Careers
Still Bright is looking for the brightest talent to help us power a faster, cleaner, and more abundant and economic copper supply. With support from globally recognized partners and advisors, we’re building a team capable of revolutionizing the global metals supply chain.
Still Bright is a seed-stage, deep-technology startup dedicated to solving the world's critical copper shortfall. The transition to a sustainable economy depends on a massive expansion of copper supply, yet traditional extraction methods are struggling to keep pace and face significant environmental and permitting challenges.
Our proprietary hydrometallurgical process is designed to improve copper yields at currently producing mines as well as unlock vast, untapped copper resources. It can economically process low-grade ores, complex orebodies (including arsenic-laden ore), and mining waste streams that are unviable for conventional smelting. As a closed-loop system, our technology offers precise control over all outputs, minimizing environmental impact and radically reducing the risk of acid mine drainage.
Backed by top-tier investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Material Impact, our team is moving from designing and executing its pilot and is preparing the next stages of commercial deployment.
Open Positions
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Reports to: Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Salary range: $162,000 - $183,000
Competitive BenefitsPosition Summary
The Director of Hydrometallurgy is accountable for executing Still Bright’s hydrometallurgical strategy and delivering the experimental, technical, and team outcomes required for successful pilot operation, scale-up, and feedstock diversification. This role serves as the technical owner
of hydrometallurgical performance through integrated pilot execution, translating laboratory insight into reliable system-level operation and enabling the transition toward demonstration and commercial deployment.
Working in close alignment with the CTO, the Director independently drives execution, leads and develops a high-performing team, manages consultants and external partners, mitigates technical and operational risks, and ensures environmental and ethical responsibility. The Director defines operating envelopes, guides commissioning and troubleshooting, and makes data-driven decisions that determine pilot readiness and scale-up direction.
A successful individual brings deep industrial metallurgy experience combined with demonstrated success translating bench-scale innovation into pilot-scale reality, coordinating across electrochemistry, controls, and mine-site integration to deliver a functioning end-to-end system. Through strong ownership and delivery of major objectives, this role directly advances Still Bright’s mission to transform copper production.
Key Responsibilities
● Collaborate with company leadership to design and execute hydrometallurgy research to achieve company objectives.
● Manage a team of highly qualified engineers in the scaling and validation of Still Bright’s integrated hydrometallurgical copper extraction process.
● Predict metallurgical and chemical challenges and opportunities for different feedstock opportunities as well as upstream and downstream mining processes.
● Act as a resident expert for the business and technical teams on all things copper processing, using this knowledge to help integrate Still Bright’s novel technology seamlessly with mining operations and typical processing considerations.
● Uphold excellence in experimentation plans, laboratory procedures and safety, and research records. Working mostly in-person will be required to ensure proper oversight of laboratory work, and some in-lab support may be needed.
● Lead technical readiness and execution of integrated pilot campaigns, including commissioning, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
● Define operating parameters, control strategies, and process stability criteria required for sustained pilot operation.
● Own go/no-go technical decisions related to pilot configuration, feedstock suitability, and scale-up risk.
Qualifications & Experience
Core Competencies:
● Bachelor's degree in metallurgy, geology, chemical engineering, or a related field.
● Minimum of 10 years of industrial experience, including 1-2 years at the Director level or 3-4 years at the manager level, in process engineering within the mining or metallurgy industry.
● Excellent understanding of copper mineralogy and processing, especially hydrometallurgical methods and emerging technologies.
○ Additional consideration granted for those with experience managing copper ore impurities like arsenic, bismuth, gold, etc.
● Strong understanding of mineral characterization, both traditional and emerging techniques.
● Fantastic research skills, keen sense for effective experimentation and analysis protocol.
● Sophisticated communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
● Some travel will be required for pilot testing.
Strongly Preferred Experience:
● Direct experience with pilot-plant or demonstration-scale metallurgical systems, including commissioning, operation, and troubleshooting.
● Proven track record translating bench-scale results into pilot-scale performance.
● Experience integrating multiple unit operations into a continuous or semi-continuous process.
● Familiarity with process controls, instrumentation, and real-time performance monitoring.
● Experience working at or alongside operating mine sites or industrial processing facilities.
Nice-to-Have:
● Leadership of a pilot campaign through sustained operation or scale-up decision milestones.
● Contribution to demo-plant design, studies, or commercial deployment readiness.
Experience Track for Director of Hydrometallurgy
● 1-2 years of experience at a Director level
This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties
and responsibilities of the position. Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
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Reports to: Director of Hydrometallurgy
Salary Range: $134,415 – $148,835
Competitive BenefitsRole Description
The Senior Feedstock Engineer will collaborate with the Still Bright team to execute research projects related to hydrometallurgical copper extraction, metal co-product recovery, feedstock diversification, and process integration.
