Metallurgical Chemist

SLR International Corporation; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental Coverage

Vision

FSA/HSA

PTO

Holidays

401(k) matching

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

SLR Consulting (Americas) in Fort Collins, CO is seeking a Metallurgical Chemist to support analytical chemistry, precious metal analysis, and mineral characterization in our metallurgical testing laboratory. About 70% of the role focuses on analytical chemistry and metallurgical testing, with 30% devoted to physical sample prep and lab operations.

The role is full-time, on-site in Fort Collins, with a 7:00 AM–3:30 PM schedule and opportunities for growth within a global environmental

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or closely related science.
• Hands-on experience in analytical, industrial, mining, environmental, or metallurgical labs.
• Knowledge of analytical chemistry, sample prep, QC, and reagents.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to troubleshoot lab equipment.
• Ability to work independently and in a hands-on lab environment.
• Stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Perform analytical testing on ores, mineral concentrates, process solutions, and metallurgical test products, including gold and silver.
• Operate, maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot analytical equipment (ICP-OES, AAS, LECO, pH meters, balances).
• Prepare digestions and chemical preparations; create standards, reagents, and QC samples.
• Support cyanidation, bottle roll, column leach, carbon adsorption testing programs.
• Maintain accurate records and assist with method development and validation.
• Handle and prepare geological samples; portion for testing.
• Crush, split, pulverize, screen, and homogenize samples with lab equipment.
• Assist with bulk sample handling, lab housekeeping, and routine maintenance.
• Follow health, safety, and environmental procedures when handling acids and cyanide solutions.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Laboratory techniques

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or related field

Tools

ICP-OES

AAS

LECO analyzers

pH meters

Analytical balances

Job description

We are SLR Consulting (Americas), a 1500+ team of advisory, environmental, engineering, and regulatory professionals across the United States, Canada, and LATAM. We deliver environmental and sustainability services to our clients through the integration of over 30 advisory, technical environmental, and engineering disciplines to help clients address some of their most complex challenges around sustainability. We are Making Sustainability Happen. As our new Metallurgical Chemist, you will play an important role in our metallurgical testing laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado. You will support test programs for the mining and mineral processing industries, with a focus on analytical chemistry, precious metal extraction, and mineral characterization. Approximately 70% of this hands‑on position will involve analytical chemistry and metallurgical testing, with the remaining 30% dedicated to physical sample preparation and general laboratory operations. You will work in both analytical laboratory and industrial sample preparation environments.

Responsibilities

• Perform analytical testing on ores, mineral concentrates, process solutions, and metallurgical test products, including gold, silver, and other metals.
• Operate, maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot analytical equipment, including ICP-OES, AAS, LECO carbon and sulfur analyzers, pH meters, and analytical balances.
• Conduct sample digestion and chemical preparation, including multi-acid and aqua regia methods; prepare standards, reagents, calibration solutions, and quality control samples.
• Support cyanidation, bottle roll, column leach, carbon adsorption, and other metallurgical testing programs.
• Perform analytical QA/QC using calibration checks, blanks, duplicates, and reference materials; investigate discrepancies, contamination, and analytical interferences.
• Maintain accurate test records, analytical results, and instrument maintenance logs; assist with analytical method development, improvement, and validation.
• Receive, organize, label, and track geological and metallurgical samples; prepare representative portions for testing.
• Crush, split, pulverize, screen, and homogenize samples using jaw crushers, pulverizers, rotary splitters, and screening equipment.
• Assist with bulk sample handling, metallurgical test setup, laboratory housekeeping, and routine equipment cleaning, inspection, and preventative maintenance.
• Follow established health, safety, and environmental procedures when handling acids, cyanide solutions, hazardous chemicals, dust, mechanical equipment, and materials.

Here's what else you'll enjoy as part of our team

• Competitive total compensation package including medical, dental, orthodontia, vision, FSA/HSA, generous PTO accrual, 10 paid holidays, 401(k) retirement account with company matching program, company paid life insurance, short & long term disability insurance, and employee assistance program.
• The hourly pay range for this position is $30.00 - $40.00/hr. Final agreed upon compensation will be commensurate with individual education, qualifications, years of experience, internal parity, and location.
• Full-time, on-site role in Fort Collins, Colorado, with a regular Monday-Friday schedule of 7:00 AM-3:30 PM and opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

Qualifications/Education/Memberships

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline; equivalent relevant laboratory experience may be considered.
• Hands‑on experience in an analytical, industrial, mining, environmental, or metallurgical laboratory.
• Knowledge of analytical chemistry, sample preparation, laboratory quality control, and preparation of reagents, standards, and analytical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail, documentation skills, mechanical aptitude, and willingness to troubleshoot and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a hands‑on laboratory environment.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Two or more years of professional analytical laboratory experience preferred.
• Experience with ICP-OES, AAS, LECO instrumentation, precious metal analysis, acid digestion, or geochemical and metallurgical process solution analysis preferred.
• Familiarity with mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, cyanidation chemistry, carbon adsorption, and gold extraction processes preferred.
• Experience with analytical method development, QA/QC, preventative instrument maintenance, and mechanical sample preparation equipment preferred.
• Understanding of chemical safety, hazardous waste management, and safe handling of laboratory chemicals and industrial equipment.

Work Environment

This position involves work in an industrial metallurgical testing laboratory, including handling mineral samples and chemical solutions, operating analytical and mechanical equipment, and working around dust, noise, and machinery. Required personal protective equipment may include safety glasses, laboratory coats, gloves, hearing protection, and respiratory protection, as applicable. Candidates must be willing to regularly perform physical sample preparation duties in addition to analytical work.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy. Artificial intelligence is not being used to screen, assess, or select applicants.

SLR strives to build diverse teams that reflect the communities we work in, and encourages applications from traditionally underrepresented groups including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+, veterans, and people with disabilities. We're Making Sustainability Happen. We don't have all the answers to the complex sustainability challenges faced by humanity today. But we're working on it. We are a consultancy with 4,500+ employees, working on projects in over 125 countries around the world. When you join SLR, you'll work alongside some of the world’s leading advisors and technicians on projects of global importance in the environmental space. We know sustainability starts from within. And no matter how good we are today, we can always do better. We continually work on our internal ethics to set the standard for organisations and reflect the advice we give to clients.