Senior Mechanical Engineer - Pilot Mineral Processing Plant

Mariana Minerals; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Mariana Minerals is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, integration, and deployment of pilot-scale mechanical systems for our next-generation minerals processing pilot plant in Houston.

You will work closely with process engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams to design, install, commission, and improve equipment while ensuring systems are reliable, safe, and scalable to production.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 9+ years of experience in operations, process scale-up, or plant design in minerals processing, chemicals, specialty materials, oil & gas, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience driving equipment design, commissioning, operations, and reliability.
• Experience designing and maintaining furnaces, pumps and fluid handling systems, pressure vessels and reactors, piping systems and valves, filtration and separation equipment, and materials handling systems.
• Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams including process engineering, operations, and project execution.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in hands-on plant environments.
• Strong commitment to Health, Safety, and Environmental compliance and mechanical integrity standards.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced environments, wearing multiple hats, and managing ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Design, specify, and deploy mechanical systems and equipment for pilot-scale mineral processing operations
• Translate process requirements into practical mechanical and plant designs with process engineers
• Support installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of pilot plant equipment including pumps, piping, reactors, separators, filtration, and material handling equipment
• Develop and maintain mechanical design documentation including equipment specifications, layout drawings, piping schematics, and CAD models
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, maintainability, and operational performance
• Coordinate with vendors, fabricators, and contractors during procurement and installation
• Support safe plant operations by contributing to hazard reviews, equipment safety design, and mechanical integrity programs

Skills

Mechanical design

Cross-functional collaboration

Troubleshooting

Technical writing

Team leadership

Project coordination

Education

B.S., M.S., or PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD

Job description

Mariana Minerals is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, integration, and deployment of pilot-scale mechanical systems for our next-generation minerals processing pilot plant in Houston.

You will work closely with process engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams to design, install, commission, and improve equipment while ensuring systems are reliable, safe, and scalable to production.