{"id":3043937,"url":"https://alion.io/job/alta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development","title":"Associate Director - Process Development","company":{"id":3863152,"name":"Alta Resource Technologies Inc.","domain":"altatech.io","url":"https://alion.io/company/altatech-2","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":null},"role":"Leadership","role_family":"Leadership","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Boulder, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":160000,"max":220000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":220000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Chromatography","optional":false},{"name":"Mass Spectrometry","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-13T21:57:20Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-13","last_verified_at":"2026-11-03T06:23:36Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":20,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":20},"description":"About Alta\nAlta Resource Technologies (Alta) is a next generation mining company that uses synthetic biology to separate critical minerals from conventional and unconventional resources, including e-waste. Founded in 2023, the company is expanding its team in Boulder, CO. The exponential growth of new tech industries, as well as the information technology sector, are driving historic growth in mineral demand and stressing existing supply streams. Meeting new demand, diversifying the supply chain, and producing minerals in a more sustainable manner requires the rapid development, deployment and scaling of new technologies. This mineral challenge represents a historic opportunity for technology development and value creation. Alta is proud to be at the vanguard of this mega trend. \nAssociate Director - Process Development\nLocation: Boulder, CO\nReports To: Sr. Director of R&D Engineering\nAbout Us \nAlta is reinventing how the world sources critical minerals - using protein-based chemistry to extract rare earth elements and other essential materials from challenging feedstocks with unmatched selectivity. By dramatically reducing the cost and environmental impact of mineral separation, Alta is making it possible to unlock new sources of supply for 21st-century technologies. As global demand accelerates, securing these materials has become one of the most urgent challenges facing U.S. competitiveness and national security. Backed by top investors and government partners, Alta is growing fast and hiring mission-driven scientists and engineers to help us scale our platform and transform the future of mining.\nRole Summary\nAlta is seeking a talented Chemical Engineer to join our Process Development Group. This role will lead the laboratory- and pilot-scale development of the Company’s state-of-the-art separation process. Responsibilities include managing a team of scientists, creating development programs, experimental designs, process simulation and modeling, technical writing of SOPs and tech transfer documents, and assisting the Company’s on-site demonstration plant adopt new processes. The position plays an important part in advancing Alta’s mission by providing reliable data and communications to ensure smooth transition of our processes at each scale.\nAn ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in ion-exchange chromatography, simulated moving bed (SMB) systems, and semi-preparative chromatography, with demonstrated ability to develop, optimize, and scale separation processes. A desire to learn and grow within a rapidly expanding and fast-paced company is a must. The role requires full-time, on-site presence at our Boulder lab, with occasional support outside standard hours.\nKey Responsibilities\nLead, mentor and develop a team of scientists and engineers\nSet priorities, manage resources, and deliver development programs on schedule.\nBuild a culture of rigorous experimentation, clear documentation and safe lab practice.\nDefine the development strategy for chromatographic separations at lab and pilot scale.\nGuide experimental design and data analysis across ÄKTA and other automated chromatography systems\nDevelop and improve workflows, data analysis methods and documentation standards.\nLead technology transfer to the demonstration plant, including process descriptions, SOPs, work instructions and transfer packages.\nPartner with the demonstration team to analyze plant data, resolve issues and drive process optimization.\nContribute to process safety reviews and scale-up decisions.\nWork closely with Analytical Chemistry, Protein Engineering, and Engineering to align priorities and timelines.\nPresent results and recommendations to Company leadership\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related scientific discipline.\n10-14+ years of laboratory experience in research or industry setting.\n4+ years of chromatography experience\n3+ years of management experience\nDemonstrated proficiency in first-principles modeling of process unit operations, including the application of fundamental engineering principles to predict and optimize process performance\nStrong understanding of chemical engineering separation techniques and fluid dynamics.\nAbility to execute and troubleshoot experiments using complex chemical systems.\nPreferred Qualifications \nExperience scaling chemical processes from R&D to multi-kilogram scale\nExperience writing and participating in process safety analyses\nHands-on experience designing and building chemical flow systems\nExposure to a range of analytical instrumentation, such as LC-based systems, mass spectrometry, particle size analysis, or similar platforms\nTangential flow filtration (TFF) and/or related unit operations\nCompensation & Benefits \nThe starting pay range for this position is $160,000 - $220,000 commensurate with educational background and work experience. \nBenefits include:\n401(K)\nMedical, Dental, Vision plans (or equivalent) \nFlexible Time Off\nPaid Parental Leave\nPaid Sick Leave\nCompany Holidays\nEOE\n\nAlta Resource Technologies is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We believe that varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds strengthen our team and drive better outcomes for our clients and partners.\nWe welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the business. Alta participates in e-Verify for all positions. \nIf you require accommodations at any point in the hiring process, please let your recruiter know.\nFor information about Alta's privacy practices, see our Privacy Policy.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5895,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible time off","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Chemical Manufacturing","Industrial AI"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-21T23:44:17Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":79,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.878,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":20,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:mid"],"computed_at":"2026-11-03T05:54:40Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":220000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/alta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/alta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-03T09:10:02Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":13132,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-04T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3863152},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3863152"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Falta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Falta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Falta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/alta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Falta-resource-technologies-inc-associate-director-process-development"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3043937}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"altatech.io","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3043937},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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