---
title: 'Commissioning Engineer at Mariana Minerals'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/commissioning-engineer-mariana-minerals-houston-370gtt85kmfw'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Commissioning Engineer at Mariana Minerals

- **Company:** Mariana Minerals
- **Location:** Houston, TX
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-10-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals/5d7ea495-053d-44d6-a221-95a2c84f5c09

## Job description

## About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making. We’re building a core commissioning team of talented, versatile engineers who know how to take a plant from mechanical completion to running. As a Commissioning Engineer, you’ll own electrical and mechanical commissioning scopes: energizing power systems, bringing up equipment and utilities, and getting new systems online safely. You’ll work alongside local commissioning teams, own your commissioning assignments, and make sure we’re building and using our systems throughout commissioning. Your first year will likely be focused on Copper One, our operating copper mine and refinery in Utah, or Lithium One, our new lithium facility in Texas. After that, you’ll go wherever we’re bringing new capacity online, anywhere in the world. Between commissioning pushes, you’ll support design teams and projects at other sites. There’s always something being built. This is a hands-on role for scrappy, collaborative engineers who thrive during startup. You’ll solve problems in the field, do some of your own design work when needed, bring new systems online for the first time, and do it safely, every time.

## Responsibilities

- Lead commissioning teams at various locations. The candidate must be willing to travel to sites during commissioning.
- Develop detailed commissioning plans in advance of commissioning activities.
- Ensure documentation is complete, including LOTO procedures, work instructions, maintenance procedures, detailed plans, schedules, budgets, etc.
- Own scopes relative to engineering expertise.
- Lead safe startup practices so everyone gets home safe.
- Confirm proper installation and functionality of equipment. Lead specific activities on site during dry and wet commissioning.
- Lead ramping activities for assigned commissioning area(s).
- Ensure equipment is functional, including controls functionality.
- Train and hand over equipment to onsite operators and maintenance personnel.
- Serve as a technical expert to assist in process engineering after handover to operations as needed.
- Simplify commissioning procedures, then assist in building tools in MarianaOS to automate and scale.
- Document and share lessons learned so every site starts from a stronger playbook.
- Support design teams and projects at other sites between commissioning cycles.
- Contribute to design reviews and HazOps during the design phase.
- Travel up to 80%, including extended site assignments during onsite commissioning. Short-notice trips are possible. Between projects, work from a Mariana office or, preferably, an operating asset when needed.

## Requirements

- Bachelor’s degree or higher in chemical, mechanical, electrical, or a related engineering field preferred, or proven hands-on experience commissioning industrial systems.
- Hands-on commissioning experience on greenfield or new-plant startups, with deep expertise in electrical or mechanical systems and working knowledge of the other.
- Background in battery/EV, semiconductor, data centers, advanced manufacturing, or similar fast-paced industrial environments strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of equipment common in mining and/or refining and plant utilities.
- Ability to read and mark up single-lines, P&IDs, schematics, and mechanical drawings.
- Desire to help build a smart P&ID system.
- Preferred: PLC/controls and instrumentation startup experience, experience at a company that designs, installs, and commissions its own equipment, and comfort using AI tools to speed up your work.
- Collaborative by default. You share knowledge openly and make the team around you better.
- Strong safety mindset, with experience leading safe energization, LOTO, and startup practices (NFPA 70E).
- Valid driver’s license.

Safety Safety comes first on every project. You’ll model our site safety policies every day and help lead safe startup practices on site.

- Lead JHAs and LOTO for your commissioning scope, follow permit-to-work procedures, and participate in safety meetings, audits, and incident investigations.
- Participate in HazOps.
- Always wear proper PPE and complete all site safety training.

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

- Expect heavy on-site work, and extended or irregular hours during commissioning, followed by stretches of remote or office-based work.
- Active industrial and construction environments that involve standing, walking, climbing, and working in tight spaces for extended periods, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
- Noise, dust, outdoor work in varying weather, and remote site locations.

