Pilot Plant Supervisor

marianaminerals; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mariana Minerals in San Francisco seeks a hands-on Operations Supervisor to lead a team of technicians supporting pilot plant operations and the development of software for automated plant optimization. This role bridges R&D and operations, ensuring safe, cost-efficient processes and robust data capture, while coordinating with engineers and scientists.

The ideal candidate has supervisory experience, strong safety leadership, and familiarity with HMIs and process chemistry; you’ll work

Qualifications

• 2+ years of supervisory or lead experience.
• 5+ years operating pilot plant or industrial equipment in minerals processing, chemicals, or related industry.
• Leadership in core plant safety work processes such as LOTO, hot work permitting, confined space entry, and safe work permitting systems.
• Experience using HMIs and plant software systems to monitor, control, and adjust process operation.
• Experience overseeing hands-on equipment installation, modification, and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of basic process chemistry (pH, stoichiometry).
• Experience using engineering documents such as PFDs, control narratives, and P&IDs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the direct lead for a team of operations technicians.
• Help drive performance reviews, scheduling, training, and hiring.
• Collaborate with engineers, R&D scientists, and technicians to operate and monitor chemical processes.
• Provide off-hours support on evenings and weekends to plant upsets and high-priority projects.
• Create and sustain EHS programs and policies regarding chemical handling, hazard assessment, PPE and waste management compliance.
• Ensure high-quality data capture from the plant via sampling, basic laboratory measurements, instrument uptime, and MarianaOS usage.
• Own plant cleanliness and organization, ensuring work areas, tools, and equipment are well-maintained and ready for operations.
• Create and maintain procedures, experimental records, shift reports, and other critical operations documents.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Team leadership

LOTO safety

HMIs & plant software

Process monitoring

Equipment troubleshooting

Data capture

Communication skills

Physical fitness

Tools

HMIs

MarianaOS

Job description

About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

The Role

Mariana Minerals is looking for a highly motivated Operations Supervisor to join our San Francisco Pilot Plant team. You will oversee a team of high performing technicians who support the design, deployment, and operation of first-of-its-kind refining processes for critical minerals, while also supporting development of software for automated plant optimization. This position is highly hands-on and will play a critical role in bridging R&D and Operations, ensuring processes are robust, safe, cost-effective, and suitable for commercial production.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the direct lead for a team of high performing operations technicians

• Help drive performance reviews, scheduling, training, and hiring

• Collaborate with engineers, R&D scientists, and the technicians to operate and monitor mineral extraction chemical processes

• Provide off-hours support on evenings and weekends to plant upsets and high priority projects

• Create and sustain EHS programs and policies regarding chemical handling, hazard assessment, high risk activities, PPE and waste management compliance

• Ensure high-quality data capture from the plant via sampling, basic laboratory measurements, instrument uptime, and MarianaOS usage

• Own plant cleanliness and organization, ensuring work areas, tools, and equipment are well-maintained and ready for operations

• Create and maintain procedures, experimental records, shift reports, and other critical operations documents

Desired Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a supervisory or lead role

• 5+ years of experience operating pilot plant or commercial scale industrial equipment in the minerals processing, chemicals, specialty materials, oil & gas, biotech, or similar industry

• Demonstrated leadership in core plant safety work processes such as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), hot work permitting, confined space entry, and safe work permitting systems

• Experience using human–machine interfaces (HMIs) and plant software systems to monitor, control, and adjust process operation

• Experience overseeing hands-on equipment installation, modification, and troubleshooting

• Knowledge of basic process chemistry (pH, reaction stoichiometry, etc)

• Experience using engineering documents such as PFDs, control narratives, and P&IDs

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Climb stairs, stand for extended periods of time, and safely lift up to 50 lbs

Our culture is built on four principles:

Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people.

Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions.

Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale.

Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!