Cofounder + CTO, Sovereign Materials

11 hours ago

Houston, Texas, United States Interplay Full time $180,000 - $220,000 per year

Location: Central Texas
Company: Sovereign Materials — Recycled American Rare Earths

The Opportunity

We are launching a venture to commercialize clean, short-loop hydrometallurgical technology to establish a fully circular, non-foreign source of high-purity separated Rare Earth Oxides (REOs). We aim to secure rights to a process for recovering strategic REOs directly from industrial swarf and end-of-life magnets.

Sovereign Materials is a new force in the critical minerals industry, dedicated to ending U.S. dependence on hostile foreign powers for strategic materials while achieving high returns on equity.

As the Technical Co-founder and CTO, you will be the absolute technical authority for the company. Your mission is to rapidly ID and transition a proven US-developed process into a secure, modular, and highly profitable industrial platform (through licensing IP). You will manage the entire technical roadmap from Modular MVP commissioning to full commercial rollout, targeting 1,000 TPA capacity.

Responsibilities

  • Lead technical due diligence, assessment, and commercial negotiation for licensing core rare-earth separation technologies (e.g., CMI's Electrochemically Driven Dissolution, ReElement's process, Geomega's ISR).

  • Translate licensed protocols into a robust, industrial-scale, continuous process-flow design with detailed mass and energy balances, focused on REE separation.

  • Serve as the internal expert on electrochemical process optimization, hydrometallurgy (wet chemistry), and REE separation (e.g., solvent extraction or ion exchange).

  • Lead EPC management for the initial Modular Commercial Plant (Phase I MVP), ensuring the 50–100 TPA facility is delivered on time and within budget.

  • Define technical requirements and the CAPEX strategy for the subsequent 1,000+ TPA commercial facility (Phase II), optimizing for cost efficiency and modularity.

  • Drive continuous improvement to maximize REE yield, minimize liquid/chemical waste, and reduce energy consumption.

  • Select and manage key equipment suppliers (e.g., electrochemical cell manufacturers, solvent-extraction mixer-settlers, high-purity processing systems).

  • Establish rigorous QA/QC protocols and in-house lab capabilities (e.g., ICP-MS or XRF) to verify the purity of incoming feedstock (swarf/e-waste) and the ultra-high purity (99.99%) of the final separated rare-earth oxides (REOs) against defense and industry requirements.

  • Develop and enforce strict safety standards for industrial electrochemical cells, concentrated electrolytes, and chemical processing; ensure compliance with all applicable codes.

  • Ensure all processing and waste streams comply with stringent environmental regulations (e.g., RCRA in the U.S.), leveraging the "green premium" of the licensed technology.

  • Present technical progress, risks, and milestones clearly to the board, investors, and strategic partners (DoD, DOE grant programs).

Required Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (preferred) or Extractive Metallurgy with a focus on advanced separation techniques. Requires 7+ years in industrial electrochemical scale-up.

  • Minimum 10 years of progressive experience, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role (VP or Director) within high-value industrial chemical processing, rare-earth, or specialty-chemicals environments.

  • Expert-level, verifiable experience designing and scaling industrial electrochemical and/or hydrometallurgical processes (e.g., solvent extraction or ion exchange).

  • Proven experience managing and successfully commissioning at least one multi-million-dollar CAPEX project (e.g., new production line, facility expansion, major process upgrade).

  • Expert knowledge of industrial safety protocols related to concentrated chemical processing and high-purity chemical handling.

  • Bias to action—you're more of a doer than a researcher and not beholden to perfection.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Direct experience with rare-earth elements or the high-purity chemical segment of the magnet value chain.

  • Familiarity with government funding applications (e.g., DOE grants, DPA Title III).

  • Experience in a venture-backed startup or small, highly dynamic team.

  • Senior Web3 Institutional Sales Executive

    13 hours ago

    Houston, Texas, United States Launch Legends Full time $2,000,000 - $4,000,000 per year

    Shape the Future of Blockchain—Bringing Business On-ChainWe're offering a unique opportunity to join Launch Legends (and Autheo) as a part-time Equity Cofounder. Founded nearly four years ago, Launch Legends is at the forefront of bridging Web3 blockchain technology with the next evolution of Web2 integration—bringing businesses on-chain through...

  • Executive Assistant

    22 hours ago

    Houston, Texas, United States AP MAX INC Full time $80,000 - $120,000 per year

    Job SummaryWe are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Executive Assistant to support the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Allia Health Group. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with exceptional communication skills, capable of managing complex tasks in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. You will serve as a key support...

  • Research Regulatory Specialist Sr

    5 days ago

    Houston, Texas, United States Medical College of Wisconsin Full time $64,300 - $81,400 per year

    Research Regulatory Specialist Sr - 100% RemoteRequisition ID #: 36369Job Category: ResearchEmployment Type: Full TimeExperience Level: Experienced (non-manager)City, State: Remote (WI, AZ, FL, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, TN, TX, UT)Work Location: Clinical Cancer CenterDepartment: Cancer CenterEducation: Bachelors DegreePosition Description:The Medical...

