Senior Automation Engineer

Overview

REEcycle is a Houston-based pioneer in the recycling of rare earth elements (REEs) from end-of-life permanent magnets. Our patented technology is the U.S’ answer to China’s dominance in the rare earth supply chain. REEcycle is backed by institutional investors and supported by a Department of Defense grant, underscoring the importance and urgency of our mission.

As we scale toward commercial deployment, we are seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to lead the team and optimize our proprietary systems. A key focus will be on the deployment, testing, and further build out of our Drive Disassembly Machine (DDM), a critical component to REEcycle’s future success. This system efficiently extracts magnets from hard disk drives, creating economically viable feedstocks for our processes.

We are looking for an energetic self-starter who thrives in dynamic environments, brings inventive and solutions-oriented thinking, and is ready to play a key role in building the future of U.S. rare earth independence.

If you\'re excited by the opportunity to lead engineering efforts at a high-impact company with significant room for career advancement, we’d love to speak with you about our Senior Engineer position.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering team on scaling a Mechatronic System
• Lead and manage project and team across all aspects from R&D to commercial scale implementation
• Develop deep working knowledge of the company’s proprietary machinery, which integrates hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical assemblies, and PLC-based control systems
• Serve as the primary internal engineering point of contact, being a thought leader and systems-level problem-solver across all technical aspects of the process and system
• Systems Integration and Troubleshooting: Understand how the various mechanical and electrical sub-systems interact, including solenoid valves, pneumatic actuators, linear guides, hydraulic pumps and cylinders, sensors, and control logic
• When issues arise (e.g. unexpected machine behavior), lead root-cause analysis and coordinate troubleshooting, drawing from hands-on diagnostics, system logs, or vendor input as required
• Oversee and Coordinate External Technical Partners: Manage the work of outside automation and systems integration firms, ensuring their deliverables align with system requirements, certification goals, and project timelines
• Provide clear technical direction, evaluate engineering trade-offs, and ensure that outsourced work aligns with the company’s product roadmap and constraints
• Guide Commercialization and Production Readiness: Lead efforts to evolve the current prototype into a commercially robust, scalable, and compliant system
• Ensure the design meets manufacturing, field servicing, and certification requirements (e.g. UL, CE), including documentation, BOM finalization, and design-for-assembly
• Deployment and Field Learning: Support and monitor deployments, ensuring field performance aligns with expectations
• Capture real-world feedback to inform design improvements and de-risk future production runs
• Early Manufacturing Strategy and Vendor Engagement: Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to plan for small-batch production, including component sourcing, assembly workflows, and QA/QC processes
• Help qualify external manufacturers and assess production feasibility and cost-efficiency
• Operate as a Technical Leader in a Lean Organization: Navigate ambiguity and operate autonomously as the primary in-house engineer, supported by technical advisors and outside collaborators
• Balance strategic systems thinking with a willingness to roll up your sleeves when needed, bridging business goals and technical execution

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, Robotics, or Manufacturing disciplines)
• 8+ years of progressive experience in engineering, product development, or manufacturing environments
• 2+ years of engineering leadership experience, managing teams and driving project execution
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end equipment manufacturing projects, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination
• Strong proficiency in CAD platforms, specifically SolidWorks
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing processes, industrial materials, design for manufacturability, and supply chain logistics
• Track record of successfully managing small, cross-functional teams toward technical milestones and deliverables

Desired/Preferred Experience

• Proven project management experience delivering complex engineering initiatives on time and within budget while coordinating multidisciplinary teams and external partners
• Experience taking custom/prototype industrial machinery from concept to commercialization
• Familiarity with relevant compliance standards and certification pathways (e.g. UL, CE marking, electrical/mechanical safety standards)
• Comfort working in agile or fast-moving hardware development environments
• Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to bridge technical and business functions
• Ability to grow and lead the procurement and development teams, with experience reporting directly to senior management and the C-Suite

Locations and Employment Details

• Location: Houston, Texas (In office)
• Position Type: Full-time
• Salary: Compensation will be based on experience
• Benefits: Health insurance, dental and vision as well as other benefits

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