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Description

Leidos is seeking an Extractive Metallurgist within the RSS Contract at National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Albany, OR. NETL is a multi-disciplinary, scientific, and technical-oriented national laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary lab supporting fossil fuel-based energy research. The objective of the Extractive Metallurgist is to provide R&D support to help facilitate the execution of research conducted under Research and Innovation Center (RIC).

The Extractive Metallurgist will support the development of advanced processing technologies and demonstration circuits for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements (REEs), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), and graphite from primary and secondary geologic feedstocks. This role will directly contribute to building secure and sustainable domestic supply chains for critical minerals.

This work will involve a multi-disciplinary, scientific, and technically-oriented national laboratory team, participation alongside other data scientists, engineers, geologists, and computer scientists that produces technological solutions for America’s energy challenges. NETL produces technological solutions for America’s energy challenges to support home-grown energy initiatives, stimulate a growing economy, and improve the health, safety, and security of all Americans. Highly skilled professionals at three NETL research sites – Albany, OR, Morgantown, WV, and Pittsburgh, PA – conduct a broad range of research activities that support the Department of Energy’s mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United.

What this opportunity with Leidos supporting NETL through a Research Support Services (RSS) contract uniquely provides you:

+ Working on applied, cutting-edge projects with global impact while being mentored by the nation’s leading energy scientists and engineers.

+ Real-world experience supplemented with technical development and discussions that provide unique insight into the broad range of mission critical engineering and scientific disciplines NETL leverages to support national energy research and policy development.

+ Access to world-class, customized facilities and computational assets specific to high impact energy research, technology generation, and product development.

+ Support proposal development focused on expanding industry and scientific partnerships and developing new technical opportunities for NETL with federal guidance.

Primary Responsibilities:

+ Develop, test, and optimize hydrometallurgical and/or pyrometallurgical processes for the efficient recovery of rare earth elements, Ga, Ge, and graphite from complex ores, concentrates, and by-product material streams.

+ Develop and conduct bench- and pilot-scale processes to separate and extract critical materials and minerals in the Feedstock Beneficiation laboratory.

+ Characterize feedstocks using mineralogical, chemical, and physical techniques to guide process selection and parameter optimization.

+ Review, recommend, and implement new or enhanced testing equipment or protocols to improve process development.

+ Work collaboratively with geologists, mineralogists, chemical engineers, and analytical chemists to develop integrated process flowsheets and accomplish other required project tasks.

+ Analyze and interpret experimental data to support scale-up and techno-economic assessments.

+ Prepare technical documentation, reports, and presentations; contribute to publications, patent filings, and strategic development.

+ Effectively communicate scientific results through writing methods, results, and data interpretations for inclusion in scientific peer-review journal manuscripts and technical reports.

+ Develop and present results in oral presentations to staff, stakeholders, and at professional conferences.

+ Set expectations and lead by example to maintain a safe and organized workplace through strict adherence to laboratory safety protocols and environmental compliance standards, and work with EH&S staff to mitigate workplace safety hazards and audits.

+ Train and mentor new staff in lab operations and research methods.

+ Build and maintain relationships with internal and external clients.

+ Provide weekly and monthly technical updates to research team members and project management.

+ Provide leadership and expertise on projects including delegation to team members and communication of project milestone status to management.

Requirements:

+ Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field with 6+ years of hands-on experience in mineral processing or extractive metallurgy process development

+ Demonstrated expertise in minerals processing and metallurgical operations relevant to critical materials or critical minerals

+ Familiarity with mineralogic assemblages associated with conventional and unconventionalmineral deposits such as industrial solid wastesfor rare earth elements, Ga, Ge, graphite, critical materials or critical minerals

+ Familiarity with processing of oxide, sulfide, or carbon-rich materials and associated impurity management

+ Familiarity with mineral processing hazards and material waste management procedures

+ Ability to develop and implement new standard operating procedures and work instructions for critical minerals processing and separation

+ Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot process challenges and adapt strategies based on evolving data; record of seeking alternative ideas and new ways to accomplish goals more effectively with forethought for downstream process

+ Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work in multidisciplinary project teams

+ Outstanding time management skills; experience developing and meeting project milestones with little oversight

+ Demonstrated ability to lead and work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of research scientists

+ Proven track record of publications, presentations, and/or patents related to research on geologic/mineral systems

+ Must be able to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field

+ Experience with processing low grade ores from clays, coal, coal by-products, mine waste, or other unconventional critical mineralsources

+ Hands-on experience with managing metallurgical and mining process operations

+ Experience leveraging AI tools to enhance professional work quality and efficiency

Salary Range for this position: $125K to $135K

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

January 16, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com .

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits .

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [email protected] .

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/) .

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

REQNUMBER: R-00173720

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Leidos will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment in accordance with relevant Laws. Leidos is an equal opportunity employer/disability/vet.