Laboratory Operator

Overview

We are on a mission to become a leading supplier of critical materials that enable the green energy and technology revolution. Our materials and technologies support electric vehicles, green energy, consumer electronics, and defense industries. Our battery grade lithium and tech metals are needed for chipsets, semiconductors, and 5G.

We have a substantial interest in Round Top, Heavy Rare Earth, Lithium and Critical Minerals deposits in West Texas. We have developed the United States’ first rare earth and critical minerals processing facility and own the only scalable, sintered neo-magnet manufacturing system in the Western Hemisphere. By developing a fully integrated, US-based “mine-to-magnet” critical mineral supply chain, we aim to be the leading domestic supplier to these industries.

At USA Rare Earth, we are pioneers and problem solvers, technologists and team players. We work across sectors and alongside customers to deliver world-class solutions in sustainable ways.

The Laboratory Technician plays a crucial role in the chemical process of developing permanent rare earth magnets. This role is suitable for a motivated, self-starting individual who can work as a team with attention to detail, organizational skills, and a desire for continuous improvement.

• Follows laboratory safety procedures
• Assists with and performs routine chemical and metallurgical analysis and reporting
• Maintains laboratory process equipment
• Proficiency with analytical techniques and instrumentation
• Reviews analytical results, researches discrepancies, and reports anomalous results to the lab manager and magnet technology team
• Performs routine and non-routine analysis, including chemical, magnetic, and a wide variety of product, process, project, research and environmental samples from all areas of the operation
• Maintains and troubleshoots laboratory instrumentation
• Assists in tracking and maintaining the chemical reagent inventory
• Cleans and maintains workstation(s) after use to ensure laboratory instrumentation/equipment is in safe working order
• Performs laboratory housekeeping and routine inspections
• Prioritizes analytical work with the magnet technology team
• Actively participates in safety management programs and adheres to all laboratory safety and operations procedures
• Complies with health, environmental, and safety regulations, company policies, processes, and procedures
• Maintains safe work practices
• Completes other tasks as needed

• Associate or bachelor degree in chemistry, science, or electronics related area
• Previous laboratory work experience
• Knowledge or experience related to experimental research and the scientific method
• Knowledge of laboratory instruments used for materials chemical characterization
• Knowledge of rare earth element chemical test methods, pulse-field magnetometry, and closed-loop magnetometry is desired but not required
• Knowledge of sample preparation for microstructure analysis
• Aptitude for hands-on projects
• Aptitude for technical problem solving and critical thinking
• Computer skills for logging and organizing large data sets

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Specific vision abilities required include close vision and distance vision. The role requires walking, standing, sitting, carrying, bending, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, using hands and fingers, handling or feeling, and communicating verbally.

May be required to lift and move boxes or packages not exceeding 20 pounds. Some work stress and extended hours may be required.

The work environment will be a research laboratory within a manufacturing facility.