Staff Process Engineer
Oakland, CA, Hybrid, or Remote with Regular Travel
About Magrathea
Magrathea is reinventing a foundation of modern civilization : secure, clean magnesium metal. Magnesium enables critical sectors - aerospace, defense, automotive, aluminum alloys, titanium production, and advanced manufacturing - yet 95% of global supply comes from coal-based production in China. That's not just a supply chain fragility - it's a national security exposure.
We've developed a first-of-its-kind, electrolytic process to produce magnesium from seawater and brines - unlocking industrial independence and dramatically lowering environmental impact. We are backed by investors behind Tesla and SpaceX, major European industrial families, and the U.S. defense community.
If you've ever wanted to change the trajectory of an industry - this is one of the rare chances.
Is Magrathea for me?
Magrathea is for people who :
- Are builders, not spectators.
- Run toward the hardest problems.
- Want to leave behind infrastructure that reshapes economies.
We are a tight, elite group scaling the first major electrolytic magnesium smelter of the 21st century. You will be hands-on from your first day, making decisions that move from pilot to steel in the ground in Arkansas - and metal poured on the other end. No bureaucracy. No filler work. Every contribution is mission-critical and will be remembered.
What You'll Do
You will be the technical force behind bringing a frontier technology to commercial scale - fast, safely, and elegantly.
Translate pilot learnings into industrial-grade design and execution plans for EPC / EPCM partnersDrive process engineering deliverables : design basis, PFDs, P&IDs, MFDs, plot plans, controls, HAZOPs, and model reviewsDesign, develop, and help commission systems across hydrometallurgy, electrolysis, molten salts, solids drying / handling, refractories, and gas processingOversee fabrication, installation, start-up, and optimization of custom process equipmentIdentify and solve high-leverage technical challenges to accelerate scale-up and reduce CapEx / OpExImplement AI-driven tools across engineering design, documentation, and knowledge-management systems to streamline workflows and maximize efficiency of our executionOperate with high autonomy to anticipate risks, de-risk ambiguity, and make decisions in real-world environmentsTravel as needed to Stamps, Arkansas (project site), Houston, Texas (joint venture partner HQ), and Montreal, Quebec (engineering company HQ) to drive execution and progress directlyYou'll be the person everyone counts on because you've done this before and you love doing it again.
What You Bring
BS / MS in Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline10+ years building, operating, and scaling real industrial processes - chemicals, metals, chlor-alkali, aluminum, or adjacentExperience partnering with EPC / EPCM organizations on major capital projects - ideally FOAK or high-complexity systemsFluency in inorganic chemistry, equipment design & maintenance, industrial hygiene, and operational readinessCompetence in schedule / risk management, construction oversight, and vendor coordinationYou're known for executing - not just drawing diagrams on a screenYou bring pride, urgency, rigor, and calm under pressureCompensation & Benefits
$220,000-$270,000 annual salary + significant equity and milestone-based incentivesComprehensive health, dental, and vision401(k) with immediate eligibilityTrue leadership opportunities on a program with global impactWe pay high for talent that raises our ceiling.
Location & Mobility
Preferred : Oakland, CA (on-site, co-located with the engineering core)Remote considered for exceptional candidates within 4 hours of transit to the Bay Area, with monthly travelVisa sponsorship available for passport holders of Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New ZealandJoin Us
If you're looking for the most challenging, consequential, and meaningful engineering work of your career - this is the moment. Help us build the clean industrial base future generations will inherit. Help us restore independence to a security-critical strategic metal. Make history with us.