CAMP Associate Facility Director

Montana Technological University; Butte (MT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Partial tuition waiver

Wellness program

Remote work days with supervisor’s OK

Health, dental and vision insurance

Job summary

Montana Technological University, Butte, invites applications for the CAMP Research Engineer / Pilot Plant Manager to help establish and operate a new mineral-processing facility. You will oversee lab, bench-scale, pilot-scale, and demonstration equipment and work with a broad team of researchers and industry partners.

The role emphasizes safety, project management, and hands-on development of beneficiation, flotation, leaching, and refining processes, with opportunities to mentor students and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in metallurgy, mineral processing, chemical engineering, or a closely related field with substantial experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with laboratory or pilot-scale mineral-processing equipment and processes.
• Ability to manage budgets, schedules, and technical deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day operation of the CAMP testing facility, including lab, bench-, pilot-, and demonstration-scale equipment and scheduling.
• Ensure compliance with university, environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate acquisition, installation, and operation of mineral-processing equipment and support operating budgets.
• Support development and demonstration of beneficiation, flotation, leaching, separation, recovery, refining, and treatment technologies.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary research across metallurgy, geology, geochemistry, engineering, data science, AI, and process control.
• Support graduate and undergraduate research and workforce development.
• Establish safety, environmental monitoring, and waste-management procedures; promote safety culture.
• Position is in Butte, Montana and requires full-time in-office/lab presence.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Pilot-plant operations

Budget & scheduling

Safety & compliance

Education

Master's or PhD in metallurgy/mineral processing/chemical engineering

PhD preferred (related field)

Tools

Pilot-scale equipment

Analytical instruments

Process control systems

Job description

LOA-Fiscal Year

Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) invites applications for an exciting opportunity to join the Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP) as a CAMP Research Engineer / Pilot Plant Manager. This position offers a unique opportunity to help establish and operate a new, highly specialized mineral-processing testing and technology-development facility at Montana Tech and to contribute directly to the development of domestic critical-mineral resources. CAMP is a technology-development and testing center focused on advancing material-processing technologies from laboratory research through pilot- and demonstration-scale operation and strives to bridge the gap between laboratory proof-of-concept and commercial deployment. Projects support characterization, beneficiation, extraction, separation, recovery, refining, and treatment of a wide range of mineral resources and secondary materials, including ores, mine waste, tailings, waste rock, slags, concentrates, and process waters. CAMP provides an environment where university researchers, students, mining companies, technology developers, government agencies, and equipment manufacturers can work together to develop and demonstrate practical solutions for recovering critical minerals from both conventional and unconventional resources.

Montana Technological University provides a comprehensive benefits package for all eligible positions that includes health, dental and vision insurance, mandatory retirement plan with employer contribution, partial tuition waiver, and a wellness program.

Application deadline: 11/29/2026

Duties

• Direct day-to-day operation of the CAMP testing facility, including laboratory, bench-scale, pilot-scale, and demonstration-scale equipment, procedures, scheduling, maintenance, and utilization
• Ensure compliance with university, environmental, occupational safety, and regulatory requirements, including protocols for handling ores, tailings, slags, concentrates, process chemicals, solutions, and waste materials
• Coordinate acquisition, installation, modification, and operation of mineral-processing and analytical equipment and support development of facility operating budgets
• Support development and demonstration of critical-mineral processing technologies, including beneficiation, flotation, leaching, separation, recovery, refining, and treatment of ores, mine wastes, tailings, slags, and other secondary resources
• Coordinate multidisciplinary research related to metallurgy, mineral processing, geology, geochemistry, engineering, environmental science, data science, AI, and process control, including technical reports, publications, patents, and technology transfer
• Support graduate and undergraduate research and workforce development by providing hands‑on experience with industrially relevant mineral‑processing equipment and processes and helping prepare the next generation of mineral‑processing engineers, metallurgists, technicians, and operators
• Establish and enforce comprehensive safety, environmental monitoring, chemical/material handling, and waste‑management procedures for CAMP operations while promoting a strong safety culture among employees, students, researchers, and industry partners
• Position is in Butte, Montana and requires full‑time in‑office/lab presence

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in metallurgy, mineral processing, chemical engineering, or a closely related field, plus 8 years of professional experience (or Ph.D. plus 5 years of professional experience) in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, pilot‑plant operations, or related industrial research
• Demonstrated experience managing technical projects involving multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience with laboratory or pilot‑scale mineral‑processing equipment and processes
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage project budgets, schedules, and technical deliverables
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with mine wastes and secondary resources and with mineral‑processing technologies including flotation, leaching, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, physical separation, and beneficiation
• Demonstrated experience advancing technologies from laboratory or pilot scale toward commercial deployment, including process modeling, automation, data analytics, AI, or digital‑twin applications
• Demonstrated experience managing technical projects, facilities, personnel, and research programs, including federal or industry‑sponsored projects and supervision of technical staff, students, and researchers
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into practical engineering solutions and work effectively with industry, academia, and government, with strong communication, relationship‑building, safety, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurial skills

Physical Demands

• Operations will primarily take place within a mineral processing plant utilizing standard industry equipment

Any offer of employment is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background check.

Montana Tech is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination. As such, the University does not discriminate in the admission, access to or conduct of its educational programs and activities nor in its employment policies and practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, gender, age, political beliefs, marital or family status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation or preference. In support of the University's mission to be inclusive and diverse, applications from qualified minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged. Montana Tech makes accommodation for any known disability that may interfere with an applicant's ability to compete in the hiring process or an employee's ability to perform the duties of the job. In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, Montana Tech provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans.

Employment Eligibility

• Further, based on the September 19, 2025, Presidential Proclamation and accompanying guidance from the USCIS and Dept. of State, the University may not be able to offer H-1B sponsorship. Particularly the University is not able to pay the $100,000 payment accompanying new H-1B visa petitions

Why Work at Tech?

Help meet the changing needs of society by providing a transformative student experience by helping develop leaders for tomorrow by advancing science, engineering and technology.

Benefits Package

In addition, Montana Tech offers an attractive benefits package* which includes:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with low deductibles and comprehensive coverage
• Generous employer contribution toward monthly health care benefits worth $6.08 per hour
• 5.9% retirement employer contribution for eligible employees
• 11 Holidays per year
• 3 weeks of Annual Leave to start
• Generous sick leave policy that can be used for sick children, doctor and dentist appointments as well as bereavement
• 6 credits of coursework free per year (fees not included)
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Reduced tuition for dependents after 4 months of employment for eligible employees
• Employee Assistance and a Wellness Program
• Optional Retirement Plan for eligible employees
• Possible remote work days with supervisor approval and eligible positions
• Benefits are dependent on position type and terms and conditions of eligibility

About Montana Tech

Montana Technological University, Butte Montana, is nestled in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains along the Continental Divide, where I-15 and I-90 intersect. We are home to the largest National Historic District in the country. Montana Tech is a special focus institution with a reputation for excellence and value. Montana Tech is ranked #1 in the nation by CollegeNET.