Senior Thermal Processing Engineer: Lead Kiln Projects

Socket.dev; Mountain Pass (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

MP Materials is seeking a Senior Thermal Processing Engineer to support the operation, optimization, reliability, and design of kilns, calciners, dryers, and related equipment. You will lead improvement projects and coordinate with operations, maintenance, and vendors to ensure safe, efficient performance.

The role requires a strong background in high‑temperature processing, heat transfer and refractory systems, along with experience in capital project execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, chemical, metallurgical, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience with industrial kilns, rotary kilns, calciners, dryers, solids conveyance systems, baghouses, furnaces, or similar high‑temperature equipment.
• Experience with rotating equipment such as gearboxes, bearings, drives, couplings, fans, blowers, and lubrication systems.
• Experience in mining, metallurgical processing, cement, chemical processing, petroleum, or another heavy industrial environment.
• Strong troubleshooting, equipment optimization, and project execution experience.
• Understanding of heat transfer, combustion, material flow, draft, thermal expansion, refractory systems, and mechanical reliability.
• Ability to read and develop PFDs, P&IDs, equipment drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Familiarity with plant control systems, PI Vision, SAP, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for the operation, optimization, and reliability of kilns, calciners, coolers, dryers, and associated rotating equipment.
• Lead projects involving process optimization, debottlenecking, equipment modifications, capacity improvement, and design upgrades.
• Analyze equipment performance, including temperature, material flow, refractory design & performance, residence time, draft, combustion, heat transfer, vibration, motor load, and product quality.
• Troubleshoot buildup, plugging, refractory damage, overheating, vibration, misalignment, air leakage, and mechanical failures.
• Work with cross‑functional teams to improve equipment performance and reliability.
• Develop engineering calculations, equipment specifications, scopes of work, cost estimates, schedules, and technical evaluations.
• Support Capital Project teams through detailed engineering, design reviews, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Review and update PFDs, P&IDs, equipment layouts, datasheets, and engineering drawings.
• Coordinate vendors, contractors, equipment procurement, installation, commissioning, and performance testing.
• Manage projects from concept and design through execution, startup, and closeout.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Equipment optimization

Project execution

Heat transfer

Combustion

Material flow

Draft

Thermal expansion

Refractory systems

Mechanical reliability

PFDs & P&IDs reading

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, metallurgical, or related engineering

Tools

PI Vision

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

MP Materials is seeking a Senior Thermal Processing Engineer to support the operation, optimization, reliability, and design of kilns, calciners, dryers, and related equipment. You will lead improvement projects and coordinate with operations, maintenance, and vendors to ensure safe, efficient performance.

The role requires a strong background in high‑temperature processing, heat transfer and refractory systems, along with experience in capital project execution.