A successful individual in this role will bring industrial metallurgy experience to conduct research and testing to help seamlessly integrate Still Bright’s revolutionary process into industrial mining infrastructure. The individual should also have deep knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety and characterization processes. As a senior engineer, work is expected to be primarily self-directed with approval and collaboration from the Director of Hydrometallurgy.What You’ll Do
Design and execute experiments related to co-product recovery for Still Bright’s hydrometallurgical copper extraction process.
Complete characterization for co-product recovery including XRD, SEM, XRF, QEMSCAN, ICP-MS, and Fire Assay.
Collaborate with other engineers, Director of Hydrometallurgy, and CTO to ensure your work is informed by other company directives and in line with hydrometallurgy objectives.
Collaborate with VP of Commercialization and CTO to deliver reports for government agencies.
Direct an engineering firm to execute testwork related to co-product recovery.
Identify potential risks and challenges associated with the design and implementation of the new process, and develop strategies to mitigate them effectively.
Maintain detailed documentation of research work and results.
What We Hope You’ll Bring
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related field.
5-7 years of experience in metallurgy or related field
OR Ph.D. or master’s degree in related field PLUS remaining years equivalent experience.
Proven experience in research design, execution, and analysis.
Knowledge of relevant metals extraction industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
Demonstrated expertise in solid, liquid, and gaseous phase characterization techniques
This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties
and responsibilities of the position. Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
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Reports to: VP of Commercialization
Direct Collaboration with Chief Technology Office (CTO)
Salary Range: $156,000 – $176,000
Competitive BenefitsPosition Summary
As the Lead Process Modeling Engineer, you sit at the heart of our commercial strategy. Reporting to the VP of Commercialization and working regularly with the CTO, you will bridge the gap between our proprietary processing methods and the customer's mine site. You will own the "Digital Twin" of our process, using SysCAD or other plant simulation software along with our TEA and LCA to prove the value proposition of Still Bright to global mining companies. Finding methods to advance our value proposition is a key expectation for the role.
Key Responsibilities
● Model Ownership: Maintain and evolve high-fidelity plant simulation models. Manage third-party consultants to ensure models accurately reflect the chemistry of our closed-loop system.
● Commercial Strategy: Work with the VP of Commercialization to craft customer-specific value propositions. You will transform raw feedstock data into detailed economic and environmental projections.
● Feedstock-to-Process Tooling: Build and lead a proprietary model that ingests complex mineralogical data and determines the optimized process configuration for that specific feedstock.
● LCA & TEA Leadership: Quantify our cost savings and value addition by leading Life Cycle Assessments and Technoeconomic Analysis to show customers and regulators the precise reduction in carbon intensity and waste.
● R&D Feedback Loop: Collaborate with the CTO to use modeling results to guide process improvements, ensuring our technology remains the most economic solution for copper extraction.
Must Haves (Required Qualifications)
● Process Simulation Mastery: 5+ years of experience with process simulation software (SysCAD, or equivalent like METSIM/HSC)
● Technoeconomic Modeling Know-How: Ability to project process economics using process simulation and process data.
● Commercial Mindset: Ability to translate complex engineering simulations into clear, persuasive business cases for customers.
● Technical Breadth: Deep understanding of industrial chemistry, mass/energy balances, and chemical thermodynamics.
● Education: B.S. or M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy, or a related field.
Nice to Haves (Preferred Qualifications)
● Advanced Degree: PhD in a relevant field with a focus on process optimization or electrochemical systems.
● LCA Proficiency: Practical experience utilizing Life Cycle Assessments to quantify environmental footprints.
● Industry Network: Experience interacting with mining majors or environmental permitting agencies.
● Coding Skills: Proficiency in Python for automating data
This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties
and responsibilities of the position. Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
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Reports to: Senior Electrochemical Engineer
Salary range: $30/hr
Project Description: Ruggedize and Increase Standards on Data Acquisition System
The instrumentation & controls intern will lead efforts to improve and standardize the team's existing data acquisition (DAQ) infrastructure. This includes assessing the current sensor and equipment setup against industrial standards, designing hardware improvements, procuring and assembling ruggedized enclosures, and producing thorough technical documentation to ensure repeatability and long-term usability.
What You'll Do:
The internship is structured around a single, meaningful challenge: taking our existing data acquisition system and bringing it up to industrial standards.
You'll start by getting deep into our current setup, learning what sensors and equipment we use, how data flows through the system, and where it falls short. From there, you’ll develop a concrete plan for improvement, including a Bill of Materials and design review with the team.
The back half of the summer is hands-on: procuring components, building two ruggedized hardware rigs, and working with low-code tools like Node-RED or LJLogM to tie the software side together. You'll wrap up by writing the technical manual for everything you've built and validating that it all works reliably. At the end of this internship, you’re leaving behind something the team can actually use.
