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Nickel, Cobalt, HPAL/RKEF and Battery-Chemicals Specialists

  • Denver, CO
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Work arrangement: Remote within the United States, 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 nickel and cobalt resources, mineral processing, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical conversion, battery-chemical production and commercial supply chains. Assignments may involve sulfide deposits, laterites, concentrates, matte, mixed hydroxide precipitate, intermediate products, recycling or proposed U.S. conversion facilities.

Axyde does not expect one candidate to cover the entire nickel-cobalt 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:

  • Nickel-sulfide and copper-nickel-cobalt geology

  • Laterite, limonite and saprolite resource evaluation

  • Mineralogy, geometallurgy and feed variability

  • Crushing, grinding, flotation and concentrate production

  • Rotary-kiln electric-furnace processing and ferronickel

  • High-pressure acid leaching and pressure systems

  • Matte production and conversion

  • Atmospheric leaching and related hydrometallurgical routes

  • Solvent extraction, ion exchange and impurity removal

  • Mixed hydroxide and mixed sulfide precipitation

  • Nickel- and cobalt-sulfate refining

  • Battery-grade purification and product qualification

  • Residue, tailings, water, acid and emissions management

  • Pilot design, testwork, scale-up and commissioning

  • Nickel-cobalt markets, pricing, offtake and project finance

  • Battery recycling and secondary-feed recovery

Potential Responsibilities

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

  • Evaluate nickel and cobalt resource quality, quantity, continuity and confidence.

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

  • Assess ore variability, mining method, blending, production schedules and feed security.

  • Evaluate flotation, concentration, smelting, RKEF, HPAL, leaching and refining alternatives.

  • Review feed mineralogy, recovery, impurity deportment, mass balance and product specifications.

  • Assess acid, neutralization, oxygen, steam, power, water and reagent requirements.

  • Evaluate pressure-equipment design basis, materials selection, corrosion, operability and maintenance.

  • Review residue neutralization, tailings, water treatment, emissions and closure implications.

  • Assess technology maturity, pilot results, operating references, commissioning and ramp-up risks.

  • Review intermediate-product quality, sulfate conversion and battery-grade customer requirements.

  • Identify decisive information gaps and define testwork or diligence needed before advancement.

  • Evaluate roads, ports, shipping, power, water and associated infrastructure.

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

  • Assess markets, benchmark pricing, payability, penalties, offtake and financing requirements.

  • Evaluate responsible-sourcing, provenance and supply-chain concentration risks.

  • 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 analyses and recommendations for senior government decision-makers.

  • Serve as a discipline lead, contributor, 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, mining engineering, mineral processing, metallurgy, chemical engineering, materials science or a closely related field.

  • Direct responsibility for identifiable nickel, cobalt, battery-chemical or recycling projects, facilities, studies or test programs.

  • Demonstrated understanding of the relationship among resource characteristics, process-route selection, recovery, impurity control, product specifications and project economics.

  • Strong written and verbal English-language communication skills.

  • Ability to prepare concise, decision-oriented technical work.

  • 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 involving Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Africa, Latin America, Europe or U.S. processing and battery-material projects is particularly valuable.

Application Information Requested

Please submit a résumé and a brief response identifying:

  1. Your strongest specialist track or tracks.

  2. The nickel and cobalt deposits, feeds, process routes, intermediates and products with which you have direct experience.

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

  4. The development stages you have supported, including exploration, testwork, pilot, feasibility, design, construction, commissioning, ramp-up or operations.

  5. Countries and regions in which you have worked.

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

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

  8. Your current U.S. location.

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

  10. Your availability during the next 30 days.

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

  12. Your anticipated hourly rate.

  13. Any actual or potential conflicts involving governments, project sponsors, technology providers, mining companies, battery manufacturers 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 resource 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