Lead Technician

We are seeking a Lead Technician to support the development, testing, and operation of innovative technologies for rare earth recovery and purification. This role will assist in laboratory and pilot plant activities, including equipment setup, sample preparation, testing, data collection, and process troubleshooting. The ideal candidate will have strong practical skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to safety and quality in chemical process operations. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Assist in the setup, operation, and maintenance of laboratory- and pilot-scale equipment for extraction and purification processes. 

• Conduct sampling, measurements, and data collection during experiments and process runs. 

• Prepare feedstocks, reagents, and materials for testing and production trials. 

• Maintain accurate experimental and operational records in laboratory notebooks and digital databases. 

• Monitor process parameters and report deviations or issues to engineers. 

• Perform routine maintenance, cleaning, and calibration of process equipment and instrumentation. 

• Support safe chemical handling, waste management, and housekeeping in laboratory and pilot plant areas. 

• Collaborate with engineers on troubleshooting process upsets and implementing process improvements. 

• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contribute to their continuous improvement. 

Qualifications 

• Associate’s degree or higher in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering Technology or a related technical field; equivalent experience considered. 

• 2–3 years of hands-on experience in laboratory, pilot plant, or industrial process operations. 

• Familiarity with pumps, filters, tanks, valves, and other common chemical processing equipment. 

• Experience with sampling techniques, analytical testing, and data logging systems. 

• Working knowledge of safety protocols, PPE, and hazardous material handling. 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment. 

• Strong attention to detail, organization, and documentation accuracy. 

• Willingness to work flexible hours during pilot trials or commissioning activities. 

Physical Demands  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, move, sit, carry, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, lift, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk and hear. May be required to lift and move boxes or packages not exceeding 20 pounds in weight. Some work stress inherent to the position and extended work hours may be required.  

Work Environment: 
The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, laboratory space, manufacturing floor and construction site.    

Noise level:  

Exposure will vary and include normal office noise, typical laboratory sounds (e.g., ventilation systems, equipment operation), manufacturing floor noise (e.g., machinery, forklifts), and construction site noise depending on project phase and location. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate reporting structure. 

USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities 

USA Rare Earth's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and will provide reasonable accommodations according to applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. 

For assistance applying for employment through this site due to disability, please contact Human Resources, hr@usare.com, to discuss reasonable accommodations.