What You'll Bring:
Entering junior or senior year of a Bachelor of Science/Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering or a similar field
Familiarity with sensors, signal conditioning, and data acquisition concepts
Comfort working with low-code or visual programming environments (e.g., Node-RED, LabJack tools, or similar)
Strong attention to detail and ability to document work clearly for technical and non-technical audiences
Ability to work hands-on in a lab/pilot environment, including assembling enclosures and wiring hardware
Self-starter mentality with the ability to manage milestones independently in a fast-paced startup environment
Interest in clean energy, sustainable materials, or industrial electrochemistry is a plus
This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties
and responsibilities of the position. Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
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Reports to: Electrochemical Engineer III
Salary range: $30/hr
Project Description: Core Data Analysis and Electrochemistry Laboratory Workflows
The electrochemistry intern will play a hands-on role in keeping the team's experimental infrastructure running smoothly. This means learning to build and operate mini electrolyzers, performing routine chemical titrations, maintaining stock solutions, and supporting the team's ongoing electrolyzer experiments. This is critical work that directly enables the team's research velocity.
What You'll Do:
The internship is structured around two complementary pillars: keeping the lab stocked and functional, and generating reliable analytical data.
You'll start by learning how to build, leak-test, and performance-test mini electrolyzers, then move on to mastering the preparation of all required stock solutions and titration reagents. From there, you'll take ownership of the team's titration workflow by regularly analyzing vanadium species, iron, and free acid concentrations to support ongoing experiments.
The bulk of the summer is about execution and consistency: maintaining a supply of more than 10 functional mini electrolyzers, keeping stock solutions replenished, and delivering accurate titration data on an ongoing basis. You'll also assist with — and occasionally lead — mini electrolyzer experiments, with the opportunity to contribute input on experimental design and parameters. At the end of this internship, you're leaving behind something real: a robust, tested fleet of mini electrolyzers and analytical records that will help shape our future R&D efforts.
What You'll Bring:
Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field (junior or senior preferred)
Familiarity with basic wet chemistry techniques, including titrations and solution preparation
Comfort working carefully and methodically in a lab environment, including handling concentrated acids and electrochemical equipment
Strong attention to detail and ability to record and report data clearly and consistently
Ability to work hands-on in a lab setting, including assembling hardware and performing repetitive analytical tasks with precision
Self-starter mentality with the ability to manage recurring responsibilities independently in a fast-paced startup environment
Interest in clean energy, electrochemistry, or sustainable materials is a plus
This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties
and responsibilities of the position. Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
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Reports to: Senior Hydrometallurgy Engineer
Salary range: $30/hr
Project Description: Investigation of Vanadium Oxidation Chemistry and Reactivity with Copper-based Feedstocks
The hydrometallurgy intern will conduct a structured laboratory investigation into vanadium redox chemistry, specifically, the oxidation of V(IV) to V(V) and how V(V) species interact with copper-based feedstocks under processing-relevant conditions. The findings will directly inform Still Bright's process model and deepen the team's understanding of co-product behavior in our hydrometallurgical system. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of climate tech and contribute to the success of a pioneering startup.
A successful individual in this role will bring strong wet lab skills and a rigorous, methodical approach to experimental design and data analysis. They will be a part of a high-performing team, manage their own research milestones, and contribute meaningfully to the company's mission of revolutionizing metals production.
What You'll Do:
The internship is structured around a single, well-defined scientific challenge: understanding how vanadium behaves in our system, and what that means for process design.
You'll start with a literature review of V(IV)/V(V) redox chemistry, vanadium speciation, and reactivity — building the conceptual foundation you'll need before running a single experiment. From there, you'll develop a detailed experimental matrix and validate your methods before diving into the lab work.
The core of the summer splits into two connected studies. First, you'll systematically investigate what conditions — oxidant type, pH, temperature, reaction time — drive efficient oxidation of V(IV) to V(V), identifying the parameters that matter most. Then, you'll take that V(V) and study how it interacts with copper based feedstocks. You'll analyze both liquid and solid phases using ICP, XRD, XRF, and SEM/EDS to build a complete picture. At the end of the internship, you'll present your mechanistic interpretation and recommendations to the full Still Bright team — leaving behind a body of experimental work that shapes how we think about vanadium in the process.
What You'll Bring:
Entering junior or senior year of a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
Minimum of 1 year of experience conducting experiments in a wet laboratory environment
Experience with rigorous data analysis in Excel or related software and presenting results clearly
Familiarity with the operation and principles of chemical characterization equipment such as XRF, XRD, SEM/EDS, or ICP-MS
Basic understanding of redox chemistry, vanadium speciation, or hydrometallurgical methods
Self-starter mentality with the ability to manage a multi-week experimental workplan independently in a fast-paced startup environment
Interest in clean energy or sustainable materials is a plus
This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties
and responsibilities of the position. Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
Fair hiring practices
Still Bright prioritizes the well-being of our employees, customers, and communities, and works to create a positive impact on the world through our business practices. We especially encourage applicants from historically marginalized communities to join our mission of sustainable metals extraction.
Still Bright maintains blind applicant screening processes and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.