Sulfuric Acid Control Room Operator

Northern NV Jobs; Winnemucca (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Lithium Americas is seeking a Sulfuric Acid Plant Control Room Operator to join the team at the Thacker Pass site. You will oversee the continuous operation and monitoring of the sulfuric acid plant and power generating unit in a DCS environment, ensuring process stability, product quality, and safety compliance.

The role reports to the Sulfuric Acid Shift Supervisor and requires 3+ years in process plant operations, strong DCS skills, and the ability to work under pressure in a mining setting.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 3+ years as a control room operator and/or in Process Plant Operations, Chemical and/or Power Generation Units.
• Proficiency in DCS operations (Honeywell, Yokogawa, Emerson, or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of chemical process and power generation principles.
• Ability to read and comprehend plant P&ID’s.
• Competent with Microsoft suite and other computer systems.
• Ability to remain calm and make quick decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, especially with field operators.

Responsibilities

• Foster trusting relationships with all workgroups and promote alignment with Purpose, Vision, and Values.
• Operate and monitor DCS systems covering Sulfuric Acid Plant operation, Turbo Generator operation, sulfur receiving and storage, acid storage, treated water and air systems.
• Configure and utilize the historian database to trend equipment and process flows for productivity.
• Monitor parameters like gas/acid temperatures, SO2 emissions, cooling water and environmental controls.
• Direct field operators in adjustments, inspections, and troubleshooting.
• Adjust setpoints for flow, temperature, pressure; maintain process stability and product specs.
• Respond to alarms and deviations; implement corrective actions to prevent off-spec production.
• Interpret real-time trends and generate reports on plant/generator operation and downtime.
• Coordinate with maintenance during breakdowns, isolations, and restarts.
• Ensure environmental discharge limits and safety protocols are followed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Decision making under pressure

Independent work

Control room operations

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

DCS (Honeywell/Yokogawa/Emerson)

Microsoft Office

Job description

Company Overview

Lithium Americas is a North American resource and materials company focused on developing, building, and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The company’s flagship asset, Thacker Pass, is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada and is the world’s largest known measured lithium source and reserve. We are focused on safely and responsibly developing Thacker Pass to production to help strengthen national security and enable cleaner energy sources. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact, creating family-supporting jobs, and maximizing sustainable value for our stakeholders. Lithium Americas is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, and operates in the U.S., with offices in Reno, NV, and Winnemucca, NV. The Company’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LAC.

Our Purpose, Vision, and Values

Our purpose, vision, and values are the guiding principles that will serve as the cornerstone of our company’s future direction and operations, aligning our team and organization towards our common goals.

Our Purpose

is to safely and sustainably produce lithium from Thacker Pass to enable North America to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals and drive value for our stakeholders.

Our Vision

is to be North America’s leading lithium producer to enable cleaner energy sources.

Our Values

include Act with Integrity, Be Responsible and Act with Care, Commit to Excellence and Drive Innovation, and Be a Collaborative Partner.

Role

We are seeking a Sulfuric Acid Plant Control Room Operator to join our Sulfuric Acid Process Plant team. In this role, you will be responsible for the continuous operation, monitoring, and optimization of the Sulfuric Acid Plant and Power Generating Unit. Working within a Distributed Control System (DCS) environment, the operator ensures process stability, product quality, and compliance with safety and environmental standards. This position will be based at the Thacker Pass mine site during commissioning and steady state operations. The role reports to the Sulfuric Acid Shift Supervisor.

Key Responsibilities

• Foster trusting relationships with all workgroups and promote a culture that aligns with our Purpose, Vision, and Values.
• Operate and monitor DCS systems covering Sulfuric Acid Plant operation, Turbo Generator operation, sulfur receiving and storage, acid storage, treated water and air systems.
• Ability to configure and utilize the historian data base to trend key equipment and process flows for maximum plant productivity.
• Monitor critical process parameters such as gas and acid temperatures and concentrations, SO2 emissions, cooling water systems and environmental control systems.
• Direct field operators in performing adjustments, inspections, and troubleshooting tasks.
• Adjust setpoints for flow, temperature, pressure and maintain process stability and meet product specifications.
• Respond to alarms and process deviations, implementing corrective actions to prevent off-spec production.
• Interpret real-time trends in plant operations and environmental controls.
• Generate reports on plant and generator operation and downtime events.
• Communicate effectively with maintenance teams during equipment breakdowns, isolations, and restarts.
• Coordinate with the laboratory for online and offline sampling; integrate results into process adjustments.
• Maintain adherence to environmental discharge/emissions limits and support effluent neutralization and waste handling protocols.
• Follow strict safety protocols for handling sulfur, acid, chemicals, reagents and high-temperature equipment.
• Support maintenance teams with isolation, lockout-tagout-tryout (LOTOTO), and process readiness for planned interventions.
• Record downtime data into the issued database for timely and transparent reporting.
• Ensure process plant availability through timely identification, reporting, and follow through of variances identified during the shift rotations. To include utilizing the maintenance work order system for repairs.
• Contribute to hazard identification, risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide real-time feedback on changes in plant performance following optimization initiatives
• Contribute to continuous improvement by reporting process inefficiencies or recurring issues.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma, and 3+ years as a control room operator and/or in Process Plant Operations, Chemical and/or Power Generation Units.
• Proficiency in DCS operations (Honeywell, Yokogawa, Emerson, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of chemical process and power generation principles.
• High attention to detail with the ability to diagnose process upsets under pressure.
• Ability to read and comprehend plant P&ID’s.
• Competent and/or fluent with Microsoft suite and other computer systems.
• Ability to remain calm and make quick decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, especially in coordinating with field operators.
• Be a self-starter: highly motivated, able to work independently, with high energy.
• Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values.

Working at Lithium Americas

At Lithium Americas, we believe our people are our most valuable asset. We offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for long-term growth and skills development. We are committed to building a diverse and respectful workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Lithium Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, age, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.