Senior Mechanical Engineer - Pilot Plant & Scale-Up

Doist; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; 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 Houston pilot plant. You will drive equipment selection, layout, and CAD modeling, and work closely with process engineers to ensure reliable, safe, and scalable operations.

The role demands hands-on leadership in design, installation, commissioning, and optimization of pumps, piping, reactors, and material handling equipment, with a strong emphasis on

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 9+ years of experience in minerals processing, chemicals, specialty materials, or related industries.
• Experience driving equipment design, commissioning, operations, and reliability.
• Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams and communicate effectively.
• Strong commitment to Health, Safety, and Environmental compliance.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Design expertise

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical writing

Hands-on problem solving

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor/Master/PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Mariana Minerals is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, integration, and deployment of pilot-scale mechanical systems for our Houston pilot plant. You will drive equipment selection, layout, and CAD modeling, and work closely with process engineers to ensure reliable, safe, and scalable operations.

The role demands hands-on leadership in design, installation, commissioning, and optimization of pumps, piping, reactors, and material handling equipment, with a strong emphasis on