Pilot Plant Operator — High-Temp Rare Earth Metals

Solcoa Industries; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and view

Company-provided lunch daily

Visa sponsorship available if needed

Job summary

Solcoa Industries in Alameda, CA is hiring a Plant Operator to run and maintain its pilot-scale rare-earth metal production facility. You will manage high-temperature reactors, vacuum systems, induction furnaces, and inert handling from feedstock prep to finished metal.

Join a fast-paced startup that values safety, precision, and real-time process control as you scale pilot lines to commercial production.

Qualifications

• 3+ years operating pilot-scale or production-scale process equipment.
• Crane, rigging, and forklift operation experience; certifications preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude—hand/tools, basic fabrication, equipment assembly.
• Rigorous approach to SOPs, batch records, safety protocols, and data logging.
• Ability to work rotating or flexible shifts as production demands require.
• Comfort working independently and making sound operational decisions in a fast‑paced startup environment.
• Availability to start soon.
• Experience in pyrometallurgy or electrometallurgy is preferred.
• Background operating vacuum induction melting furnaces is a plus.
• Basic welding skills (MIG/TIG) and shop fabrication.
• OSHA 10/30 or HAZWOPER certification is a plus.
• Coursework in metallurgy, materials science, chemical engineering.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor pilot-scale production equipment including vacuum induction furnaces, tube furnaces (up to 1700°C), high-vacuum pump systems, and inert-atmosphere gloveboxes.
• Manage production runs end-to-end: feedstock preparation, reactor charging, process execution, product recovery, and packaging under inert conditions.
• Track and log process parameters; flag deviations and make real-time adjustments to stay on-spec.
• Perform preventive and first-line corrective maintenance on furnaces, vacuum systems, gas delivery, and material handling equipment; coordinate with engineers on larger repairs.
• Prepare samples for analytical testing (ICP-OES, IGF-O/N, SEM-EDS); understand results feedback into process control.
• Operate overhead cranes (2T & 5T), forklifts, and rigging equipment to move feedstock, crucibles, and finished product safely.
• Maintain strict housekeeping, chemical hygiene, and safety practices around hot materials, reactive powders, and inert-gas environments.
• Support commissioning and startup of new production lines and equipment as the facility scales.
• Collaborate with R&D engineers and technicians on trial runs, process improvements, and scale-up campaigns.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

SOPs & data logging

Shift flexibility

Independent decision making

Startup environment adaptability

Education

Metallurgy coursework

Materials science coursework

Chemical engineering coursework

OSHA 10/30 or HAZWOPER certification

Tools

Crane operation

Forklift operation

Rigging experience

Job description

Solcoa Industries in Alameda, CA is hiring a Plant Operator to run and maintain its pilot-scale rare-earth metal production facility. You will manage high-temperature reactors, vacuum systems, induction furnaces, and inert handling from feedstock prep to finished metal.

Join a fast-paced startup that values safety, precision, and real-time process control as you scale pilot lines to commercial production.