Lead Thermal Processing Engineer - Kilns & Calciners Optimization

MP Materials Corp.; California; On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

MP Materials Corp. is seeking a Senior Thermal Processing Engineer to support operation, optimization, and reliability of kilns, calciners, coolers, dryers, and related equipment at Mountain Pass, CA.

The role leads process improvements, debottlenecking, and capital projects with cross-functional coordination. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in high-temperature industrial environments, strong troubleshooting skills, and the ability to manage projects from concept through startup,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, chemical, metallurgical, or related engineering discipline.
• Experience with industrial kilns, rotary kilns, calciners, dryers, solids conveyance systems, baghouses, furnaces, or similar high-temperature equipment.
• Experience with rotating equipment such as gearboxes, bearings, drives, couplings, fans, blowers, and lubrication systems.
• Strong troubleshooting, equipment optimization, and project execution experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for operation, optimization, and reliability of kilns, calciners, coolers, dryers, and associated equipment.
• Lead projects involving process optimization, debottlenecking, equipment modifications, capacity improvement, and design upgrades.
• Analyze equipment performance including temperature, material flow, and heat transfer characteristics.
• Troubleshoot buildup, plugging, refractory damage, overheating, vibration, misalignment, and air leakage.
• Develop engineering calculations, equipment specifications, scopes of work, cost estimates, schedules, and technical evaluations.
• Coordinate vendors, contractors, and equipment procurement for projects.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Heat transfer

PFDs & P&IDs

Troubleshooting

Equipment optimization

Project management

Rotating equipment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, chemical, metallurgical, or related engineering discipline

Tools

PI Vision

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

MP Materials Corp. is seeking a Senior Thermal Processing Engineer to support operation, optimization, and reliability of kilns, calciners, coolers, dryers, and related equipment at Mountain Pass, CA.

The role leads process improvements, debottlenecking, and capital projects with cross-functional coordination. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in high-temperature industrial environments, strong troubleshooting skills, and the ability to manage projects from concept through startup,