Civil/Structural Engineering SME (Subject Matter Expert)

Job description

Cyclic Materials is building a resilient circular supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials. Through our fully integrated proprietary technology platform, we recover rare earths from end-of-life products and transform them into high-purity materials used to produce new permanent magnets. These magnets are critical to the modern economy, underpinning AI, automotive, e-mobility, electronics, semiconductor, energy, defense, and other advanced manufacturing sectors. Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials has rapidly become a category leader in rare earth recovery, achieving commercial operations in less than five years. We currently operate facilities in Ontario and Arizona, with further expansion underway in South Carolina. Backed by investment accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., alongside strategic investors including Microsoft, Amazon, Hitachi Ventures, BMW i Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s InMotion fund, Energy Impact Partners, ArcTern Ventures, and Fifth Wall, we are scaling quickly and building the industrial backbone required to meet growing global demand for a secure and sustainable supply of rare earths. We have established an extensive and growing network of commercial partnerships with global industry leaders such as Solvay, Vattenfall, Lime, and VACUUMSCHMELZE, enabling the rapid deployment of recycled rare earth materials into real-world supply chains. Joining Cyclic Materials means tackling complex and exciting challenges at scale alongside a team committed to strong execution and measurable impact. If you are motivated by building critical infrastructure and advancing the circular economy, join us and help accelerate the growth of rare earth recycling. **Position Summary** The Civil/Structural Engineering SME operates within an Owner’s Team model as the internal Subject Matter Expert responsible for defining civil and structural engineering requirements and overseeing external design partners. This role focuses on reviewing and validating externally developed designs to ensure they are fit for purpose, meet specifications, and align with sound engineering principles and standards, while liaising with and holding external teams accountable for quality and performance. The Lead provides final technical review and sign-off, bringing deep expertise and experience to the role. This role is a key member of the owner’s engineering team and is accountable for ensuring that civil and structural design solutions are safe, practical, cost-effective, and aligned with project objectives, site conditions, and long-term operational requirements. The Civil/Structural Engineering Lead will work closely with internal project engineers and external engineering, EPCM, and specialist design partners to develop fit-for-purpose civil and structural designs that support project advancement through FEL-2, FEL-3, detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, and handover. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership across site development, grading, drainage, geotechnical interfaces, foundations, concrete, structural steel, buildings, equipment support structures, underground services, and plant infrastructure. This role also supports engineering governance, design reviews, risk management, constructability, and value improvement initiatives. This may also include overseeing and/or participating in all HAZOPS and subject matter regulatory reviews. **Key Responsibilities** - Lead civil and structural engineering activities for capital projects through FEL-2, FEL-3, and some FEL-4 execution planning. - Serve as the civil/structural engineering lead within Cyclic’s owner’s team, ensuring internal and external engineering deliverables meet project requirements, technical standards, and stage-gate expectations. - Manage and review the work of external engineering consultants, EP, EPC, EPCM and similar buildpartners, geotechnical consultants, surveyors, and specialist contractors for civil and structural scope. - Develop and maintain civil and structural design criteria, technical specifications, discipline standards, and required engineering deliverables to support project development and execution. - Provide technical leadership for civil and structural scope including site preparation, grading, roads, stormwater management, underground services, foundations, concrete structures, steel structures, pipe racks, equipment supports, buildings, retaining structures, and plant infrastructure. - Review and approve discipline deliverables such as basis of design documents, site layouts, grading and drainage plans, foundation design packages, structural calculations, concrete and steel drawings, material take-offs, and technical bid evaluations. - Coordinate civil and structural scope with process, mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation and controls, project controls, procurement, construction, and operations teams. - Ensure designs consider constructability, operability, maintainability, access, safety, modularization opportunities, and field execution constraints. - Participate in and lead civil/structural input into model reviews, design reviews, value engineering workshops, constructability reviews, hazard reviews, and project risk assessments. - Support development of project cost estimates and schedules by defining civil and structural scope, identifying quantities, construction approaches, long-lead requirements, and execution risks. - Review geotechnical data, site investigation findings, and survey information to ensure design assumptions are appropriate and project