Production Engineer

Northern NV Jobs; Winnemucca (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Lithium Americas in Nevada seeks a Sulfuric Acid Production Engineer to support the design finalization, commissioning, start-up, optimization, and ongoing operation of the SA1 plant and utilities. You will work with operations, maintenance and engineering teams to optimize sulfur burning and process safety while ensuring reliable performance.

The role is based at Thacker Pass and will involve collaboration across multiple disciplines to meet production targets and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related field.
• 0–5 years in chemical processing or heavy industry.
• Experience with sulfur burning sulfuric acid production preferred.
• Understanding of sulfuric acid systems and process control.
• Experience with commissioning/start-up activities preferred.
• Knowledge of OSHA, PSM and environmental compliance.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.
• Effective communication and cross‑disciplinary collaboration.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficient in MS Office; familiarity with Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical support for SA1 systems.
• Support commissioning, start-up and operations readiness.
• Monitor process performance and analyze data.
• Lead SA1 OEE program to drive reliability.
• Identify bottlenecks and develop corrective actions.
• Participate in HAZOPs, PHAs, MOCs, RCAs.
• Build trusted cross-team relationships.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

DCS systems

Process trending tools

Job description

Company Overview

Lithium Americas is a North American resource and materials company focused on developing, building and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The company’s flagship asset, Thacker Pass, is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada and is the world’s largest known measured lithium source and reserve. We are focused on safely and responsibly developing Thacker Pass to production to help strengthen national security and enable cleaner energy sources. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact, creating family-supporting jobs and maximizing sustainable value for our stakeholders. Lithium Americas is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and operates in the U.S., with offices in Reno, NV and Winnemucca, NV. The Company’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LAC.

Our Purpose, Vision and Values

Our purpose, vision and values are the guiding principles that will serve as the cornerstone of our company’s future direction and operations, aligning our team and organization towards our common goals.

Our Purpose

is to safely and sustainably produce lithium from Thacker Pass to enable North America to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals and drive value for our stakeholders.

Our Vision

is to be North America’s leading lithium producer to enable cleaner energy sources.

Our Values

include Act with Integrity, Be Responsible and Act with Care, Commit to Excellence and Drive Innovation, and Be a Collaborative Partner.

Role

We are seeking a Sulfuric Acid Production Engineer to provide technical process engineering support for the design finalization, commissioning, start-up, optimization, and ongoing operation of the Sulfuric Acid Plant (SA1) and associated utility systems. This role will support safe, environmentally compliant, and reliable plant performance by working closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and commissioning teams to optimize sulfur burning sulfuric acid processes and utility integration. The Production Engineer will play a key role in troubleshooting, process improvement, operating procedure development, and long‑term operational reliability.

The role is based at Thacker Pass and reports to the Sulfuric Acid Plant Manager. Occasional travel to other LAC offices, project sites, or vendor locations may be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical support for sulfur-burning sulfuric acid process systems.
• Support commissioning, start-up and operations readiness activities for SA1 systems and equipment.
• Monitor plant process performance and analyze operations data
• Provide overall leadership, direction, and ownership of the SA1 OEE program to drive reliability, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Identify process bottlenecks, equipment issues, and operational inefficiencies and develop corrective actions.
• Support development and continuous improvement of operations
• Assist in developing and maintaining KPIs and reporting metrics related to production, efficiency, emissions, and reliability.
• Participate in HAZOPs, PHAs, MOCs, RCAs, and other process safety and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across all teams while championing a culture that reflects and supports our Purpose, Vision, and Values
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related discipline required.
• 0-5 years of experience in chemical processing, refining, mining or heavy industrial operations preferred.
• Experience with sulfur burning sulfuric acid production strongly preferred.
• Understanding of sulfuric acid process systems, unit operations, heat transfer, fluid flow, and process control systems.
• Experience supporting plant commissioning, start‑up, or operational readiness activities preferred.
• Knowledge of process safety principles including OSHA, PSM and environmental compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to solve complex process and operational issues.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across multiple disciplines.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and support critical‑path commissioning and operations activities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Power BI, etc.).
• Familiarity with DCS systems, historians and process trending tools preferred.
• Self‑motivated with strong organization and time‑management skills.
• Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values

Working at Lithium Americas

At Lithium Americas, we believe our people are our most valuable asset. We offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for long‑term growth and skills development.

We are committed to building a diverse and respectful workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Lithium Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, age, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.