---
title: 'Machinist (CNC & Manual) at Solcoa Industries'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/machinist-cnc-manual-solcoa-industries-alameda-qeanyk8p8kg8'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-20'
---

# Machinist (CNC & Manual) at Solcoa Industries

- **Company:** Solcoa Industries
- **Location:** Alameda, CA
- **Compensation:** $90k–$145k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-20
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/solcoa/a306a03b-5cf5-4fbb-83c4-53c83ea88ceb

## Job description

Making the Metals Powering the World Solcoa is building the next generation of American metalmaking, starting with rare earths — the metals of power and motion. We've developed a new chemistry that converts rare earth oxides into high-purity metals — the materials inside every EV, fighter jet, wind turbine, and data center — cleaner, cheaper, and faster than any conventional process. Now we're scaling it to thousands of tonnes of annual production.

## The Role — Machinist (CNC & Manual)

Own the machine shop. You'll turn prints and sketches from our engineers into finished parts—same-day when it matters—machining components for reactors, furnaces, fixtures, and prototype hardware that goes straight onto the plant floor. You'll set the standard for precision, throughput, and shop discipline as we scale from pilot plant to production.

## What You'll Do

- Machine parts from prints and CAD models on CNC and manual mills and lathes—stainless, carbon steel, aluminum, copper, graphite, and specialty alloys.
- Program, set up, and run CNC jobs (Fusion 360 / Mastercam or similar CAM); select tooling, speeds, and feeds for one-offs and small batches.
- Hold tight tolerances and verify dimensions with calipers, micrometers, gauges, and indicators; document inspection results.
- Turn around quick-turn prototype and repair work for R&D and plant operations—often same day.
- Design and build fixtures, jigs, and tooling that make the whole shop faster.
- Work with engineers on design-for-manufacturability; mark up drawings and feed back improvements.
- Maintain the shop: machine upkeep, tooling inventory, organization, and safety practices for hot work and rotating equipment.

## What You Bring

Required

- 3+ years machining experience with proven skill on both CNC and manual mills and lathes.
- Ability to program CNC toolpaths (conversational or CAM) and to read and interpret GD&T on mechanical drawings.
- Experience machining stainless and specialty alloys to tight tolerances.
- Disciplined, reliable execution—on spec, on time, with excellent documentation.
- Comfort working independently in a fast-paced, hardware-first environment.
- Availability to start soon.

## Preferred

- Experience supporting R&D or prototype shops where requirements change daily.
- TIG welding and general fabrication ability.
- Experience with graphite, refractory metals, or vacuum/furnace components.
- CAD proficiency (SolidWorks, Fusion 360) for simple part and fixture design.

## Compensation & Benefits

- Competitive base salary
- Equity (stock options)
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Company-provided lunch daily
- Visa sponsorship available if needed

## About Solcoa Industries

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Solcoa Industries converts end-of-life magnets and magnet production waste from EVs, data centers, wind turbines, and defense directly into high-purity rare earth metals in America, bypassing the traditional Chinese supply chain.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Angel-backed startup)
- **Headquarters**: Alameda, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Hooman Reza Nezhad (Co-founder, CEO) and Artem Iurkovskyi (Co-founder, CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Rare earth metals recycling and manufacturing; critical minerals supply chain.
- **Target customers**: B2B – OEMs, magnet producers, defense contractors, and supply chain partners in EV, renewable energy, data center, and aerospace sectors.
- **Mission**: “Bring rare earths home” – establish a domestic, carbon-zero source of rare earth metals to reduce Western dependence on China.

## Products & Services
- **NdPr Metal Alloy (Sample E-44-3)**: High-purity neodymium-praseodymium metal derived directly from scrap magnets. Available now for testing and production trials.
- **Heavy Rare Earths**: Coming soon.
- **SWARF Processing**: Conversion of magnet cutting waste (swarf) directly into magnet-ready metal.
- **Primary Oxides Processing**: Metal production from refined oxides.
- **Scrap Magnet Procurement**: Solcoa sources end-of-life magnets as feedstock, offering a demagnetization line and on-site storage.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly available.
- **Key Metric**: Total funding undisclosed; backed by “Strategic Angels across defense, robotics, and…” (no named investors disclosed).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Strategic angel investors in defense and robotics; partnerships with OEMs and magnet producers (not named).
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Active 35,000 sqft production facility in Alameda
  - 10 tonnes-per-annum REE metal production line under construction (current line: 3 tpa)
  - 8 employees with 9 open positions – headcount growth expected
  - Stated goal: “scale to meet one-third of US demand”

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary process**: Solcoa is one of the only companies in the world that converts magnet waste directly into magnet-ready metal, bypassing the intermediate steps that typically require China.
- **Faster, cleaner, cheaper**: Claims to be faster, cleaner, and cheaper than conventional processes.
- **In-house capabilities**: Full metallurgical lab, analytical equipment (ICP-OES, SEM-EDS, LECO), high-temperature furnaces, and fabrication tools – all under one roof.
- **National security angle**: Reduces US reliance on Chinese rare earth supply, a critical geopolitical moat.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale production**: Ramping up to a 10-tpa line and expanding the Alameda facility.
- **New chemistries**: Developing entirely new processes for rare earth metal production in America.
- **Talent acquisition**: Hiring engineers, R&D technicians, plant operators, and procurement specialists to build a world-class team.
- **Customer engagement**: Offering metal samples and production trials to OEMs and magnet producers.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Small, obsessive team (8 people) solving a deeply technical and mission-critical problem. Described as “truly obsessive people working on what might be the most important industrial problem of our time.”
- **Work model**: On-site in SF Bay Area (Alameda) – all current roles require physical presence.
- **Compensation**: Highly competitive base salaries ($100K–$350K for engineering roles), stock options, and strong benefits.
- **Impact**: Direct contribution to Western industrial independence and climate goals (carbon-zero metals).
- **Engineering focus**: Heavy emphasis on metallurgy, process engineering, and high-temperature chemistry; chance to build from scratch.

## Sources
1. [solcoaindustries.com](https://solcoaindustries.com/)
2. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/solcoa](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/solcoa)
3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/solcoaindustries)
4. [solcoaindustries.com/team](https://www.solcoaindustries.com/team)
5. [solcoaindustries.com/capabilities](https://www.solcoaindustries.com/capabilities)

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