Pilot Plant Technician (Weekend Shift)

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 assisting software development for automated plant optimization.

This role bridges R&D and Operations, ensuring processes are robust, safe, and cost-effective for commercial production. You will collaborate with engineers and technicians, perform routine maintenance, document

Qualifications

• 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.
• Exposure to 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 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 is a plus.
• Experience using PFDs, control narratives, or P&IDs is a plus.
• Climb stairs, stand for extended periods, and lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor chemical processes such as precipitation, filtration, ion exchange, and membrane concentration.
• Safely handle chemicals, raw materials, and waste streams per SOPs and regulations.
• Support sampling, quality checks, and basic laboratory measurements.
• Assist with design, install, startup, and commissioning of new equipment and processes.
• Maintain plant cleanliness and organize tools and equipment for operations.
• Perform routine maintenance and inspections; document findings in CMMS.
• Create and maintain procedures, experimental records, shift reports, and other critical operations documents.

Skills

Pilot plant operations

Industrial equipment operation

Safety work processes (LOTO, hot work,

HMI and plant software monitoring

Equipment installation and debugging

Inorganic chemistry basics

Reading PFDs/P&IDs

Education

Associate degree or technical certificate in chemical technology

Tools

CMMS

HMI/PLS software

Plant software systems

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 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 chemical processes such as precipitation, filtration, ion exchange, and membrane concentration.
• 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

Shift Schedule

• Weekend Days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 10 hours shifts: 6AM - 4PM

Desired Qualifications

• 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.