---
title: 'Sr. Analytical Chemist at Solcoa Industries'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-analytical-chemist-solcoa-industries-alameda-vbsjvdmdz5tg'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-03'
---

# Sr. Analytical Chemist at Solcoa Industries

- **Company:** Solcoa Industries
- **Location:** Alameda, CA
- **Compensation:** $120k–$175k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/solcoa/c10caaf2-6a23-4dd2-94f2-1e65a922ca89

## 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

We’re hiring a Sr. Analytical Chemist to operate our analytical instruments and characterize rare earth materials. You’ll prepare and analyze oxide feedstocks, process intermediates, metals, alloys and powders, and report results to our research and production teams. This is a hands-on laboratory role focused on sample preparation, instrument operation, routine maintenance and accurate, repeatable measurements. Our analytical tools include ICP-OES, ICP-MS, SEM-EDX, particle size analysis, XRD and inert gas fusion (IGF). This is a full-time, on-site position in Alameda, California.

## What you’ll do

- Operate ICP-OES and ICP-MS to measure rare earth content, metallic impurities and product purity using established methods; help improve methods as needed.
- Prepare samples and standards, including representative sampling, digestion and dilution. Control contamination and oxidation when handling reactive metals and powders.
- Use SEM-EDX to investigate morphology and elemental distribution, XRD to identify crystalline phases, and particle size analysis to characterize powder distributions.
- Measure oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen using inert gas fusion, with sample preparation and calibration appropriate to the material and instrument.
- Run quality controls using blanks, reference materials, calibration checks, spikes and duplicates. Review results against method acceptance criteria and investigate matrix effects, interferences and unexpected readings.
- Maintain and troubleshoot instruments, track performance, and coordinate service and consumables to keep the lab running reliably.
- Work with research and production teams to investigate unexpected results, identify contamination sources, close elemental balances and improve product consistency.
- Write SOPs, maintain traceable sample and data records, and prepare clear analytical reports for process development, product qualification and quality control.
- Maintain safe practices for acids, reactive powders, compressed gases and laboratory waste, and train teammates on established methods.

## What you bring

Required

- BS or higher in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Materials Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Typically 4+ years of relevant analytical laboratory experience. Substantial hands-on graduate research counts.
- Strong hands-on experience operating ICP-OES or ICP-MS, including sample preparation, calibration, routine maintenance and troubleshooting.
- A rigorous approach to analytical quality: you can distinguish a material problem from a sampling, preparation or measurement problem.
- Ability to interpret data, document methods and explain results clearly to engineers and production teams.
- Ability to follow SOPs, manage a daily sample queue and adapt to changing research and production priorities.

## Preferred

- Experience with rare earths, high-purity metals, inorganic materials, mining, metallurgy or advanced materials manufacturing.
- Hands-on experience with SEM-EDX/EDS, XRD, particle size analysis or IGF/LECO O/N/H systems.
- Experience with difficult inorganic digestions, trace impurity analysis, air-sensitive materials or glovebox handling.
- Familiarity with laboratory quality systems, customer qualification testing, or data analysis using Python, spreadsheets or LIMS.

## Compensation & benefits

- Base salary within the posted range, based on relevant experience, analytical expertise and scope of responsibility.
- Comprehensive medical, 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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