risks are identified and managed. - Support procurement and contracting activities including preparation of technical requisitions, scope packages, bid reviews, contractor clarifications, and recommendations for award. - Oversee civil and structural design change management and ensure changes are evaluated for technical, cost, schedule, and operational impacts. - Provide technical support during construction, including review of RFIs, field changes, non-conformance resolution, and coordination with construction management and contractors. - Support commissioning, start-up, and handover activities by ensuring civil and structural systems are delivered in accordance with design intent and operational requirements. - Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering standards, workflows, and project delivery practices across the capital projects organization. - Mentor junior and intermediate engineers and provide technical guidance to internal team members. - Perform other related duties as required. - Participate in leading the civil/structural project engineering team through project budget development, scope of work, WBS, schedule, commissioning plan, and estimating activities. **Qualifications** - Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering required, with Professional Engineer designation. - Minimum 15 years of progressive civil/structural engineering experience in industrial, process plant, mining, metals, chemical, recycling, clean technology, or other heavy industrial environments. - Demonstrated experience supporting medium- to large-scale capital projects through study phases, design development, and execution. - Experience working on owner’s teams and/or with EPCM firms on industrial capital projects. - Strong experience in front-end engineering, feasibility studies, design development, and execution support. - Experience with detailed engineering, contractor coordination, construction support, and commissioning is strongly preferred. - Familiarity with applicable civil, structural, and building codes, standards, and design practices relevant to industrial facilities. - Experience reviewing contractor and consultant deliverables, geotechnical reports, and vendor information associated with civil and structural scope. **Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies** - Strong knowledge of civil and structural engineering principles and industrial plant design practices. - Strong understanding of site development, grading, drainage, foundations, reinforced concrete, structural steel, buildings, and equipment support structures in industrial environments. - Ability to assess engineering deliverables for technical completeness, constructability, safety, operability, maintainability, and fit-for-purpose application. - Strong understanding of project delivery processes, stage-gate development, engineering assurance, and management of design and execution risk. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess technical trade-offs and support sound engineering decisions. - Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across concurrent projects. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills. - Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across internal teams and external partners. - Demonstrated leadership capability, including mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance of other engineers. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with engineering document management and project systems. - Ability to be flexible, agile, and able to pivot quickly in work execution approaches and delivery. **Preferred Experience** - Expertise in at least one of the following disciplines: hydrometallurgical, chemical processing, electrical, civil/structural, mechanical engineering, and/or recycling, critical minerals, metals refining, or similarly complex process-plant environments. - Experience with greenfield and brownfield industrial projects. - Experience with heavy foundations, equipment support structures, pipe racks, process buildings, and site infrastructure in plant environments. - Experience managing geotechnical, civil, and structural interfaces during project development and execution. - Familiarity with North American industrial codes, standards, and regulatory requirements. Pay Range $140,000—$180,000 CAD **Why You Will Love Cyclic Materials** - At Cyclic Materials, we're dedicated to supporting our workforce on their unique career journey - We offer a competitive compensation package including Health and Dental coverage, RRSP (Canada)/ 401K (USA) contributions and a generous paid time off program that lets you recharge - We value diversity and are committed to maintaining a workplace where everyone is respected and recognized for their contributions The base compensation offered is determined based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and competencies and considers internal equity. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Cyclic Materials is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals have an opportunity to succeed. If you require accommodation at any stage of the interview process, please email [HumanResources@cyclicmaterials.earth](mailto:HumanResources@cyclicmaterials.earth). Applicants for roles in Canada or the United States must be authorized to work in the applicable country without current or future sponsorship from Cyclic Materials, including for an H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN, L1-A visa, or any other non-immigrant status. To all applicants, your interest and effort are sincerely appreciated. While we thank everyone for their application, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.