R&D Process Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

USA Rare Earth • Wheat Ridge, CO

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The R&D Process Engineering Intern will support research, development, and pilot-scale activities focused on rare earth extraction, separation, and purification. This hands-on internship provides exposure to laboratory experimentation, process development, data analysis, and pilot plant operations within a fast-paced rare earth processing environment. This is an onsite position based in the Company’s laboratory in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
• Relevant coursework in chemistry, metallurgy, chemical processing, mineral processing, or related disciplines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an interest in hands-on technical work.
• Ability to accurately collect, analyze, and communicate technical information.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

• Academic, research, project, or internship experience related to hydrometallurgy, extractive metallurgy, mineral processing, or chemical processing.
• Experience with laboratory equipment, experimental methods, pilot-scale systems, or engineering/data analysis tools.
• Familiarity with mass balances, process flowsheets, or process data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support laboratory and pilot-scale experiments related to rare earth extraction, separation, and purification.
• Assist with experimental design, sample preparation, testing, data collection, and analysis.
• Support pilot plant operations, including equipment setup, testing, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Perform mass balance calculations and analyze process data to evaluate recovery, efficiency, and product quality.
• Assist with SOPs, test plans, technical reports, and other process documentation.
• Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and operations personnel to support process development and scale-up.
• Follow established safety, quality, and environmental procedures.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern