R&D Technician – Metals

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency.

As a R&D Technician - Metals, you will accomplish a broad set of tasks in a research and development environment. You will operate equipment, optimize processes alongside engineering, prepare materials, load & unloaded materials, and maintain a safe, orderly working environment. You will work alongside a team of materials & process engineers, magnetics engineers, and technicians to accomplish company milestones.

Description

• Contribute to the buildout of Vulcan’s pilot and R&D line, including equipment installation, commissioning, and continuous equipment and facility improvements
• Operate vacuum furnaces, induction melting systems, and electrolysis cells to produce molten and solid metals.
• Prepare raw materials, charge systems, and consumables according to process instructions.
• Execute startup, steady-state operation, shutdown, and cleaning procedures.
• Monitor critical process parameters (temperature, voltage, current, pressure, time, chemistry) to ensure operation remains within specification.
• Respond to alarms, deviations, and abnormal operating conditions in accordance with procedures.
• Develop, build, and implement new prototype equipment, tooling, and processes alongside engineering, including electromechanical, chemical, and/or analytical/test equipment.
• Establish standard operating procedures alongside engineering.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED at a minimum
• Strong communication and planning skills
• Able to lift and carry 50 lbs.
• Comfortable with hands on work requiring extended physical activity and standing
• Comfortable operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining sophisticated manufacturing equipment.
• Comfortable reading equipment schematics, both electrical and plumbing, to troubleshoot mechanical issues
  
  Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience running vacuum furnaces, casting machines, atomizers, or other related metal manufacturing equipment
• Experience with Welding, Plumbing, or CAD
• Experience with hot metal