Staff Mechanical Engineer - Pilot Plant & Scale-Up Leader

marianaminerals

Houston (TX)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 170,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Mariana Minerals in Houston is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to design, integrate, and deploy pilot-scale mechanical systems for our minerals processing pilot plant. You will lead the development of equipment specifications, installation plans, and safety-compliant designs, collaborating with process engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams to scale technology from pilot to production.

The role demands hands-on expertise with pumps, piping, reactors, and material handling

Qualifications

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.