About Us

Alta is reinventing how the world sources critical minerals — using protein-based chemistry to extract rare earth elements and other essential materials from challenging feedstocks with unmatched selectivity. By dramatically reducing the cost and environmental impact of mineral separation, Alta is making it possible to unlock new sources of supply for 21st-century technologies. As global demand accelerates, securing these materials has become one of the most urgent challenges facing U.S. competitiveness and national security. Backed by top investors and government partners, Alta is growing fast and hiring mission-driven scientists and engineers to help us scale our platform and transform the future of mining.

How we work

Speed is part of our DNA. We’re building first-of-a-kind technology and facilities, which means the path isn’t always mapped. We’re comfortable with ambiguity: making sound, timely decisions guided by clear priorities, adapting quickly as we learn, and keeping a relentless focus on moving our business forward. We commit to fixed milestones on compressed timelines and hold ourselves accountable without compromising on safety or rigor.

Role Summary

Alta is seeking a Distinguished Engineer with recognized industry-level expertise in Extractive Metallurgy to join our growing Engineering and Operations team and help shape the technical strategy behind our path to commercialization. This role will be Alta's internal technical authority on Extractive Metallurgy process technology, advising on the technical direction for design and operations, guiding the scale-up path from lab through pilot and demonstration to commercial plants. As a key contributor to our innovation pipeline, they will translate technical insight into recommendations that inform decision making.

A successful candidate will bring deep, hands-on experience in hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy with both design and operating experience in comparable plants and a track record of influencing technical and business decisions. This role will own and advance metallurgical process development and operational support across laboratory, pilot and commercial scales. The ideal candidate has expertise in extraction of rare earth elements from ore bodies and end of life components (including mechanical liberation and separation of end-of-life magnet containing components). They will partner cross-functionally with the R&D, Process Design Engineering, and Plant Operations teams to improve yield, purity, robustness, and will serve as the subject matter expert accountable for the technical integrity of Alta’s end-to-end flowsheets. A strong desire to collaborate across disciplines including chemistry, biology, and engineering is a must. The role requires full-time, on-site presence at our Boulder office and may occasionally involve off-hours work.

Key Responsibilities

Metallurgical Process Expertise

Provide Metallurgical Subject Matter Expertise to various functions of the company and operational scales (R&D, Design and Operations)
Serve as the technology owner for Extractive Metallurgical processes including but not limited to mechanical liberation, leaching, selective precipitation, impurity removal, roasting, and calcination
Develop and own the integrated flowsheets for all commercial scale plants including end-of-life magnet feeds, REE-bearing intermediates from primary sources and etc
Lead scale-up and TRL advancement, including testwork planning, interpretation of data, and integration with Engineering stages
Own the relationship and engagement with internal and external R&D resources/OEMs, and external consultants
Identify and mitigate technical risks related to scale-up, impurity control, reagent consumption, solids handling, and impact on/from other processes
Develop standard processes to manage flowsheet development/validation
Develop and maintain the Process Technology Manual to be used across scales, design, operation, and maintenance of plants

Design Support

Serve as the technology SME for projects at all scale (pilot, demonstration, and commercial)