Lead Process Modeling Engineer

About Still Bright

Still Bright is a seed-stage, deep-technology startup dedicated to solving the world's critical copper shortfall. The transition to a secure and sustainable economy depends on a massive expansion of copper supply, yet traditional extraction methods face significant environmental and permitting challenges.

Our proprietary hydrometallurgical process is designed to improve copper yields at currently producing mines as well as unlock vast, untapped copper and other co-located metal resources. As a closed-loop system, our technology offers precise control over all outputs, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing value.

Backed by top-tier investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Material Impact, our team is designing and executing its pilot and is preparing the next stages of commercial deployment.

We prioritize the well-being of our employees, customers, and communities, and work to create a positive impact on the world through our business practices. We especially encourage applicants from historically marginalized communities to join our mission of sustainable metals extraction.

Position Summary

As the Lead Process Modeling Engineer, you sit at the heart of our commercial strategy. Reporting to the VP of Commercialization and working regularly with the CTO, you will bridge the gap between our proprietary processing methods and the customer's mine site. You will own the "Digital Twin" of our process, using plant simulation software (ex. SysCAD or equivalent) along with our TEA and LCA to prove the value proposition of Still Bright to global mining companies. Finding methods to advance our value proposition is a key expectation for the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Model Ownership: Maintain and evolve high-fidelity plant simulation models. Manage third-party consultants to ensure models accurately reflect the chemistry of our closed-loop system.
• Predictive Capability: Work with the VP of Commercialization to craft customer-specific value propositions. You will transform raw feedstock data into detailed economic and environmental projections.
• Feedstock-to-Process Tooling: Build and lead a proprietary model that ingests complex mineralogical data and determines the optimized process configuration for that specific feedstock.
• LCA & TEA Leadership: Quantify our cost savings and value addition by leading Life Cycle Assessments and Technoeconomic Analysis to show customers and regulators the precise reduction in carbon intensity and waste.
• R&D Feedback Loop: Collaborate with the CTO to use modeling results to guide process improvements, ensuring our technology remains the most economic solution for copper extraction.

Must Haves (Required Qualifications)

• Process Simulation Mastery: 5+ years of experience with process simulation software (SysCAD, or equivalent like METSIM/HSC)
• Technoeconomic Modeling Know-How: Ability to project process economics using process simulation and process data.
• Commercial Mindset: Ability to translate complex engineering simulations into clear, persuasive business cases for customers.
• Technical Breadth: Deep understanding of industrial chemistry, mass/energy balances, and chemical thermodynamics.
• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy, or a related field.

Nice to Haves (Preferred Qualifications)

• Advanced Degree: PhD in a relevant field with a focus on process optimization or electrochemical systems.
• LCA Proficiency: Practical experience utilizing Life Cycle Assessments to quantify environmental footprints.
• Industry Network: Experience interacting with mining majors or environmental permitting agencies.
• Coding Skills: Proficiency in Python for automating data ingestion between mineralogical databases and process models.

This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Pay: $156,045.00 - $176,130.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Commuter assistance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Stock options
• Vision insurance

Ability to Relocate:

• Newark, NJ 07102: Relocate with an employer provided relocation package (Preferred)

Work Location: In person