Project Engineer

USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR); Stillwater (OK); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

USA Rare Earth, Inc. in Stillwater, OK, seeks a Project Engineer to lead capital projects, process improvements, and equipment upgrades within a high‑temperature metal‑making and alloy environment.

This role bridges operations, maintenance, and technical engineering teams to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and reliably. The ideal candidate is hands‑on, analytical, and comfortable working in heavy industry.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, metallurgical, or industrial engineering (or equivalent).
• 3+ years of engineering experience in heavy industry (steel, aluminum, foundry, forging, or projects).
• Strong understanding of industrial equipment, automation, and reliability principles.
• Excellent communication, planning, and problem‑solving.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, and risk registers for projects.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders, contractors, and OEMs to ensure alignment and timely execution.
• Lead project meetings, track milestones, and provide progress reports to leadership.
• Oversee installation, commissioning, and handover of new equipment and systems.

Skills

Engineering experience

Strong communication

Problem solving

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Metallurgical, or Industrial Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

We are on a mission to become a leading supplier of critical materials that enable the green energy and technology revolution. Our materials and technologies are required for the electric vehicle, green energy, consumer electronics, and defense industries, and our battery grade lithium and tech metals are needed for chipsets, semiconductors, and 5G.

We have a substantial interest in the Round Top, Heavy Rare Earth, Lithium and Critical Minerals deposit in West Texas. We have also developed the United States’ first rare earth and critical minerals processing facility and we own the only scalable, sintered neo‑magnet manufacturing system in the Western Hemisphere. By developing this fully integrated, US‑based “mine‑to‑magnet” critical mineral supply chain, we are poised to become the leading domestic supplier to these industries

.
What you can expec

t:At USA Rare Earth, we are pioneers and problem solvers, technologists and team players. Together, w

e:
Build Soluti

ons: If our task was a simple one, it would already be done. We are creative and solution‑oriented, and we think outside the box to solve important problems. We know that a range of expertise and technologies is needed for success, and we work across sectors and alongside customers to deliver world‑class solutions in sustainable wa

ys.
Deliver Qua

lity: When we do things, we do them well. We believe that top‑tier quality leads to industry competitiveness and we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards. We move fast when executing, but safety, quality, and excellence always come fi

rst.
Lead respon

sibly: We have a responsibility to the planet, our consumers, our country, and each other. We put safety at the center of all we do, take accountability for our actions, incorporate sustainable practices in our processes and act with the financial best interest of our investors and consumers in

mind.
Win To

gether: Establishing a rare earth magnet supply chain is a big undertaking – and getting there is a team effort. We communicate openly, work together and challenge each other in pursuit of our goals. With every step we take we learn and get b

etter. Job S

ummary:The Project Engineer leads capital projects, process improvements, and equipment upgrades within a high‑temperature metal‑making and alloy environment. This role bridges operations, maintenance, and technical engineering teams to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and with long‑term reliability in mind. The ideal candidate is hands‑on, analytical, and comfortable working in a heavy industrial s

etting.As part of this role, you will be required to travel to our UK site for an initial training period. During this time, you will learn Less Common Metals’ processes, standards, and operating methods. You will then serve as the trainer and project team lead within Engineering for the US site once operations commence, ensuring knowledge transfer and consistent global sta

ndards.
Key Responsi

bilitiesProject Ma

• nagementDevelop and manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, and risk registers for p
• rojects.Coordinate internal stakeholders, contractors, and OEMs to ensure alignment and timely ex
• ecution.Lead project meetings, track milestones, and provide progress reports to lea
• dership.Oversee installation, commissioning, and handover of new equipment and
• systems.

Engineering & Technical Responsi

• bilitiesProvide engineering support for melting, casting, rolling, forging, or heat‑treating ope
• rations.Analyse process data to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and improvement opport
• unities.Support equipment specification, design reviews, and acceptance testing for furnaces, cranes, conveyors, and automation
• systems.Conduct root‑cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective actions for equipment failures or process dev
• iations.Ensure engineering documentation (P&IDs, layouts, manuals, drawings) is accurate and up
• mplianceEnsure all project activities comply with site safety rules, UK regulations, and environmental st
• andards.Lead hazard assessments (HAZOP, HIRA, PUWER) and implement engineering c
• ontrols.Support continuous improvement of safety systems in high‑temperature and high‑energy envir
• onments.Promote a strong safety culture through proactive engagement and visible lea

dership.Technical Team Colla

• borationWork closely with metallurgists, process engineers, and automation engineers to ensure project designs align with process requirements and product quality st
• andards.Translate technical requirements into practical project deliverables, ensuring equipment and systems meet metallurgical and operational specifi
• cations.Facilitate technical design reviews, ensuring cross‑functional input is captured early to avoid
• rework.Partner with reliability engineers to incorporate predictive maintenance strategies, condition monitoring, and lifecycle considerations into project
• designs.Collaborate with maintenance engineering to ensure new equipment is maintainable, accessible, and supported with proper documentation and spare‑parts str
• ategies.Support technical teams during trials, commissioning, and performance testing, ensuring data is captured and analysed effe
• ctively.Act as a technical liaison between the facility and external engineering firms, ensuring designs meet site standards and operational re

alities.Technical Le

• adershipProvide engineering judgement during troubleshooting, shutdown planning, and equipment u
• pgrades.Ensure technical teams have the resources, drawings, and information needed to execute the
• ir work.Lead cross‑functional problem‑solving sessions using tools such as 5‑Why, FMEA, and fishbone a
• nalysis.Mentor junior engineers and technicians on project execution, technical standards, and engineering best pr

actices.Cross‑Functional Colla

• borationWork with operations to ensure project outcomes support production goals and operator us
• ability.Coordinate with procurement on vendor selection, contract negotiation, and equipment s
• ourcing.Support quality teams by ensuring new equipment meets product specifications and testing requi
• rements.Communicate project impacts, timelines, and risks to all stake

holders.
Quali

fication

• sRequiredBachelor’s degree in mechanical, Electrical, Metallurgical, or Industrial Engineering (or equ
• ivalent).3+ years of engineering experience in heavy industry (steel, aluminum, foundry, forging, or
• projects.Strong understanding of industrial equipment, automation, and reliability pr
• inciples.Excellent communication, planning, and problem‑solvin
• PreferredExperience with molten metal handling, refractory systems, or furnace op
• erations.Knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or TPM metho
• dologies.Familiarity with CAD tools (AutoCAD, SolidWorks) and project management
• software.Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or working t

oward it.
Physic

al DemandsThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential

functions.The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, a manufacturing floor and a construction site. Noise level: Normal office, manufacturing and constructi

on noises.The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate reporting

structure.
USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Op

portunitiesUSA Rare Earth's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and will provide reasonable accommodations according to applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.