind projects
• Strong competence in inorganic chemistry, equipment fabrication, equipment maintenance, process development, vendor communication, industrial hygiene, and project execution
• Understanding of the regulatory landscape and permitting processes associated with large-scale chemical plants
• Expertise in managing EPC contracts and external construction contractors
• Skilled in schedule management, risk management, and project execution
• Experience in chemicals, metals, aluminum, chlor-alkali, and/or power infrastructure industries preferred

Compensation

• Salary range: $160,000-$240,000 annually, commensurate with experience
• Equity, stock options, and/or milestone-based compensation
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401k from day 1 with pre-tax and post-tax investing options

Role Expectations

• Support in leading scale-up and design of Magrathea’s technology to commercial scale quickly, economically, and safely
• Responsible for translating pilot and lab-scale results into process design packages for EPC partners
• Apply problem solving skills and design experience to hydrometallurgy, solids handling, drying, electrolysis, molten salt processing, refractory materials, gas handling, foundry and pyrometallurgy applications
• Contribute to engineering work products for overall process and unit operations including design basis, PFD, P&ID, MFD, plot plans, process control narratives, HAZOP, and model reviews
• Manage innovative custom equipment fabrication and installation with third party manufacturing partners
• Identify opportunities for process optimization, cost savings, and enhanced safety and environmental performance
• Able to anticipate potential issues and make important decisions within ambiguity
• Thrive in fast-paced, high-accountability environments and take pride in being the person others rely on to get the job done
• You don't wait to be told what to do: you see problems, solve them, and move on to the next one

Location

• Ideally full-time in-person at our Oakland, California facilities
• We are open to remote work, with one week per month commuting to Oakland for superstars located within 6 hours of transit from the San Francisco Bay Area
• Magrathea sponsors visas for candidates from Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand