Pilot Plant Technician

Mariana Minerals; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mariana Minerals in San Francisco is seeking a hands-on technician to join our Pilot Plant team. You will 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 role is highly hands-on and will bridge R&D and Operations, ensuring processes are robust, safe, cost-effective, and suitable for commercial production.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical certificate required.
• 3+ years of pilot plant or similar industrial experience.
• Familiar with LOTO, hot work, confined space and safe work permitting processes.
• Experience using HMIs and plant software to monitor and control processes.
• Hands-on equipment installation, modification, and troubleshooting.
• Basic inorganic chemistry knowledge and pH concepts a plus.
• Familiarity with PFDs, narratives, or P&IDs is a plus.
• Ability to climb stairs, stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Assist engineers to operate and monitor copper extraction chemical processes.
• Safely handle chemicals and waste per SOPs and regulations.
• Support sampling, quality checks, and basic lab measurements.
• Assist with design, install, startup, and commissioning of new equipment.
• Maintain plant cleanliness and organize tools and equipment.
• Perform routine maintenance and document actions in CMMS.
• Create and maintain procedures, records, and shift reports.

Skills

Pilot plant ops

HMI/SCADA

Laboratory measurements

Equipment installation

Safety procedures

Education

Associate degree or technical certificate

Tools

CMMS

HMIs

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.

Role Overview

Mariana Minerals is looking for a highly motivated technician to join our San Francisco Pilot Plant team. You will 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

• Assist engineers and other technicians to operate and monitor copper extraction chemical processes

• Safely handle chemicals, raw materials, and waste streams in compliance with SOPs and regulations

• Support sampling, quality checks, and basic laboratory measurements

• Assist with design, install, startup, and commissioning of new equipment and processes

• Take ownership of plant cleanliness and organization, ensuring work areas, tools, and equipment are well‑maintained and ready for operations

• Perform routine maintenance, inspections, and basic mechanical repairs; document findings & actions in a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

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

What You’ll Bring

• Associate degree, technical certificate, or equivalent experience in chemical technology, process technology, industrial operations, or a related field

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

• Prior exposure to 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 with hands‑on equipment installation, modification, and troubleshooting

• Basic knowledge of inorganic chemistry, pH, and reaction stoichiometry a plus

• Experience using engineering documents such as PFDs, control narratives, or P&IDs is a plus

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

Our culture is built on three principles:

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.