Modeling and Simulation Manager

Vulcan Elements Inc.; North Carolina; On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements Inc. is seeking a Modeling and Simulation Manager in North Carolina to lead a multidisciplinary team driving modeling efforts that enhance the performance of rare-earth magnets. This technical leadership role requires collaboration with various teams to translate R&D priorities into impactful modeling agendas.

The ideal candidate holds a Ph.D. or M.S. in a quantitative field and possesses over 5 years of experience with modeling software, particularly in multiphysics and finite element analysis. Strong communication skills and team-leadership experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.S. in a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience with modeling software.
• Strong mathematical modeling background.
• Experience leading or mentoring a technical team.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, Git, or equivalents.

Responsibilities

• Translate R&D priorities into a modeling agenda.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor and reproducibility.
• Present results and recommendations to stakeholders.

Skills

COMSOL

Fluent

Python

MATLAB

Git

Machine Learning

Statistics

Education

Ph.D. or M.S. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Applied Physics

Job description

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.

As the Modeling and Simulation Manager you will grow and lead a multidisciplinary team of computational scientists and engineers, driving physics-based and data-based modeling efforts that directly improve magnet performance, production yields, and process efficiency.

This is a hands‑on technical leadership role. You will both contribute directly to modeling work and grow a team with deep expertise across a variety of modeling and simulation modalities, including but not limited to mechanical, fluid dynamics, electronic structure, and mathematical and image analysis. Your group’s output will shape process decisions, reduce experimental iteration cycles, and create quantitative links between structure, processing conditions, and final properties.

This role will initially support pilot‑scale and R&D activities (RTP, NC), with the potential to contribute to commercial plant operations (Benson, NC) in the next year.

Responsibilities

• Translate R&D priorities into a modeling agenda with clear deliverables, timelines, and success criteria in partnership with process engineering, materials science, and production teams.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, reproducibility, and rapid iteration; establish standards for model validation, documentation, and peer review.
• Present results and recommendations to technical and executive stakeholders; communicate uncertainty and model limitations clearly.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience with COMSOL, Fluent, or equivalent; demonstrated ability to build and validate multiple multiphysics models and finite element analysis.
• Strong mathematical modeling background; experience with image analysis, machine learning, statistical modeling, or signal processing applied to materials characterization data.
• Familiarity with rare earth magnets, NdFeB alloy systems, or related metallic/magnetic materials.
• Experience leading or mentoring a small technical team; ability to set priorities, provide technical guidance, and develop junior researchers.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, Git, or equivalents for scripting, data analysis, and model post-processing.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce clear technical reports and present complex results to non‑specialist audiences.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with DFT codes (VASP, Quantum ESPRESSO, or similar) or demonstrated ability to direct and interpret DFT studies.
• Background in rare earth processing, hydrometallurgy, or magnet manufacturing.
• Experience with grain boundary diffusion processes or sintering simulation.
• Familiarity with thermodynamic modeling and databases such as FactSage, or ThermoCalc.
• Knowledge of machine learning principles for data analysis.
• Familiarity with electron microscopy image analysis (SEM/EDS/EBSD) and quantitative microstructural characterization.
• Publication record in computational materials science, process simulation, or permanent magnets.
• Experience managing budgets, external collaborators, or academic partnerships.

As set forth in Vulcan Elements’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.