  • Executive Assistant

    14 hours ago

    Houston, Texas, United States Beovexis Full time $100,000 - $120,000 per year

    About the job Executive Assistant Job Description The Executive Assistant to the Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) provides high-level, confidential administrative support to the office of the CPTO. Duties may be clerical, administrative and project-based and include scheduling travel, arranging meetings, handling information requests, preparing...

  • Houston Business Performance Improvement

    2 weeks ago

    Houston, Texas, United States Protiviti Full time $172,000 - $294,640 per year

    JOB REQUISITIONHouston Business Performance Improvement - Supply Chain & Operations Associate DirectorLOCATIONHOUSTONADDITIONAL LOCATION(S)JOB DESCRIPTIONYou Belong HereThe Protiviti Career provides opportunity to learn, inspire, and advance within a collaborative and inclusive culture. We hire curious individuals for whom learning is a passion. We lean into...

  •  VP of Ecosystem — Autheo Layer-0 | Developer, Partner

    6 days ago

    Houston, United States Launch Legends Full time

    Shape the Future of Blockchain—Bringing Business On-Chain We’re offering a unique opportunity to join Launch Legends (and Autheo) as a part-time Equity Cofounder. Founded nearly four years ago, Launch Legends is at the forefront of bridging Web3 blockchain technology with the next evolution of Web2 integration—bringing businesses on-chain through...

  • Patent Illustrator

    13 hours ago

    Houston, United States Launch Legends Full time

    Shape the Future of Blockchain—Bringing Business On-Chain We’re offering a unique opportunity to join Launch Legends (and Autheo) as a part-time Equity Cofounder. Founded nearly four years ago, Launch Legends is at the forefront of bridging Web3 blockchain technology with the next evolution of Web2 integration—bringing businesses on-chain through...

  • Senior QA UI/UX Engineer

    2 weeks ago

    Houston, United States Launch Legends Full time

    Shape the Future of Blockchain—Bringing Business On-Chain We’re offering a unique opportunity to join Launch Legends (and Autheo) as a part-time Equity Cofounder. Founded nearly four years ago, Launch Legends is at the forefront of bridging Web3 blockchain technology with the next evolution of Web2 integration—bringing businesses on-chain through...

  • Senior QA Perfomance and Load Testing Engineer

    2 weeks ago

    Houston, TX, United States Launch Legends Full time

    Shape the Future of Blockchain—Bringing Business On-Chain We’re offering a unique opportunity to join Launch Legends (and Autheo) as a part-time Equity Cofounder. Founded nearly four years ago, Launch Legends is at the forefront of bridging Web3 blockchain technology with the next evolution of Web2 integration—bringing businesses on-chain through...

  • VP of Exchanges

    4 days ago

    Houston, United States Launch Legends Full time

    Shape the Future of Blockchain—Bringing Business On-Chain We’re offering a unique opportunity to join Launch Legends (and Autheo) as a part-time Equity Cofounder. Founded nearly four years ago, Launch Legends is at the forefront of bridging Web3 blockchain technology with the next evolution of Web2 integration—bringing businesses on-chain through...

  • Senior QA UI/UX Engineer

    2 weeks ago

    Houston, TX, United States Launch Legends Full time

    Shape the Future of Blockchain—Bringing Business On-Chain We’re offering a unique opportunity to join Launch Legends (and Autheo) as a part-time Equity Cofounder. Founded nearly four years ago, Launch Legends is at the forefront of bridging Web3 blockchain technology with the next evolution of Web2 integration—bringing businesses on-chain through...

  • Sr. Accountant

    3 weeks ago

    Houston, United States Houston Staffing Full time

    Accountant OpportunityWe are offering a long term contract employment opportunity for an Accountant in the Energy/Natural Resources industry, based in Houston, Texas. As an Accountant, you will play a crucial role in processing invoices, maintaining precise records, and resolving any discrepancies.Responsibilities:Accurately processing invoices in adherence...

  • Purchasing Manager

    2 weeks ago

    Houston, United States Powell Industries Full time

    Purchasing Manager Powell Electrical Systems, Inc. is an engineered-to-order (ETO) and configured-to-order (CTO) business. The Purchasing Manager is responsible to: Hire and develop a team of buying professionals. Procure materials and services for the business when required. Control and develop a mature supply chain (including alternative actions). Manage...

  • Purchasing Manager

    2 weeks ago

    Houston, United States Powell Industries Full time

    Purchasing Manager Powell Electrical Systems, Inc. is an engineered-to-order (ETO) and configured-to-order (CTO) business. The Purchasing Manager is responsible to: Hire and develop a team of buying professionals. Procure materials and services for the business when required. Control and develop a mature supply chain (including alternative actions). Manage...

  • Purchasing Manager

    2 weeks ago

    Houston, United States Powell Industries Full time

    Purchasing ManagerPowell Electrical Systems, Inc. is an engineered-to-order (ETO) and configured-to-order (CTO) business.The Purchasing Manager is responsible to:Hire and develop a team of buying professionals.Procure materials and services for the business when required.Control and develop a mature supply chain (including alternative actions).Manage and...