Extractive Metallurgist

Description

Leidos is seeking an Extractive Metallurgist within the RSS Contract at National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Albany, OR. NETL is a multi-disciplinary, scientific, and technical-oriented national laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary lab supporting fossil fuel‑based energy research. The objective of the Extractive Metallurgist is to provide R&D support to help facilitate the execution of research conducted under Research and Innovation Center (RIC).

The Extractive Metallurgist will support the development of advanced processing technologies and demonstration circuits for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements (REEs), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), and graphite from primary and secondary geologic feed stocks. This role will directly contribute to building secure and sustainable domestic supply chains for critical minerals.

This position is onsite at NETL campus in Albany, OR.

• Working on applied, cutting‑edge projects with global impact while being mentored by the nation’s leading energy scientists and engineers.
• Real‑world experience supplemented with technical development and discussions that provide unique insight into the broad range of mission‑critical engineering and scientific disciplines NETL leverages to support national energy research and policy development.
• Access to world‑class, customized facilities and computational assets specific to high‑impact energy research, technology generation, and product development.
• Support proposal development focused on expanding industry and scientific partnerships and developing new technical opportunities for NETL with federal guidance.

• Develop, test, and optimize hydrometallurgical and/or pyrometallurgical processes for the efficient recovery of rare earth elements, Ga, Ge, and graphite from complex ores, concentrates, and by‑product material streams.
• Develop and conduct bench‑ and pilot‑scale processes to separate and extract critical materials and minerals in the Feedstock Beneficiation laboratory.
• Characterize feed stocks using mineralogical, chemical, and physical techniques to guide process selection and parameter optimization.
• Review, recommend, and implement new or enhanced testing equipment or protocols to improve process development.
• Work collaboratively with geologists, mineralogists, chemical engineers, and analytical chemists to develop integrated process flow sheets and accomplish other required project tasks.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data to support scale‑up and techno‑economic assessments.
• Prepare technical documentation, reports, and presentations; contribute to publications, patent filings, and strategic development.
• Effectively communicate scientific results through writing methods, results, and data interpretations for inclusion in scientific peer‑review journal manuscripts and technical reports.
• Develop and present results in oral presentations to staff, stakeholders, and at professional conferences.
• Set expectations and lead by example to maintain a safe and organized workplace through strict adherence to laboratory safety protocols and environmental compliance standards, and work with EH&S staff to mitigate workplace safety hazards and audits.
• Train and mentor new staff in lab operations and research methods.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external clients.
• Provide weekly and monthly technical updates to research team members and project management.
• Provide leadership and expertise on projects including delegation to team members and communication of project milestone status to management.

• Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field with 6+ years of hands‑on experience in mineral processing or extractive metallurgy process development.
• Demonstrated expertise in minerals processing and metallurgical operations relevant to critical materials or critical minerals.
• Familiarity with mineralogic assemblages associated with conventional and unconventional mineral deposits such as industrial solid wastes for rare earth elements, Ga, Ge, graphite,…