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Rare-Earth Geology, Separation and Magnet-Materials Specialists

  • Denver, CO
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Rare-Earth Geology, Separation and Magnet-Materials Specialists

Location: United States—Remote, with potential international travel
Engagement: Contingent, part-time/on-call specialist
Anticipated compensation: $150–$300 per hour, depending on qualifications and assignment, or a negotiated fixed price by work package. $300 per hour is the maximum anticipated rate.

Opportunity

Axyde Analytics is assembling a multidisciplinary expert team for anticipated U.S. government-funded project-scoping assignments involving critical minerals and international infrastructure.

We seek multiple specialists covering different portions of the rare-earth supply chain. Potential assignments may involve evaluating projects in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia, or the Indo-Pacific; determining whether opportunities merit further development; and preparing decision-grade technical, commercial and financial analyses.

Axyde does not expect one candidate to cover the entire rare-earth value chain. Applicants should identify the areas in which they possess direct, demonstrable expertise.

Specialist Tracks

We are recruiting experts in one or more of the following tracks:

  • Rare-earth economic geology, deposit models and resource evaluation

  • Carbonatite, alkaline-complex, monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime and ion-adsorption-clay deposits

  • Sampling, mineralogy, geometallurgy and resource-confidence assessment

  • Beneficiation, flotation, gravity, magnetic and electrostatic separation

  • Cracking, roasting, leaching and impurity removal

  • Solvent extraction, ion exchange and multistage rare-earth separation

  • Light- and heavy-rare-earth oxide production

  • Rare-earth metals, alloys and powder production

  • NdFeB and SmCo permanent-magnet manufacturing

  • Magnet recycling and secondary-feed recovery

  • Radioactive and NORM-bearing feedstocks, residues and worker protection

  • Rare-earth markets, pricing, product balance, customer qualification and offtake

  • Process scale-up, pilot design, testwork and independent technical review

Potential Responsibilities

Depending on the assignment and specialist track, selected experts may:

  • Evaluate the quality, quantity and confidence of rare-earth resources or feedstocks.

  • Review geological models, drilling, sampling, assays, mineralogy and resource classifications.

  • Assess beneficiation, cracking, leaching, separation, refining, metal, alloy or magnet-production routes.

  • Examine recovery, mass-balance continuity, impurity deportment and product specifications.

  • Evaluate radioactive co-products, NORM, residues, emissions, containment and disposal requirements.

  • Assess process maturity, pilot results, scale-up evidence, operating references and performance risks.

  • Identify decisive technical information gaps and define testwork or diligence needed to resolve them.

  • Review power, water, reagent, infrastructure, logistics and hazardous-material dependencies.

  • Contribute to capital-cost, operating-cost, schedule and implementation assumptions.

  • Assess customer qualification, market balance, offtake and downstream manufacturing requirements.

  • Identify realistic opportunities for U.S. equipment, engineering, technology and services.

  • Develop or review feasibility-study, technical-assistance or pilot-project terms of reference, budgets and schedules.

  • Participate in sponsor, government, supplier, laboratory, customer or financing-source discussions.

  • Support international meetings, site visits and field verification when required.

  • Prepare concise, polished analyses and recommendations for senior government decision-makers.

  • Serve as a discipline lead, contributing specialist, same-discipline alternate or independent technical reviewer.

Required Qualifications

Candidates should possess:

  • At least 7–10 years of directly relevant professional experience, with greater experience preferred for discipline-lead and independent-review roles.

  • A degree in geology, geological engineering, mining engineering, mineral processing, metallurgy, chemical engineering, materials science or a closely related field.

  • Direct responsibility for one or more identifiable rare-earth projects, facilities, studies, test programs or commercial supply chains.

  • Demonstrated ability to distinguish verified evidence from assumptions and identify what additional evidence is needed before investment or project advancement.

  • Strong written and verbal English-language communication skills.

  • Ability to produce concise, decision-oriented technical work rather than purely academic analysis.

  • Ability to collaborate across geological, processing, environmental, commercial and financial disciplines.

  • Either U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent-resident status in the United States.

  • Legal authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

  • Willingness and ability to travel internationally when an assignment requires it.

  • No known employment, confidentiality, intellectual-property, noncompete or conflict-of-interest restriction that would prevent participation.

Experience in emerging markets, government-funded project preparation, feasibility studies, international development, export finance or U.S. government contracting is highly desirable.

Professional licensure, advanced technical degrees and recognized industry publications are advantageous but not required when supported by substantial operating or project experience.

Application Information Requested

Please submit a résumé and a brief response identifying:

  1. Your strongest specialist track or tracks from the list above.

  2. The rare-earth elements, minerals, feedstocks, products and process routes with which you have direct experience.

  3. Up to five representative projects, facilities or studies and your personal responsibilities on each.

  4. Countries and regions in which you have worked.

  5. Languages in which you can conduct professional discussions or technical review.

  6. Whether you can serve as a discipline lead, independent reviewer, or both.

  7. Your current U.S. location.

  8. Whether you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

  9. Your availability during the next 30 days.

  10. Your ability to travel internationally and any geographic restrictions.

  11. Your anticipated hourly rate.

  12. Any actual or potential conflicts involving governments, project sponsors, mining companies, technology providers or current employers.

Engagement Conditions

This is a contingent opportunity supporting anticipated government-funded assignments. No employment, contract award, minimum workload or particular assignment is guaranteed.

Selection for an assignment will depend on contract award, the specific mineral and technical question, qualifications, availability, eligibility, conflicts, travel requirements, mutually acceptable compensation and execution of appropriate employment or consulting documentation.

Axyde may tailor and reformat selected résumés for proposal compliance without materially changing the candidate’s qualifications or experience.

Axyde Analytics
Strategic minerals • Supply-chain security • U.S. industrial base