Senior Metallurgical Engineer

Hoover & Strong•Richmond, VA

23h•$120,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

Hoover & Strong, founded in 1912, is a family-owned jewelry manufacturer and refiner. We cater to the jewelry industry by producing over 30,000 eco-friendly and responsibly sourced jewelry products, all made in the USA. Our products and services include jewelry, contract castings, findings, mill products, and eco-friendly metal refining. A team of over 90 enthusiastic and dedicated coworkers have created a progressive, family-oriented work environment that encourages personal growth, the sharing of creative ideas and responsible practices. Our work ethic is strong, and we strive for excellence and innovation in everything that we do. Providing high-quality products and professional services is our passion and we do it all in a casual, non-corporate atmosphere with respect and appreciation for one another. Make a difference in YOUR life and become a part of the Hoover Family! This is an onsite position in Chesterfield, Virginia. Position Overview: The Senior Metallurgical Engineer oversees the Refining and Mill Products divisions-which includes gold and platinum recovery, waste system management, vendor coordination, melting and casting operations, sheet and wire fabrication, and solder production, as autonomous operational units. This role is accountable for strategic planning, revenue expansion, cost optimization, and performance management across all functional areas. Responsible for product and process troubleshooting for both internal and external customers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering required; advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in precious metals refining and manufacturing management.
Strong expertise in electrolytic refining, cold working, lost wax casting, and fabrication processes.
Demonstrated leadership, analytical, and technical problem-solving skills.
Experience preparing project plans and capital expenditure analyses.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-variability production environment.
Hands-on leadership style with strong strategic thinking and attention to detail.
Flexibility to work extended or weekend hours when required.

Responsibilities

Diagnose and resolve manufacturing process deviations using structured root-cause analysis and data-driven problem-solving methods.
Direct all refining and mill product operations, including precious metal recovery (gold, silver, platinum), alloying, melting, casting, rolling, forming, solder production, and fabrication
Oversee daily refining operations to ensure output, purity, and efficiency targets are consistently met.
Ensure on-time delivery of all products to internal and external customers; communicate schedule risks proactively to relevant departments.
Lead workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, cross-training, and corrective actions as needed
Review and update production lead times monthly based on capacity, backlog, and operational constraints.
Address customer concerns by analyzing technical issues and advising on process modifications when appropriate.
Manage inventory levels for stock-and-release items and work-in-process materials, ensuring adequate supply for lead-time requirements while maintaining controls on precious-metal inventory levels
Establish annual strategic objectives and drive revenue growth and profitability across both divisions.
Provide regular operational and financial performance reporting to executive leadership.
Ensure regulatory, environmental, quality, and safety compliance.
Participate in industry conferences to stay current on metallurgical and manufacturing advancements.
Continuously improve precious metal purification processes, including electrolytic refining.
Coordinate with outside refining partners to ensure timely and accurate material processing.
Ensure proper operation of wastewater and air handling systems.
Ensure on-time delivery; proactively manage production schedules, lead times, inventory levels, and precious metal controls.
Address technical customer concerns and recommend process improvements when appropriate.
Diagnose and resolve manufacturing issues using structured, data-driven problem-solving methods.
Develop and implement new alloy systems, product designs, and process improvements to enhance performance and reduce cycle times.
Prepare capital expenditure proposals aligned with a two-year maximum ROI requirement.