
Technical Recruiter at Solcoa Industries (Alameda, CA)
Solcoa Industries· Alameda, CA· $120k–$160k·
Role details
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
The Technical Recruiter will be responsible for identifying, engaging, and hiring top talent across our engineering, process, and technical operations teams. You'll partner closely with our founders to scale a world-class team during a pivotal growth period as we commission our first plant. This role requires a strong executor with experience recruiting for technical and manufacturing roles, exceptional relationship-building skills, and a track record of closing highly competitive candidates in specialized, hard-to-fill functions.
What You’ll Do
- Partner with founders and hiring managers to define roles, candidate profiles and interview criteria.
- Source and engage candidates across engineering, chemistry, metallurgy and plant operations.
- Own searches from initial outreach through screening, interviews, offer negotiation and close.
- Build pipelines for current openings and future hiring needs.
- Keep candidates informed and ensure timely feedback and decisions.
- Own Ashby workflows and reporting; use hiring results and market insights to improve sourcing, compensation decisions and offer acceptance.
What You Bring
Required
- Technical recruiting experience in a startup, in-house manufacturing environment or recruiting agency (focused on technical recruiting).
- Proven success hiring for technical roles (e.g., process engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, metallurgy, operators, and technicians).
- Strong ability to partner with and influence founders, engineering leaders, and technical stakeholders.
- Solid understanding of technical roles, skill sets, and hiring landscapes in hard tech or advanced manufacturing.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to assess technical talent and calibrate effectively with hiring teams.
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple searches in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
- Data-driven mindset with a focus on delivering results.
Preferred
- Experience recruiting in rare earths, metallurgy, recycling, battery materials, or semiconductor industries.
- Experience recruiting hourly/non-exempt operators and technicians in addition to engineering roles.
- Experience building recruiting and TA processes at an early stage company.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary.
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance.
- Company-provided lunch daily.
- Visa sponsorship available if needed.
Why work at Solcoa Industries
- 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.