High-Temp Lab Technician — Metals Processing

Mariana Minerals; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Mariana Minerals is seeking a Laboratory Technician for its Deep Sea Nodule Lab to process polymetallic nodules into battery-grade metals. You will run high-temperature equipment, prepare feeds, sample products, and maintain a safe, organized lab under supervision with a path to independent operation.

The role emphasizes hands-on furnace operation, data recording, and strict adherence to safety SOPs in a fast-paced environment near radiant heat and process gases.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical diploma in chemistry, materials, metallurgy or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience
• 2+ years' experience in a lab, foundry, smelter, refinery or similar high-temperature setting
• Comfort operating furnaces, gas cylinders and pressurized or water-cooled equipment
• Experience with molten metal handling, tapping or crucible melting is a plus
• Familiarity with induction, arc or tube furnaces, off-gas sampling or wet scrubbers is a plus
• Sample preparation for XRF or ICP analysis is a plus
• Careful record-keeping and working knowledge of Excel
• Strong safety habits and willingness to stop work when conditions are unsafe
• Able to lift up to 50 lb (23 kg), stand for long periods, and work near radiant heat, molten material and process gases
• Medically cleared and fit-tested for respirator use
• On-site role with standard weekday hours and occasional extended shifts to finish a furnace heat or cool-down

Responsibilities

• Crush, screen, dry, split and weigh nodule and calcine samples; run nodule wash trials
• Operate the rotary kiln and its off-gas train: condenser, gas analyzers and NaOH impingers
• Prepare charges, monitor and tap electric arc furnace heats; run box furnace screening melts
• Run induction converter heats, including crucible pre-heat, pyrite charging, oxygen blows and timed sampling
• Monitor temperatures, arc power, gas flows and cooling water; respond to alarms and interlocks
• Verify exhaust fans and scrubbers before hot work; change gas cylinders and maintain scrubber liquor
• Record run data in batch sheets and spreadsheets: charge weights, temperatures, gas flows, product masses and sample IDs
• Track samples through shipment to external labs with chain-of-custody records
• Keep inventory of crucibles, refractories, reagents and gases
• Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs; support commissioning of new equipment
• Follow SOPs, lockout/tagout, hot-work and gas-handling procedures, and wear PPE for molten-metal work
• Inspect safety equipment on schedule and report near-misses and equipment issues promptly

Skills

Safety awareness

Record-keeping

Equipment operation

Molten metal handling

XRF/ICP sample prep

Excel

Lab safety

Manual lifting

Rigorous and precise

Education

Associate degree or technical diploma in chemistry/materials/metallurgy

Tools

XRF analysis

ICP analysis

Excel

Job description

Mariana Minerals is seeking a Laboratory Technician for its Deep Sea Nodule Lab to process polymetallic nodules into battery-grade metals. You will run high-temperature equipment, prepare feeds, sample products, and maintain a safe, organized lab under supervision with a path to independent operation.

The role emphasizes hands-on furnace operation, data recording, and strict adherence to safety SOPs in a fast-paced environment near radiant heat and process gases.