R&D Technician

Making the Metals Powering the World

Solcoa Industries is an American rare earth metals producer headquartered in Alameda, California. We convert rare-earth oxides and magnet manufacturing scrap into the high-purity metals and alloys at the foundation of electrification, automation, and defense — the materials inside every fighter jet, EV, wind turbine, and phone.

For decades, the West has depended on China to produce these materials. Solcoa is rebuilding that supply chain at home: we're one of the very few producers outside China, and the only one developing new chemistries and a proprietary process to produce these metals at lower cost than conventional routes — without the harmful emissions.

The Role — R&D Technician

We're looking for R&D Technicians to operate, maintain, and improve our production lines. You'll run high-temperature and vacuum reactor systems, build and assemble components, execute test plans, and keep the plant humming safely and reliably. You'll work closely with engineers and machinists to translate concepts into robust, repeatable operations.

What You'll Do

• Operate high-temperature reactors, vacuum systems, and related process equipment to produce rare-earth metals.
• Assemble, retrofit, and help build reactor subsystems and fixtures; perform basic fabrication and shop work.
• Execute SOPs, test plans, and trial runs; capture data and observations with precision.
• Monitor process parameters, diagnose issues, and perform first-line troubleshooting and preventive maintenance.
• Handle materials safely (hot parts, inert gases, powders) and maintain a clean, organized work area.
• Contribute to continuous improvement: propose upgrades, document changes, and help implement fixes quickly.
• Collaborate with engineers on experiments and scale-up activities; provide practical feedback from the floor.

What You Bring

Required

• Hands-on fabrication experience (basic machining, assembly; welding is a plus).
• Experience operating high-temperature or vacuum systems (reactors, furnaces, gloveboxes, pumps, or similar).
• Mechanical aptitude and comfort with tools, rigging, and safe equipment handling.
• Detail-orientation and rigorous adherence to SOPs, safety, and documentation.
• Comfort working independently in a fast-paced, build-measure-learn environment.
• Availability to start soon.

Preferred

• Experience building or assisting in the build of high-temperature reactors or vacuum subsystems.
• Basic CAD familiarity (Fusion or similar) for simple prints/markups.
• Coursework or experience in chemistry or physics (thermo, materials, reaction engineering, or similar).

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-provided lunch daily
• Visa sponsorship available if needed