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Salary: USD 160,000 - 220,000 / annual
Alta Resource Technologies is a next-generation mining company founded in 2023 that uses synthetic biology and protein-based chemistry to extract rare earth elements and critical minerals from conventional, unconventional, and e-waste sources. The company is addressing a historic supply-chain challenge driven by exponential growth in demand from new tech and information technology sectors, with backing from top investors and government partners.
You will lead the laboratory- and pilot-scale development of Alta's state-of-the-art separation process. This is a people-management role overseeing a team of scientists and engineers in the Process Development Group. Key responsibilities include:
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists and engineers
• Set priorities, manage resources, and deliver development programs on schedule
• Build a culture of rigorous experimentation, clear documentation, and safe lab practice
• Define development strategy for chromatographic separations at lab and pilot scale
• Guide experimental design and data analysis using ÄKTA and other automated chromatography systems
• Develop and improve workflows, data analysis methods, and documentation standards
• Lead technology transfer to the demonstration plant, including process descriptions, SOPs, work instructions, and transfer packages
• Partner with the demonstration team to analyze plant data, resolve issues, and drive process optimization
• Contribute to process safety reviews and scale-up decisions
• Work closely with Analytical Chemistry, Protein Engineering, and Engineering teams to align priorities and timelines
• Present results and recommendations to company leadership
The role requires full-time, on-site presence at the Boulder lab, with occasional support outside standard hours. You will play an important part in advancing Alta's mission by providing reliable data and communications to ensure smooth transition of processes at each scale.
An ideal candidate brings strong expertise in ion-exchange chromatography, simulated moving bed (SMB) systems, and semi-preparative chromatography, with demonstrated ability to develop, optimize, and scale separation processes. A desire to learn and grow within a rapidly expanding, fast-paced company is essential.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or related scientific discipline
• 10–14+ years of laboratory experience in research or industry setting
• 4+ years of chromatography experience
• 3+ years of management experience
• Demonstrated proficiency in first-principles modeling of process unit operations, including application of fundamental engineering principles to predict and optimize process performance
• Strong understanding of chemical engineering separation techniques and fluid dynamics
• Ability to execute and troubleshoot experiments using complex chemical systems
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience scaling chemical processes from R&D to multi-kilogram scale
• Experience writing and participating in process safety analyses
• Hands-on experience designing and building chemical flow systems
• Exposure to a range of analytical instrumentation (LC-based systems, mass spectrometry, particle size analysis, or similar)
• Tangential flow filtration (TFF) and/or related unit operations
