# Laboratory Technician at Mariana Minerals

Laboratory Technician at Mariana Minerals in San Francisco HQ. On-site, full-time, paying $40–$45/hr. Posted October 7, 2026.

- Company: Mariana Minerals
- Location: San Francisco HQ
- Workplace: On-site
- Job type: Full-time
- Pay: $40–$45/hr
- Experience: 2+ years
- Posted: 2026-10-07
- Apply: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals/e50c73d9-f49c-482d-8810-31b67d9b79bd/application
- Source: https://jobmagic.ai/jobs/laboratory-technician-mariana-minerals-xdvya5

## Requirements

- Associate degree or technical diploma in chemistry, materials, metallurgy or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience

## 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**
The Laboratory Technician runs high-temperature processing equipment in Mariana Minerals' Deep Sea Nodule Lab, where we turn polymetallic nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) into battery-grade nickel, copper and cobalt. This hands-on role prepares feed, operates a rotary kiln, electric arc furnace and induction converter, samples products, and keeps the lab safe and orderly. The role reports to the Process/Metallurgical Engineering lead and works under engineer supervision at first, with a path to independent operation.
**What You'll Do**

- Crush, screen, dry, split and weigh nodule and calcine samples; run nodule wash trials

- Operate the rotary kiln and its off-gas train: condenser, gas analyzers and NaOH impingers

- Prepare charges, monitor and tap electric arc furnace heats; run box furnace screening melts

- Run induction converter heats, including crucible pre-heat, pyrite charging, oxygen blows and timed sampling

- Monitor temperatures, arc power, gas flows and cooling water; respond to alarms and interlocks

- Verify exhaust fans and scrubbers before hot work; change gas cylinders and maintain scrubber liquor

- Record run data in batch sheets and spreadsheets: charge weights, temperatures, gas flows, product masses and sample IDs

- Track samples through shipment to external labs with chain-of-custody records

- Keep inventory of crucibles, refractories, reagents and gases

- Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs; support commissioning of new equipment

- Follow SOPs, lockout/tagout, hot-work and gas-handling procedures, and wear PPE for molten-metal work

- Inspect safety equipment on schedule and report near-misses and equipment issues promptly

**Desired Qualifications**

- Associate degree or technical diploma in chemistry, materials, metallurgy or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience

- 2+ years' experience in a lab, foundry, smelter, refinery or similar high-temperature setting

- Comfort operating furnaces, gas cylinders and pressurized or water-cooled equipment

- Experience with molten metal handling, tapping or crucible melting is a plus

- Familiarity with induction, arc or tube furnaces, off-gas sampling or wet scrubbers is a plus

- Sample preparation for XRF or ICP analysis is a plus

- Careful record-keeping and working knowledge of Excel

- Strong safety habits and willingness to stop work when conditions are unsafe

- Able to lift up to 50 lb (23 kg), stand for long periods, and work near radiant heat, molten material and process gases

- Medically cleared and fit-tested for respirator use

- On-site role with standard weekday hours and occasional extended shifts to finish a furnace heat or cool-down

### **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!**