Lead Director, Project Engineering

Cyclic Materials™ is building a resilient circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials. Through our proprietary MagCycle℠ and REEPure℠ processes, we recover rare earths from end-of-life products and transform them into high purity materials used in the production of permanent magnets. These materials are critical to the modern economy, including the production of electric vehicles, electronics, AI infrastructure, wind turbines, defense, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials has rapidly progressed from technology development to commercialization. We currently operate facilities in Ontario and Arizona, with a new expansion underway in South Carolina. Backed by US$75 million in Series C financing led by T. Rowe Price, alongside strategic investors including Microsoft, Amazon, Hitachi Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s InMotion fund, Energy Impact Partners, ArcTern Ventures, and Fifth Wall, we are scaling to meet growing global demand for a secure and sustainable rare earth supply.

We have established commercial partnerships with global industry leaders such as Solvay, Vattenfall, Lime, and VACUUMSCHMELZE, enabling the deployment of recycled rare earth materials into real world supply chains. In 2025, Cyclic Materials was named one of the Top 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch by MIT Technology Review.

We are growing quickly and building the industrial backbone required for a circular rare earth economy. Joining Cyclic Materials means working on complex and exciting challenges at scale, alongside a team committed to executing and delivering measurable impact. If you are motivated by building critical infrastructure and advancing the circular economy, join us and help accelerate the growth of rare earth recycling.

Position Summary

The Lead Director, Project Engineering is responsible for leading Cyclic’s owner’s engineering team in the development and delivery of major capital projects. This role provides strategic and technical leadership across front-end loading, engineering development, project execution planning, and readiness for construction, commissioning, and handover.

The successful candidate will lead internal project engineering resources and manage external engineering, EP, EPC, EPCM, and similar build specialist design partners to ensure project solutions are safe, technically robust, commercially sound, and aligned with Cyclic’s business objectives and fit for purpose. The role is accountable for engineering governance, technical quality, design maturity, and integration across process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls, civil/structural, utilities, and plant infrastructure. The successful candidate will mentor and coach existing project engineering team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the owner’s project engineering function across multiple capital projects and studies, with primary responsibility for FEL-2, FEL-3, and preparation for subsequent project phases.
• Build, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing internal team of project engineers and technical specialists to support study execution and project development.
• Direct and manage external engineering, EP, EPC, EPCM, similar build and specialist consultants to ensure deliverables meet Cyclic’s technical standards, project objectives, and stage-gate requirements.
• Establish engineering scope, design basis, deliverables lists, and technical review processes to ensure external partner output is fit for purpose and suitable for advancement into execution.
• Provide leadership in engineering governance, including management of scope, design change, technical risk, value improvement, constructability, operability, maintainability, and HAZOP / design review readiness.
• Oversee the development and review of engineering execution plans, project plans, capital cost estimates, project schedules, and engineering resource plans.
• Partner with Project Controls, Procurement, Construction, Operations, Commercial, and Executive Leadership to align engineering activities with overall project objectives, funding milestones, and business priorities.
• Participate in leading the project engineering team through project budget development, scope of work, WBS, schedule, commissioning plan, and estimating activities.
• Support project decisions by ensuring engineering maturity, cost and schedule confidence, risk identification, and technical documentation are appropriate for investment decisions.
• Drive consistency in engineering standards, specifications, procedures, and management systems across the project portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to improve project outcomes through technology selection, standardization, modularization, digital tools, and execution strategy improvements.
• Support contractor and consultant selection, scope definition, commercial evaluations, and contract negotiations in partnership with Supply Chain and Project Leadership.
• Provide senior leadership during project execution as required, including resolution of technical issues, coordination across disciplines, and support for commissioning, start-up, and handover to operations.
• Ensure all engineering activities are carried out in accordance with applicable health, safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute as a senior leader to organizational planning, capability building, and continuous improvement across the capital projects function.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Professional Engineer designation required.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification considered an asset.
• Minimum 18 years of progressive experience in project engineering, capital project development, and engineering management within industrial, mining, metallurgical, chemical process, clean technology, or renewable energy environments
• Demonstrated experience leading owner’s engineering teams and managing external engineering or EPCM partners on medium- to large-scale capital projects.
• Strong experience in front-end loading, feasibility studies, FEED / preliminary engineering, project definition, and design development for complex industrial facilities
• Experience supporting projects through detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, and operational handover is strongly preferred
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience with capital cost estimates, engineering budgets, project schedules, contract scope development, and consultant / contractor management.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams and influence across internal and external stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Deep knowledge of engineering principles, project development processes, and industrial capital project delivery.
• Strong understanding of owner’s team responsibilities, engineering assurance, stage-gate governance, and risk-based decision-making on capital projects.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including team building, coaching, mentoring, performance management, and organizational development.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with executives, project teams, engineering partners, contractors, and operations personnel.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and concurrent projects in a fast-paced growth environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• High attention to detail, balanced with the ability to maintain focus on strategic project outcomes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with project delivery, document control, and engineering management systems.
• Ability to be flexible, agile, and able to pivot quickly in work execution approaches and delivery.
• Demonstrating innovative, out of the box solutioning

Preferred Experience

• Expertise in at least one of the following disciplines: hydrometallurgical, chemical processing, electrical, civil/structural, mechanical engineering, and/or recycling, critical minerals, metals refining, or similarly complex process-plant environments.
• Experience in brownfield and greenfield industrial project development.
• Experience working in start up organizations that focus on design optimization and refinement.
• Experience conducting targeted trade-off studies for the purpose of establishing critical engineering design criteria to retrofit existing plants and design new plants.
• Familiarity with North American codes, standards, and industrial permitting environments.

Why You Will Love Cyclic Materials  

• At Cyclic Materials, we're dedicated to supporting our workforce on their unique career journey
• We offer a competitive compensation package including Health and Dental coverage, RRSP contributions and a generous paid time off program that lets you recharge
• We value diversity and are committed to maintaining a workplace where everyone is respected and recognized for their contributions

The base compensation offered is determined based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and competencies and considers internal equity.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Cyclic Materials is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals have an opportunity to succeed. If you require accommodation at any stage of the interview process, please email HumanResources@cyclicmaterials.earth. Applicants for employment in the Canada and US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States or Canada and with Cyclic Materials (i.e., H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN, L1-A visa or any other non-immigrant status).

To all applicants, your interest and effort are sincerely appreciated. While we thank everyone for their application, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.