Staff Piping Engineer at Mariana Minerals (Houston, TX)Staff Piping Engineer

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 are hiring a Staff Piping Engineer to build and lead the piping discipline behind our refining and minerals processing facilities. You will split your time between acting as an owner’s engineer – defining standards and managing contractors' piping engineering – and performing piping engineering work personally. You'll work with piping designers to deliver small- to large-scale projects across a full range of operating conditions. You will also work with our software teams to build tools to accelerate the delivery of piping designs.

• Manage piping engineering across all project scopes including, from small brownfield modifications to major greenfield facilities
• Load-balance work across concurrent projects, hold the schedule for piping deliverables, and coach designers through the work
• Attract non-conventional engineering talent to piping design and engineering positions to develop advanced automation solutions

Develop engineering workflows and standards

• Develop and implement the piping design workflow itself: the path from P&ID to IFC, what gets checked at each gate, and who signs off
• Develop piping related standards, templates and specifications
• Automate the repetitive work with our software team: model-to-stress data exchange, spec-driven checks, quantity reporting, and QC scripting

Own the engineering and stress scope

• Own the pipe stress program: set the criteria, decide which lines are critical, and approve every package
• Direct dynamic analyses, including slug flow, water hammer, relief valve transients, and vibration
• Own piping material specifications, valve specs, and engineering standards, including material selection for hydromet, pyromet, and reagent services
• Design and specify pipe supports, guides, anchors, expansion joints, and specialty components, and own the support detail standards
• Ensure all piping systems comply with ASME B31.3 and B31.1, where applicable
• Drive piping procurement and support construction and commissioning, covering bulk material strategy, long-lead valves and specialty items, field RFIs, redlines, and as-built model closeout

• 10+ years in piping design and engineering, delivered in an EPC, EPCM, or owner capital projects environment
• Direct experience leading piping engineering teams, including contractor oversight
• Track record building piping design workflows and standards
• Strong pipe stress background in CAESAR II
• Deep working knowledge of ASME B31.3, including allowable load definition and nozzle load evaluation
• Experience developing piping material and valve specifications and pipe support design criteria
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field

• Professional Engineer (PE) license, or the ability to obtain one
• Mining, mineral processing, metallurgical, chemical, or heavy industrial facility experience
• Experience with slurry, reagent, and high-temperature piping, including refractory-lined, lined, and non-metallic systems
• Experience with scripting or model-based design automation

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!