R&D Technician

Solcoa Industries; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

Company-provided lunch daily

Visa sponsorship available

Job summary

A leading metals production company in California is seeking a hands-on R&D Technician to operate and maintain rare-earth metal production lines. The role involves running high-temperature reactors, assembling components, and troubleshooting processes. The ideal candidate will have fabrication experience and a strong mechanical aptitude, ensuring smooth and safe operations within a fast-paced environment. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits are offered, including daily lunches and potential visa sponsorship.

Qualifications

• Fabrication experience including machining and welding.
• Operating high-temperature or vacuum systems.
• Mechanical aptitude with tools and equipment handling.
• Comfortable working independently in fast-paced environments.
• Detail-oriented with adherence to safety practices.
• Availability to start soon.

Responsibilities

• Operate high-temperature reactors and vacuum systems.
• Assemble and fabricate reactor components.
• Execute SOPs and capture observational data.
• Perform troubleshooting and preventive maintenance.
• Contribute to process improvements and upgrades.
• Contribute to continuous improvement: propose upgrades, document changes, and help implement fixes quickly.
• Collaborate with engineers on experiments and scale-up activities; provide practical feedback from the floor.

Skills

Hands-on fabrication experience

Experience operating high-temperature systems

Mechanical aptitude

Detail-orientation

Ability to work independently

Availability to start soon

Education

Coursework or experience in chemistry or physics

Tools

Basic CAD familiarity

Vacuum systems

Furnaces

Gloveboxes

Pumps

Job description

Making the Metals Powering the World

Solcoa exists to stabilize the western rare-earth metal supply chain—powering every fighter jet, EV, wind turbine, phone, and generator. We’re among the very few companies outside China producing rare-earth metals—and the only one delivering a 100% U.S. supply of both light and heavy rare earths. Our carbon-zero process converts end-of-life magnets directly into metal, ready to accelerate energy independence and secure one of the world’s most vital resources.

We are a lean, well-funded team rapidly accelerating Western rare-earth production. We’re building a world-class team of engineers to solve this crisis.

The Role — R&D Technician

We’re looking for a hands‑on R&D Technician to operate, maintain, and improve our rare‑earth metal production line. You’ll run high‑temperature and vacuum reactor systems, build and assemble components, execute test plans, and keep the plant humming safely and reliably. You’ll work closely with engineers and machinists to translate concepts into robust, repeatable operations.

What You’ll Do

• Operate high-temperature reactors, vacuum systems, and related process equipment to produce rare‑earth metals.
• Assemble, retrofit, and help build reactor subsystems and fixtures; perform basic fabrication and shop work.
• Execute SOPs, test plans, and trial runs; capture data and observations with precision.
• Monitor process parameters, diagnose issues, and perform first-line troubleshooting and preventive maintenance.
• Handle materials safely (hot parts, inert gases, powders) and maintain a clean, organized work area.
• Contribute to continuous improvement: propose upgrades, document changes, and help implement fixes quickly.
• Collaborate with engineers on experiments and scale-up activities; provide practical feedback from the floor.

What You Bring

Required

• Hands‑on fabrication experience (basic machining, assembly; welding is a plus).
• Experience operating high‑temperature or vacuum systems (reactors, furnaces, gloveboxes, pumps, or similar).
• Mechanical aptitude and comfort with tools, rigging, and safe equipment handling.
• Detail‑orientation and rigorous adherence to SOPs, safety, and documentation.
• Comfort working independently in a fast‑paced, build‑measure‑learn environment.
• Availability to start soon.

Preferred

• Experience building or assisting in the build of high‑temperature reactors or vacuum subsystems.
• Basic CAD familiarity (Fusion or similar) for simple prints/markups.
• Coursework or experience in chemistry or physics (thermo, materials, reaction engineering, or similar).

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Company‑provided lunch daily
• Visa sponsorship available if needed