The Person We Are Looking For
Plant I is where MTI's technology is proven every day, and we need a leader who treats it as their own. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role is for someone who can run a working plant at a high standard while it keeps changing; who moves fast without cutting corners on safety; and who brings a positive, can-do attitude to the hard problems that come with scaling new technology.
- You take initiative. You see what needs to be done and do it before anyone asks. You show up prepared, with the work already moving.
- You communicate before you are asked. Leadership hears about problems, progress, and plans from you first, with a clear headline and a proposed fix.
- You own the numbers. Yield, purity, throughput, uptime, and cost are yours. When the answer is unknown, you say how and when you will find it.
- You solve problems fast. You get to the root cause with data, contain issues quickly, and standardize the fix, so it stays fixed.
- You thrive in a startup. Incomplete systems, changing priorities, and first-of-a-kind equipment motivate you. You build the processes that are missing.
- You lead from the floor. Your team sees you on the plant floor every day, and your standards, energy, and positivity set the tone.
- You are hungry. You want to build something that matters, and you measure yourself by results, not activity.
The Role
Momentum Technologies is seeking an experienced, hands-on Plant I Manager to lead its operating demonstration plant at MTI's Carrollton, Texas headquarters. Plant I is where MTI runs, proves, and improves its MSX® process at scale, and the results here shape how the company grows. This leader will run daily operations safely and reliably, drive process changes and new feedstock programs, and turn what Plant I learns into the standards that will carry MTI through commercial scale-up. The role works closely with the Plant II Manager and shares operations, procurement, technical writing, and SOP resources across both plants. It also partners with engineering, research and development, product development, HSE, laboratory, and business leaders to advance commercial deployment.
About Momentum Technologies
Momentum Technologies (MTI) provides scalable, sustainable, and commercially attractive processing technologies to the energy storage, mobility, and manufacturing sectors. MTI recovers critical minerals and metals from battery scrap, end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, magnet waste, mining tailings, and processed mining residues. Our patented MSX® technology delivers high-purity metal separation with a low environmental footprint and supports a circular economy for critical materials.
What You Will Do
Lead and improve Plant I
- Own day-to-day operations of the demonstration plant, about 20,000 square feet, located in MTI's headquarters building.
- Lead process reconfigurations, new feedstock campaigns, and equipment changes, working with engineering, R&D, OEMs, and contractors to bring changes into service safely and on schedule.
- Strengthen the operating foundation: SOPs, work instructions, shift structure, training and qualification, management of change, and operating dashboards.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Plant I team, and hire where needed. Coordinate shared staff and resources with Plant II.
Run safe, reliable operations
- Own the safety culture. Ensure Plant I operates in line with MTI policies, permits, and all federal, state, and local environmental and safety requirements.
- Partner with HSE on risk assessments, management-of-change reviews, incident investigations, corrective actions, emergency response planning, and training.
- Direct daily operations, including production scheduling, startups and shutdowns, shift handoffs, operating discipline, and response to process upsets.
- Stop or correct unsafe work without delay and maintain a strong daily presence on the plant floor.
Deliver performance
- Set and manage plant metrics for safety, throughput, yield, purity, equipment availability, downtime, operating cost, and schedule attainment.
- Maintain rigorous mass balances across the flowsheet and use them to find and close yield losses.
- Work with chemical and process engineers to stabilize unit operations and improve separation efficiency, recovery, purity, and yield.
- Use plant data and structured problem solving to identify root causes, close corrective actions, and standardize improvements.
- Capture operating lessons from Plant I and share them with engineering and the Plant II team to support scale-up.
- Develop production plans with engineering, product development, the laboratory, and commercial teams to meet customer and business priorities.
Maintenance, reliability, and capital
- Run preventive and corrective maintenance programs for process equipment, utilities, controls, and facility systems.
- Manage maintenance priorities, contractor work, spare-parts strategy, and outage planning to reduce unplanned downtime.
- Support equipment selection, installation, commissioning, and capital projects, ensuring every change is documented, reviewed, and safely placed into service.
Materials, vendors, and cost
- Manage feedstock, reagents, consumables, finished product, waste streams, and critical spare parts inventory.
- Oversee operating expenses and vendor performance, controlling cost while protecting safety, quality, and production.
Communication and cross-functional leadership
- Give leadership clear, timely updates on performance, risks, resource needs, incidents, and recovery plans, leading with the headline and the plan.
- Run a regular operating rhythm of shift huddles and plant reviews built around visible metrics and owned actions.
- Support customer demonstrations, sampling programs, audits, technical reviews, due diligence, and commercialization activities that require Plant I operating information.
What Success Looks Like in Year One
- Plant I runs safely and reliably, with a clear daily operating rhythm and an engaged, well-trained team.
- Process reconfigurations and new feedstock programs are brought online safely and on schedule.
- Yield, purity, and throughput are measured by lot, backed by closed mass balances, and improving against targets.
- SOPs, management of change, maintenance programs, and dashboards are in place and in use, and Plant I's lessons are feeding into Plant II.
- Leadership rarely has to ask for status because you have already provided it.
What You Bring
- Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, or related field. Equivalent plant leadership experience may be considered.
- 7 or more years in chemical, metals, materials, recycling, or related process or plant operations, including at least 3 years leading people or shifts.
- Hands-on experience commissioning, starting up, or ramping up a new plant or production line, ideally in a startup or early-stage environment.
- A track record of owning plant metrics and improving performance through data and structured problem solving.
- Working knowledge of process flow diagrams, P&IDs, control systems, hazard reviews, and management-of-change practices.
- Clear, concise communication, written and verbal, including the ability to summarize plant status for executives in minutes.
- Willingness to work on site in an active industrial environment and lead through process changes, outages, and operating events as needed.
Preferred
- Experience with hydrometallurgy, solvent extraction, membrane-based separations, battery materials, rare earths, or metals recovery.
- Process safety experience with flammable solvents and continuous chemical processes.
- Experience running a pilot, demonstration, or first-of-a-kind plant.
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing, reliability-centered maintenance, quality systems, and operating dashboards.
Why Momentum
- Shape the operation. Shape the plant, the team, and the operating standards that will carry MTI through commercial scale-up.
- Work on what matters. Help build a domestic supply of critical minerals for batteries, magnets, and advanced manufacturing.
- High visibility and impact. Plant I is where MTI's technology is proven, and you will work directly with company leadership.
- Rewarding package. Competitive compensation, performance bonus, equity, relocation support, and a robust benefits package.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Competitive base salary commensurate with qualifications and experience
- Performance-based bonus opportunity
- Equity participation
- Relocation assistance available
- Comprehensive benefits package: Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, AD&D, life insurance
- 401(k) with up to 5% match
- Flexible/unlimited PTO
- Annual year-end shutdown
- Catered lunch 2x/week
