What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manufacturing Engineer - Automation position at USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR)?
Who We Are
We are on a mission to become a leading supplier of critical materials that enable the green energy and technology revolution. Our materials and technologies are required for the electric vehicle, green energy, consumer electronics, and defense industries, and our battery grade lithium and tech metals are needed for chipsets, semiconductors, and 5G.
We have a substantial interest in the Round Top, Heavy Rare Earth, Lithium and Critical Minerals deposit in West Texas. We have also developed the United States’ first rare earth and critical minerals processing facility and we own the only scalable, sintered neo-magnet manufacturing system in the Western Hemisphere. By developing this fully integrated, US-based “mine-to-magnet” critical mineral supply chain, we are poised to become the leading domestic supplier to these industries.
What You Can Expect
At USA Rare Earth, we are pioneers and problem solvers, technologists and team players. Together, we:
Build Solutions: If our task was a simple one, it would already be done. We are creative and solution-oriented, and we think outside the box to solve important problems. We know that a range of expertise and technologies is needed for success, and we work across sectors and alongside customers to deliver world-class solutions in sustainable ways.
Deliver Quality: When we do things, we do them well. We believe that top-tier quality leads to industry competitiveness and we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards. We move fast when executing, but safety, quality, and excellence always come first.
Lead responsibly: We have a responsibility to the planet, our consumers, our country, and each other. We put safety at the center of all we do, take accountability for our actions, incorporate sustainable practices in our processes and act with the financial best interest of our investors and consumers in mind.
Win Together: Establishing a rare earth magnet supply chain is a big undertaking – and getting there is a team effort. We communicate openly, work together and challenge each other in pursuit of our goals. With every step we take we learn and get better.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer – Automation to lead the development, integration, and optimization of automated systems across our rapidly growing magnet manufacturing operation. This role is critical to scaling production by improving plant automation, including material handling systems and automated processing cells. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys building and improving processes as the organization grows.
Key Responsibilities
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, move, sit, carry, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, lift, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk and hear. May be required to lift and move boxes or packages not exceeding 20 pounds in weight. Some work stress inherent to the position and extended work hours may be required.
Work Environment
The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, manufacturing plant, laboratory space, and construction site.
Noise Level
Exposure will vary and include normal office noise, typical laboratory sounds (e.g., ventilation systems, equipment operation), manufacturing floor noise (e.g., machinery, forklifts), and construction site noise depending on project phase and location.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate reporting structure.
USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities
USA Rare Earth's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and will provide reasonable accommodations according to applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.
For assistance applying for employment through this site due to disability, please contact Human Resources, hr@usare.com, to discuss reasonable accommodations.
We are on a mission to become a leading supplier of critical materials that enable the green energy and technology revolution. Our materials and technologies are required for the electric vehicle, green energy, consumer electronics, and defense industries, and our battery grade lithium and tech metals are needed for chipsets, semiconductors, and 5G.
We have a substantial interest in the Round Top, Heavy Rare Earth, Lithium and Critical Minerals deposit in West Texas. We have also developed the United States’ first rare earth and critical minerals processing facility and we own the only scalable, sintered neo-magnet manufacturing system in the Western Hemisphere. By developing this fully integrated, US-based “mine-to-magnet” critical mineral supply chain, we are poised to become the leading domestic supplier to these industries.
What You Can Expect
At USA Rare Earth, we are pioneers and problem solvers, technologists and team players. Together, we:
Build Solutions: If our task was a simple one, it would already be done. We are creative and solution-oriented, and we think outside the box to solve important problems. We know that a range of expertise and technologies is needed for success, and we work across sectors and alongside customers to deliver world-class solutions in sustainable ways.
Deliver Quality: When we do things, we do them well. We believe that top-tier quality leads to industry competitiveness and we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards. We move fast when executing, but safety, quality, and excellence always come first.
Lead responsibly: We have a responsibility to the planet, our consumers, our country, and each other. We put safety at the center of all we do, take accountability for our actions, incorporate sustainable practices in our processes and act with the financial best interest of our investors and consumers in mind.
Win Together: Establishing a rare earth magnet supply chain is a big undertaking – and getting there is a team effort. We communicate openly, work together and challenge each other in pursuit of our goals. With every step we take we learn and get better.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer – Automation to lead the development, integration, and optimization of automated systems across our rapidly growing magnet manufacturing operation. This role is critical to scaling production by improving plant automation, including material handling systems and automated processing cells. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys building and improving processes as the organization grows.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design, integration, and optimization of plant-wide automation systems.
- Support automated processing cells including operations such as green machining and coating application.
- Oversee automated material handling systems including conveyors, elevators, and transport carts.
- Identify and implement automation opportunities to improve throughput, reduce manual handling, and increase process reliability.
- Develop and maintain process documentation including SOPs, FMEAs, and system operating procedures.
- Monitor and improve process performance, quality, and efficiency metrics.
- Collaborate with maintenance teams to support preventive maintenance and troubleshooting of automated equipment.
- Participate in equipment specification, procurement, vendor coordination, and FAT/SAT activities.
- Work cross-functionally with operations, engineering, and quality teams to support process integration and plant-wide optimization.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 2–5 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or industrial process engineering environments.
- Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing operations and automated equipment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing process design, process optimization, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience with rare-earth magnet manufacturing (NdFeB preferred).
- Familiarity with automotive and industrial quality systems including IATF 16949 and ISO 9001.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-moving manufacturing environment and contribute to scaling new production systems.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, move, sit, carry, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, lift, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk and hear. May be required to lift and move boxes or packages not exceeding 20 pounds in weight. Some work stress inherent to the position and extended work hours may be required.
Work Environment
The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, manufacturing plant, laboratory space, and construction site.
Noise Level
Exposure will vary and include normal office noise, typical laboratory sounds (e.g., ventilation systems, equipment operation), manufacturing floor noise (e.g., machinery, forklifts), and construction site noise depending on project phase and location.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified. The reporting relationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate reporting structure.
USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities
USA Rare Earth's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and will provide reasonable accommodations according to applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.
For assistance applying for employment through this site due to disability, please contact Human Resources, hr@usare.com, to discuss reasonable accommodations.