Description
Process Engineer
Company Overview
Lithium Americas is a North American resource and materials company focused on developing, building and operating lithium deposits and chemical processing facilities. The company’s flagship asset, Thacker Pass, is located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada and is the world’s largest known measured lithium source and reserve. We are focused on safely and responsibly developing Thacker Pass to production to help strengthen national security and enable cleaner energy sources. We are committed to minimizing environmental impact, creating family-supporting jobs and maximizing sustainable value for our stakeholders.
Lithium Americas is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and operates in the U.S., with offices in Reno, NV and Winnemucca, NV. The Company’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LAC.
Our Purpose, Vision and Values
Our purpose, vision and values are the guiding principles that will serve as the cornerstone of our company’s future direction and operations, aligning our team and organization towards our common goals.
Our Purpose is to safely and sustainably produce lithium from Thacker Pass to enable North America to reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals and drive value for our stakeholders.
Our Vision is to be North America’s leading lithium producer to enable cleaner energy sources.
Our Values include Act with Integrity, Be Responsible and Act with Care, Commit to Excellence and Drive Innovation, and Be a Collaborative Partner.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Process Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for supporting Lithium Americas’ efforts in safely and effectively building, commissioning, and operating the sulfuric acid plant and lithium processing facilities at Thacker Pass. This position plays a key role in providing technical process engineering support to plant operations, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient performance across chemical processing systems and unit operations associated with sulfuric acid production and lithium processing.
The Process Engineer will serve as a technical resource to the Thacker Pass processing facility, supporting operations, troubleshooting process issues, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills, a proven track record of problem solving, and familiarity with sulfuric acid production and chemical processing equipment. This role will help maintain and continuously improve operating practices that support stewardship, safety, quality, and overall plant performance.
The role is based at our Winnemucca, NV office and reports to the Site Engineering Manager. Occasional travel to other Lithium Americas offices, business units, engineering partners, or vendor locations may be required.
Responsibilities
- Support pre-commissioning, commissioning, and start-up activities for the Thacker Pass Sulfuric Acid Plant and Lithium Processing Facility in coordination with the Commissioning and Start-Up team
- Provide day-to-day process engineering support to Operations, assisting with troubleshooting and optimization of equipment and processes
- Investigate operational issues using process data and trends from the DCS historian
- Develop and manage capital projects that improve safety, throughput, and efficiency in the processing plant
- Oversee contractors performing maintenance and sustaining projects on-site, ensuring work is completed safely and efficiently
- Provide advice and technical guidance to contractors, employees, and consultants to ensure Company and corporate standards are applied and maintained
- Review, create, and implement a positive safety and environmentally sound culture with the right procedures and programs for the Thacker Pass Processing facility
- Develop systems and processes that track and optimize productivity and standards, metrics, and performance targets to ensure effective return on assets.
- Builds and maintains trusted relationships across all teams while championing a culture that reflects and supports our Purpose, Vision, and Values.
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- 3-10 years’ experience as a Process Engineer in a chemical processing facility
- Strong understanding of chemical process engineering principles and unit operations
- Familiarity with OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) or MSHA regulations, preferred
- Demonstrated commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and teamwork
- Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ core Purpose, Vision and Values
- Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to motivate teams toward common goals
- Proven ability to manage several projects in parallel, while prioritizing and pursuing critical-path tasks on an accelerated schedule
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively across
- Ability to critically challenge assumptions, “think outside the box”, and deliver creative solutions
- Be a self-starter: highly motivated, able to work independently, with high energy
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Project, Teams, etc.)
- Familiarity with DCS control systems and data historian platforms
- Personal commitment to Lithium Americas’ Purpose, Vision, and Values.
Working at Lithium Americas
At Lithium Americas, we believe our people are our most valuable asset. We offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment, with opportunities for long-term growth and skills development.
We are committed to building a diverse and respectful workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Lithium Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, age, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
