# Staff Mechanical Engineer

**Company:** [Mariana Minerals](https://zerogtalent.com/frontier-companies/mariana-minerals)
**Location:** Houston, TX
**Work mode:** On-site
**Seniority:** Senior
**Employment type:** Full Time
**Salary:** USD 140K–190K/yr
**Category:** Mechanical
**Department:** Other
**Listed:** 2026-07-29

[View and apply on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/frontier-jobs/mariana-minerals/staff-mechanical-engineer-c59fd9e0-27b9-4125-bcfc-40569938359e)

## Job description

### **About Mariana Minerals**

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

### **The Role**

Mariana Minerals is seeking a highly motivated Staff Mechanical Engineer to support our next-generation minerals processing pilot plant in Houston. You will lead the design, integration, and deployment of pilot-scale mechanical systems and processing equipment used to demonstrate and scale innovative refining technologies for critical minerals. This role is highly hands-on and will play a key role in building and maintaining a first-of-its-kind pilot plant. You will work closely with process engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams to design, install, commission, and improve pilot-scale equipment while ensuring systems are reliable, safe, and scalable to commercial production.

  

### **What You’ll Do**

-   Design, specify, and deploy mechanical systems and equipment for pilot-scale mineral processing operations
    

-   Work closely with process engineers to translate process requirements into practical mechanical and plant designs
    

-   Support installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of pilot plant equipment including pumps, piping systems, reactors, separators, filtration systems, and material handling equipment
    

-   Develop and maintain mechanical design documentation including equipment specifications, layout drawings, piping schematics, and CAD models
    

-   Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, maintainability, and operational performance
    

-   Coordinate with vendors, fabricators, and contractors during equipment procurement and installation
    

-   Support safe plant operations by contributing to hazard reviews, equipment safety design, and mechanical integrity programs
    
      
    

### **Desired Qualifications**

-   B.S., M.S., or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
    

-   9+ years of experience in operations, process scale-up, or plant design in minerals processing, chemicals, specialty materials, oil & gas, or related industries
    

-   Demonstrated experience driving equipment design, commissioning, operations, and reliability
    

-   Experience designing and maintaining furnaces, pumps and fluid handling systems, pressure vessels and reactors, piping systems and valves, filtration and separation equipment, and materials handling systems
    

-   Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams including process engineering, operations, and project execution
    

-   Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in hands-on plant environments
    

-   Strong commitment to Health, Safety, and Environmental compliance and mechanical integrity standards
    

-   Excellent technical writing, communication, and teamwork skills
    

-   Comfortable working in fast-paced environments, wearing multiple hats, and managing ambiguity
    
      
    

### **Our culture is built on four principles:**

  

**Everyone Gets Home Safe.** We never put speed or cost ahead of people.

**Extreme Ownership.** We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions.

**Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate.** We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale.

**Share Your Legos.** We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

  

**Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!**

## Other open roles at Mariana Minerals

- [Workplace Manager](https://zerogtalent.com/frontier-jobs/mariana-minerals/workplace-manager-3ae0d810-7760-4a1a-a016-7ee2d0c5f13d) — Houston, TX
- [Stacking/Sizer Operator](https://zerogtalent.com/frontier-jobs/mariana-minerals/stacking-sizer-operator-e3d0977c-fcc8-4b97-b57e-577bd715e787) — Moab, UT
- [R&D Technician](https://zerogtalent.com/frontier-jobs/mariana-minerals/r-d-technician-10981f0a-1672-4add-a3ba-fe5752df1686) — San Francisco HQ
- [Analytical Lab Chemist](https://zerogtalent.com/frontier-jobs/mariana-minerals/analytical-lab-chemist-aa6e92e1-680e-4470-8737-c3b7c82280d3) — San Francisco HQ
- [Senior/Staff Chemical Process Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/frontier-jobs/mariana-minerals/senior-staff-chemical-process-engineer-29a1a6e4-db3f-406d-af65-e7c00c3d8ff6) — San Francisco HQ

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