Mechanical Engineering SME (Subject Matter Expert), Capital Projects

Cyclic Materials is building a resilient circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials. Through our fully integrated proprietary technology platform, we recover rare earths from end-of-life products and transform them into high-purity materials used to produce new permanent magnets. These magnets are critical to the modern economy, underpinning AI, automotive, e-mobility, electronics, semiconductor, energy, defense, and other advanced manufacturing sectors.

Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials has rapidly become a category leader in rare earth recovery, achieving commercial operations in less than five years. We currently operate facilities in Ontario and Arizona, with further expansion underway in South Carolina. Backed by investment accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., alongside strategic investors including Microsoft, Amazon, Hitachi Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s InMotion fund, Energy Impact Partners, ArcTern Ventures, and Fifth Wall, we are scaling quickly and building the industrial backbone required to meet growing global demand for a secure and sustainable supply of rare earths.

We have established an extensive and growing network of commercial partnerships with global industry leaders such as Solvay, Vattenfall, Lime, and VACUUMSCHMELZE, enabling the rapid deployment of recycled rare earth materials into real-world supply chains. Joining Cyclic Materials means tackling complex and exciting challenges at scale alongside a team committed to strong execution and measurable impact. If you are motivated by building critical infrastructure and advancing the circular economy, join us and help accelerate the growth of rare earth recycling.

Position Overview

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The Mechanical Engineering SME operates within an Owner’s Team model as the internal Subject Matter Expert responsible for defining mechanical engineering requirements and overseeing external design partners. This role focuses on reviewing and validating externally developed designs to ensure they are fit for purpose, meet specifications, and align with sound engineering principles, while liaising with and holding external teams accountable for quality and performance. The Lead provides final technical review and sign-off, bringing deep expertise and experience to the role.

This role acts as a senior member of the owner’s engineering team and is accountable for ensuring that mechanical design solutions are safe, reliable, operable, maintainable, and aligned with project objectives. The Lead Mechanical Engineer will work closely with internal project engineers and external engineering, EPCM, and equipment vendors to develop fit-for-purpose mechanical designs that support project progression through FEL-2, FEL-3, and FEL-4 detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, and handover.

The successful candidate will provide technical leadership across mechanical systems including rotating equipment, static equipment, piping, material handling systems, utilities, package equipment, and plant infrastructure, while supporting engineering governance, design reviews, risk management, and value improvement initiatives. This may also include overseeing and/or participating in all HAZOPS and subject matter regulatory reviews.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical engineering activities for capital projects through FEL-2, FEL-3, and some FEL-4  execution planning.
• Serve as the mechanical engineering lead within Cyclic’s owner’s team, ensuring that internal and external engineering deliverables meet project requirements, technical standards, and stage-gate expectations.
• Manage and review the work of external engineering consultants, EP, EPC, EPCM and similar build partners, equipment suppliers, and specialist contractors for mechanical scope.
• Develop and maintain mechanical design criteria, engineering specifications, equipment standards, and discipline deliverables to support project development and execution.
• Provide technical leadership for mechanical systems including rotating equipment, tanks, vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, piping systems, material handling systems, utility systems, and package equipment.
• Review and approve mechanical engineering deliverables such as equipment datasheets, equipment lists, piping and instrumentation diagrams, layouts, mechanical design packages, technical bid evaluations, and vendor documents.
• Support development of plant layouts and equipment arrangements with a focus on constructability, maintainability, operability, accessibility, and safety.
• Participate in and lead discipline input into design reviews, HAZOPs, model reviews, value engineering workshops, risk assessments, and constructability reviews.
• Ensure mechanical design interfaces are coordinated with process, civil/structural, electrical, instrumentation and controls, procurement, construction, and operations teams.
• Support project cost and schedule development by defining mechanical scope, identifying long-lead equipment requirements, reviewing quantities, and contributing to capital estimate and execution plan development.
• Support equipment procurement activities including preparation of technical requisitions, bid evaluations, vendor clarifications, and recommendation of awards.
• Resolve technical issues during study, design, procurement, construction, and commissioning phases.
• Support quality assurance and inspection planning for major equipment packages and mechanical installations.
• Provide oversight of design change management and ensure that changes are properly evaluated for technical, cost, schedule, and operational impacts.
• Support commissioning, start-up, and handover activities by ensuring mechanical systems are designed and delivered to meet operational requirements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering standards, workflows, and project delivery practices within the organization.
• Mentor junior and intermediate engineers and provide technical coaching across the project engineering team.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Participate in leading the (SME) project engineering team through project budget development, scope of work, WBS, schedule, commissioning plan, and estimating activities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required with Professional Engineer designation.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive mechanical engineering experience in industrial or process plant environments.
• Demonstrated experience supporting capital projects in mining, metals, hydrometallurgy, chemical processing, recycling, clean technology, renewables, or other heavy industrial sectors.
• Experience working on owner’s teams with EP, EPC, EPCM, and similar design build firms on industrial capital projects.
• Strong experience in front-end engineering, feasibility studies, design development, and execution support.
• Experience with detailed engineering, procurement support, construction support, and commissioning is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with applicable codes, standards, and mechanical engineering design practices relevant to industrial facilities.
• Experience reviewing vendor packages, technical proposals, and contractor deliverables.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of mechanical engineering principles and industrial plant design practices.
• Strong understanding of rotating and static equipment selection, piping systems, utility systems, and mechanical design integration in process plants.
• Ability to evaluate engineering deliverables for technical completeness, quality, operability, maintainability, and fit-for-purpose application.
• Strong understanding of project delivery processes, stage-gate development, engineering assurance, and management of design risk.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess technical trade-offs and support sound engineering decisions.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across concurrent projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across internal teams and external partners.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance of other engineers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with engineering document management and project systems.
• Ability to be flexible, agile, and able to pivot quickly in work execution approaches and delivery.

Preferred Experience

• Expertise in at least one of the following disciplines: hydrometallurgical, chemical processing, electrical, civil/structural, mechanical engineering, and/or recycling, critical minerals, metals refining, or similarly complex process-plant environments.
• Experience in brownfield and greenfield industrial project development.
• Experience working in start up organizations that focus on design optimization and refinement.
• Experience conducting targeted trade-off studies for the purpose of establishing critical engineering design criteria to retrofit existing plants and design new plants.
• Familiarity with North American codes, standards, and industrial permitting environments.

Pay Range

$160,000—$190,000 CAD

Why You Will Love Cyclic Materials  

• At Cyclic Materials, we're dedicated to supporting our workforce on their unique career journey
• We offer a competitive compensation package including Health and Dental coverage, RRSP (Canada)/ 401K (USA) contributions and a generous paid time off program that lets you recharge
• We value diversity and are committed to maintaining a workplace where everyone is respected and recognized for their contributions

The base compensation offered is determined based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and competencies and considers internal equity.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Cyclic Materials is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals have an opportunity to succeed. If you require accommodation at any stage of the interview process, please email [email protected]. Applicants for roles in Canada or the United States must be authorized to work in the applicable country without current or future sponsorship from Cyclic Materials, including for an H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN, L1-A visa, or any other non-immigrant status.

To all applicants, your interest and effort are sincerely appreciated. While we thank everyone for their application, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.