Our culture is built on four principles:

Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people. Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions. Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale. Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!

## About Mariana Minerals

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company focused on supplying the minerals critical to modern energy, AI, and defense technologies.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A, $85M funding in July 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Turner Caldwell (Co-Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Metal Ore Mining / Critical Minerals
- **Target customers**: B2B – energy, AI, and defense supply chains (including downstream manufacturers and government entities)
- **Mission or purpose**: "Create a future of critical mineral abundance" by reimagining the global minerals supply chain with software, automation, and data-driven decision making.

## Products & Services
- **Copper One (formerly Lisbon Valley Copper Mine)**: World’s first autonomous mine, located in Utah. Produces copper using integrated automation and software control. Restarted production in April 2026.
- **Lithium One**: Lithium project (on the roadmap or early development).
- **Other mineral projects**: Graphite, Uranium, Rare Earth Metals, Cobalt, Nickel, Aluminium – at various stages (stealth or roadmap).
- **CapitalProjectOS**: Internal software platform for capital project management (mentioned in leadership bio).
- **Technology Stack**: React, dbt, TypeScript, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, microservices, SCADA, Autodesk, and many others – indicating a strong software engineering backbone.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding – $85M Series A (July 2025, 1 investor)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Lead investor not publicly disclosed (Andreessen Horowitz was pitched but not confirmed as an investor). Partners include Bot Auto, WeRide, Pronto, Atoms (based on LinkedIn mentions). Also works with UMA (Utah Mining Association).
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 3,575% YoY to 107 employees (as of mid-2026). 73 active job postings. Opened the world’s first autonomous mine (Copper One) in April/May 2026, generating significant industry news and social media engagement.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Software-first approach**: The company builds automation and data systems from the ground up, rather than layering tech onto legacy mining operations. This enables fully autonomous mining.
- **Vertical integration**: They develop, own, and operate mineral projects, controlling the entire value chain from extraction to processing.
- **Deep tech stack**: Use of AI/ML (TensorFlow, PyTorch), simulation, and real-time control systems to optimize mining operations.
- **First-mover in autonomous mining**: Copper One is claimed to be the world’s first autonomous mine, giving them a significant lead in operational efficiency and safety.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale autonomous mining operations beyond copper (lithium, graphite, uranium, etc.)
- Secure domestic supply of critical minerals for U.S. energy, AI, and defense needs.
- Continue aggressive hiring across engineering, operations, and field roles.
- Expand from Utah to additional sites (Houston engineering office, potential new projects).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture principles**: "Extreme Ownership", "Engineer Out Requirements, Then Automate", "Share Your Legos" – emphasizing accountability, simplification, and collaboration.
- **Work environment**: High-growth startup with a mission-driven focus on critical infrastructure. Offices in San Francisco (HQ), Houston (Engineering), and La Sal, Utah (mine site). Hybrid/remote policy not explicitly stated, but multiple office locations suggest flexibility for field vs. office roles.
- **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI in a traditional industry. Strong engineering culture with modern tech stack (React, Python, ML). Rapid career growth due to company expansion.
- **Talent sources**: Attracts talent from Tesla, Redwood Materials, Lilac, ExxonMobil, Amazon Web Services, and other tech/energy companies – indicating a high-caliber peer group.

## Sources
1. [marianaminerals.com](https://marianaminerals.com/)
2. [marianaminerals.com/careers](https://marianaminerals.com/careers)
3. [marianaminerals.com/about](https://marianaminerals.com/about)
4. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals)
5. [linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals)

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- [Commercial Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-counsel-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-c0kbyd0vszp7) — San Francisco, CA
- [Maintenance Training Opportunities](https://feeny.ai/job/maintenance-training-opportunities-mariana-minerals-moab-sd5f5z532gz1) — Moab, UT
- [Production Planner](https://feeny.ai/job/production-planner-mariana-minerals-houston-xf1gadffk1h4) — Houston, TX
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