Senior Engineer: Powder Processing, Pressing, & Sintering

MP Materials; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MP Materials in Fort Worth, Texas, is seeking a Senior Engineer specialized in Powder Processing, Pressing, & Sintering to join their Magnet Technology group. The role involves hands-on experimental research and development, focusing on high-performance rare earth permanent magnets. Candidates should have a Master’s or Ph.D. in relevant fields and 10+ years of industry experience, particularly in pressing and sintering. This position represents a rare opportunity to contribute to advancing American manufacturing capabilities. Full compliance with safety protocols is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience with metallurgical or ceramic powder processing, heat treatments, and materials characterization methods.
• Deep understanding of materials, thermodynamics, and kinetics.
• Adept at identifying untested questions about materials and the interactions between processing, structure, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize sintering and heat treatment profiles on prototype magnets.
• Lead and manage development projects, document, and communicate findings.
• Supervise technicians and junior engineers for high-quality execution of experimental trials.
• Ensure compliance with world-class health and safety regulations.
• Represent MP Materials by publishing in technical journals and presenting at conferences.

Skills

Metallurgical or ceramic powder processing

Heat treatments

Materials characterization methods

Excellent communication skills

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering, Metallurgy, Physics, or related field

Tools

SEM

XRD

ICP

LECO

Job description

Company Overview

MP Materials (NYSE: MP) is rebuilding American industrial capability for a new era of autonomy, robotics, and electrification. We are the only U.S. company with a fully integrated rare earth supply chain—from mining and refining to advanced metal and magnet manufacturing. Our products include both the critical materials used to make permanent magnets and the finished magnets themselves—enabling next-generation technologies in robotics, automation, aerospace, transportation, defense, and energy systems. These materials are the foundation of physical AI—the convergence of computation, movement, and control.

Position Overview

MP Materials is seeking a hands‑on Senior Engineer with responsibility for Powder Processing, Pressing, & Sintering to join the Magnet Technology group to support development technologies for advanced manufacturing to produce high-performance rare earth permanent magnets. The Senior Engineer will specialize in hands‑on experimental magnetics research, which is anticipated to include casting, powder processing, pressing, sintering, recycling, and more. This includes custom setup design, experimental trials, and materials characterization (e.g., SEM, XRD, ICP, and LECO). This position will have responsibility for a broad range of initiatives, including design of materials for optimum performance, to manufacturing process development and optimization, and more. This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in returning an essential manufacturing capability to the USA.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize sintering and heat treatment profiles on prototype magnets assist with scaling manufacturing processes to production‑scale.
• Lead and manage development projects, document, and communicate findings, and build team knowledge of current and future magnet research.
• Supervise technicians and junior engineers to ensure high‑quality execution of experimental trials.
• Work closely with EHS to ensure that all work is done to ensure world‑class health and safety, and full compliance with relevant environmental regulations.
• Engage external institutions including university researchers, strategic partners, and government laboratories to add value from new technologies and applied research.
• Represent MP Materials within the industry by publishing in technical and trade journals and presenting at conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering, Metallurgy, Physics, or related field.
• Experience with metallurgical or ceramic powder processing, heat treatments, and materials characterization methods.
• Deep understanding of materials, thermodynamics, and kinetics.
• Agile researcher, adept at identifying untested questions about materials and the interactions between processing, structure, and performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desired Qualities

• 10+ years of industry experience in pressing, sintering, and heat treatment of metals and/or ceramics.
• Experience with manufacturing rare earth materials and permanent magnets.
• Experience leading technical development projects, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience with programming, modeling, and/or machine learning techniques and the ability to apply those skills to advance physical understanding of materials.
• Lifelong learner able and enthusiastic to apply existing skills and experiences to new problems.

Equal Opportunity Employment

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Underrepresented groups/Women/Disabled/Veterans are encouraged to apply. Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the position’s requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.