Magnesium foundry metallurgist

BigBlueTech; Cheyenne (WY); On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation

Health, Dental, Vision, FSA

Job summary

Big Blue Technologies in Cheyenne, WY seeks an experienced foundry metallurgist to lead our magnesium production operations. This in-person role focuses on operating high-temperature systems, equipment, and safety-critical processes, with daily leadership of a small team.

You will own the magnesium casting line, oversee commissioning and startup, and make real-time decisions balancing safety, uptime, and cost while driving documentation and safety culture.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in industrial operations, scale-up, commissioning, or plant environments.
• Experience with high-temperature, hazardous, or capital-intensive processes (metals, mining, cement, glass, chemicals, refractories, etc.).
• Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort working directly with equipment.
• Excellent communication skills and a bias toward action and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Own daily operation of magnesium production systems, including high-temperature furnaces, materials handling, and ancillary equipment.
• Lead commissioning, startup, shutdown, and troubleshooting of the magnesium casting line.
• Make real-time operational decisions balancing safety, uptime, learning, and cost.
• Lead and direct technicians, engineers, and contractors in a small, fast-moving team.
• Establish expectations for safety, documentation, and professionalism.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Industrial metallurgy

Mechanical aptitude

Communication skills

Safety compliance

Job description

About Big Blue Technologies

Big Blue Technologies is a start-up based in Cheyenne, WY. We are scaling up the world's most material and energy-efficient process for primary magnesium metal production. We’ve completed piloting and are now building a commercial demonstration.

Magnesium metal is among the most critical minerals that are not currently produced in North America. Big Blue is working to change that. Our technology allows economic smelting of common minerals. We strive to restore supply for defense, aluminum alloying, vehicle lightweighting, titanium production, and other critical industries.

Joining Big Blue Technologies means playing a foundational role in bringing this first-of-a-kind technology to commercial reality.

Job Description

Big Blue Technologies is seeking a highly motivated, foundry metallurgist to serve as the operational lead for our foundry. This role is designed for someone with experience in commercial metal casting, tailored to someone with magnesium metal experience.

This is a critical leadership role in a capital-intensive, high-temperature industrial startup.

Importantly, we are seeking a candidate who embodies our core values: technical rigor, operational discipline, clear communication, and an assumption of goodwill, even under pressure.

This position is in-person on a 4 or 5-day schedule. The facility is within 1 hour drive of Fort Collins, northern Denver, and Laramie.

Responsibilities

Operations & Execution

• Own daily operation of magnesium production systems, including high-temperature furnaces, materials handling, and ancillary equipment.
• Lead commissioning, startup, shutdown, and troubleshooting of the magnesium casting line.
• Make real-time operational decisions balancing safety, uptime, learning, and cost.

Leadership & People

• Lead and direct technicians, engineers, and contractors in a small, fast-moving team.
• Establish expectations for safety, documentation, and professionalism.

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce safety protocols, permitting, lockout/tagout, and hot-work discipline.
• Help establish an operational safety culture appropriate for reactive metals and high-temperature systems.
• Interface with inspectors, insurers, and regulators as required.

Qualifications

Required

• 8+ years of experience in industrial operations, scale-up, commissioning, or plant environments.
• Experience with high-temperature, hazardous, or capital-intensive processes (metals, mining, cement, glass, chemicals, refractories, etc.).
• Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort working directly with equipment.
• Excellent communication skills and a bias toward action and accountability.

Highly Desirable

• Experience with magnesium metal
• Experience commissioning pilot or demonstration-scale plants.
• Experience managing contractors and vendors.
• Familiarity with vacuum systems, furnaces, and reactive materials.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $105,000 - $145,000
• Equity: Meaningful equity participation commensurate with experience
• Health, Dental, Vision, FSA

Equal Opportunity Employer

Big Blue Technologies is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.