Staff Mechanical Engineer, Pilot Plant Equipment Lead

Mariana Minerals; Georgia; 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 minerals processing pilot plant in Houston. You’ll work with process engineers and technicians to translate requirements into practical designs and ensure reliability and safety.

This hands-on role emphasizes equipment selection, installation, commissioning, and ongoing improvements to enable scalable, commercially viable 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.
• Work closely with process engineers to translate process requirements into practical mechanical and plant designs.
• Support installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of pilot plant equipment including pumps, piping systems, reactors, separators, filtration systems, 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 equipment procurement and installation.
• Support safe plant operations by contributing to hazard reviews, equipment safety design, and mechanical integrity programs.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Process Scale-Up

Plant Design

Equipment Design

Cross-Functional Teams

Troubleshooting

Safety & Compliance

Technical Writing

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

MS in Mechanical Engineering

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD

P&ID Software

CFD/FEA Tools

Job description

Mariana Minerals is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, integration, and deployment of pilot-scale mechanical systems for our minerals processing pilot plant in Houston. You’ll work with process engineers and technicians to translate requirements into practical designs and ensure reliability and safety.

This hands-on role emphasizes equipment selection, installation, commissioning, and ongoing improvements to enable scalable, commercially viable production.