Current Openings

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.The Pilot Operations Manager is responsible for end-to-end execution of pilot-scale manufacturing for advanced rare earth materials, serving as the critical link between development and full-scale production. This role combines production leadership, process engineering, and material coordination to deliver qualified materials safely, on specification, and on schedule. The leader will establish disciplined, scalable operations while partnering closely with development, commercial, quality, and EHS teams to enable rapid iteration, material qualification, and successful transition to production.Responsibilities Own daily pilot manufacturing operations from planning through delivery, ensuring reliable, safe, and on-time execution of material and testing plans aligned with program and commercial priorities. Translate R&D processes into robust, repeatable pilot workflows; lead process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement to improve yield, stability, and scalability. Oversee end-to-end material flow including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods; coordinate staging, inventory, and movement of sensitive materials to align production output with testing and delivery requirements. Establish and enforce SOPs, work instructions, and standardized workflows; coordinate production schedules, resource allocation, and equipment readiness; implement and manage KPIs (yield, throughput, quality, schedule adherence) to drive performance and accountability. Ensure complete and accurate batch records, material qualification traveler sheets, and process documentation; synthesize and communicate clear material testing summaries to support data-driven decisions and stakeholder alignment. Maintain high-precision specifications through rigorous process control, in-process verification, and structured root cause and corrective action for deviations. Lead, coach, and develop a team of technicians; establish clear expectations for execution, safety, and documentation; build a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous improvement. Partner closely with development, commercial, quality, and EHS teams to align on priorities, communicate progress and risks, and ensure readiness for customer requirements and scale-up milestones. Integrate EHS requirements into all aspects of operations, including SOPs, training, material handling, and facility practices, ensuring safe and compliant execution at all times. Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field. 5+ years of experience in advanced materials, pilot production, or manufacturing environments. Proven experience leading pilot or production teams, with direct accountability for execution, safety, and performance. Hands-on experience working in pilot-scale or development environments, supporting process iteration, scale-up, and material qualification. Demonstrated experience in process engineering, pilot line operations, or scaling technologies from R&D to production. Strong track record of implementing SOP-driven operations, KPI management, and production documentation systems. Experience managing material flow, production scheduling, and cross-functional coordination. Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities. Physical and Environmental Requirements The position requires regular presence on the production floor and the ability to navigate all areas of the facility. Candidates must be able to climb stairs, stand and walk for extended periods, and work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy. The role also requires the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and adherence to all applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Employees must be able to complete required fit testing, wear appropriate PPE for the duration of assigned tasks, and respond safely to changing conditions within the production environment.

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. This Mechanical Engineer position will support a major manufacturing expansion, with responsibility spanning design, installation, commissioning, startup, operation, and handover of critical mechanical and utility systems. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives in industrial environments and wants to own complex mechanical infrastructure from concept through long‑term operation. The Mechanical Engineer will lead mechanical utility design and installation—including chilled water, cooling water, domestic water, compressed air, argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen systems—and support the integration of new production equipment. As the facility reaches steady state operation, this role has the potential to evolve into an asset ownership or system stewardship position, providing long‑term technical leadership for mechanical systems.  This role begins in Durham, NC and is expected to move to Benson, NC upon completion of new facility. Responsibilities Lead the design, specification, and installation of mechanical utility systems: chilled water, cooling water, domestic water, compressed air, argon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and related distribution infrastructure. Work with EPC contractors developing mechanical system layouts, P&IDs, equipment specifications, and installation packages using CAD tools (AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks) Manage mechanical installation activities with EPC, GC, contractors, OEMs, and internal maintenance and operations teams. Oversee equipment and utility system commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and performance validation. Support production equipment installation by ensuring proper mechanical utility integration and system readiness. Conduct field inspections to verify installation quality, safety compliance, and adherence to engineering standards. Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, and technical documentation for mechanical utility and equipment projects. Support procurement, cost tracking, and reporting. Lead or participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system reliability, energy efficiency, and maintainability. Ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety standards throughout all project phases. Communicate project status, risks, and milestones to leadership and cross‑functional teams. Provide technical support during startup and early production, transitioning systems to operations and maintenance teams with proper documentation and training. Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.  Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Engineering Technology. 3+ years of experience in mechanical engineering within an industrial, manufacturing, or heavy‑industry environment. Strong understanding of mechanical utility systems, piping design, fluid systems, and industrial equipment. Experience with industrial utilities such as chilled water, cooling water, compressed air, or industrial gases. Proficiency with CAD tools (AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks) and project management software. Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, schematics, and technical specifications. Strong communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills. Ability to work in active industrial environments and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.  Preferred Qualifications Experience with industrial gas systems (argon, nitrogen, hydrogen) or high‑purity piping. Exposure to capital project budgeting, procurement, and contractor management. Knowledge of industrial utilities such as power distribution, HVAC, and process cooling. Certifications such as OSHA 30, PMP, EIT/FE, Six Sigma, or similar. Experience with commissioning, reliability engineering, or long‑term asset ownership. Physical and Environmental Requirements The position requires regular presence on the production floor and the ability to navigate all areas of the facility. Candidates must be able to climb stairs, stand and walk for extended periods, and work in environments that may be hot, humid, or noisy. The role also requires the use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and adherence to all applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Employees must be able to complete required fit testing, wear appropriate PPE for the duration of assigned tasks, and respond safely to changing conditions within the production environment.

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets to enable a secure and resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resilience, we serve critical industries including 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 Buyer, you will be responsible for executing purchasing activities that support Vulcan Elements’ manufacturing operations and continued production ramp. You will manage the procure-to-pay lifecycle for direct materials, components, supplies, and other production requirements, working closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Logistics. Responsibilities Execute purchasing activities for direct materials, components, production supplies, and other manufacturing requirements in accordance with production plans and business needs. Create, issue, maintain, and close purchase orders (POs) while ensuring pricing, quantities, delivery dates, payment terms, and other commercial requirements are accurate. Proactively track open purchase orders and supplier commitments to ensure materials arrive on time and production requirements are met. Identify potential late deliveries, material shortages, and supply disruptions and escalate risks before they impact manufacturing operations. Lead and administer RFQs/RFPs, including preparing bid packages, soliciting supplier proposals, coordinating technical and commercial responses, and developing bid comparisons. Negotiate pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, payment terms, freight arrangements, and other commercial conditions within established sourcing strategies. Work closely with Planning and Manufacturing to translate production requirements and MRP demand into purchasing actions. Coordinate with Engineering and Quality to ensure purchased materials meet drawings, specifications, quality requirements, and approved supplier requirements. Coordinate with Logistics and Operations to resolve shipping, receiving, customs, packaging, and delivery issues. Work with Finance and Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies, pricing differences, receiving issues, and payment holds. Support supplier corrective actions and recovery plans when delivery or performance issues arise. Identify opportunities for cost reduction, lead-time improvement, order consolidation, inventory optimization, and process improvement. Assist with supplier onboarding, documentation, compliance requirements, and maintenance of approved supplier information. Maintain organized procurement records, including quotations, purchase orders, supplier correspondence, contracts, and sourcing documentation. Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or a related field preferred. 2+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, materials management, or a related role, preferably within a manufacturing environment. Experience purchasing direct materials, components, or production-related goods and services. Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel or similar analytical tools, including the ability to organize and analyze purchasing and supplier data. Comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with changing priorities and aggressive production ramp schedules. Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.