Laboratory Technician

About Magrathea

Based in Oakland, California, Magrathea is a global category leader in critical mineral production technology. Our mission is to rebuild the magnesium metal supply base, delivering secure access to one of the most critical materials on Earth. Magnesium is essential to the aluminum, steel, titanium, nuclear, defense, and aerospace industries but 95% of global supply comes from China where large amounts of coal are used to make metal. This isn’t just an economic risk: it’s a national security threat, and Magrathea is fixing it. We’ve developed a next-generation electrolytic process to make magnesium metal from seawater and brines, unlocking a new path to industrial independence and to a cleaner environment for future generations. We’re backed by the earliest believers in Tesla and SpaceX, major European industrial families, and the U.S. Department of Defense. If you’re ready to make a lasting real-world impact, let's talk.

Is Magrathea For Me?

You’ll be joining a high-performance team of builders on a mission to stand up the first major electrolytic magnesium smelter this century. We’re doing it this decade. There are no pointless positions here, no layers of middle management, no meetings about meetings: just a hyper focus on execution. You’ll be hands-on from day one, shaping the core of a technology that will have major impacts on national security, clean technology, and industrial resilience. If you’re the kind of person who runs toward hard problems, thrives under pressure, and wants to build something history will remember you for, this role is for you.

Ideal Background

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.


• 5+ years of hands-on experience in a wet chemistry or analytical chemistry lab (industrial, mining, environmental, or academic preferred)


• Experience operating and maintaining analytical instrumentation such as auto-titrators, ICP-OES, AAS, TGA, and DSC


• Strong understanding of wet chemistry techniques, sample preparation, digestion, and titration


• Familiarity with industrial hygiene standards, EH&S practices, and OSHA/EPA compliance


• Skilled in calibration and interpretation of complex data sets


• Comfortable in a fast-paced, startup environment where priorities shift quickly


• Organized, detail-oriented, and committed to producing high-quality, defensible data


• Bonus: experience working with method development, electrolysis, hazardous materials, corrosive chemistries, or metallurgy samples

Compensation

• Salary range: $70,000-$100,000 annually, commensurate with experience


• Equity, stock options, and/or milestone-based compensation


• Health, dental, and vision insurance


• 401k from day 1 with pre-tax and post-tax investing options

Role Expectations

• Reports to our CTO and/or senior analytical chemist


• Assist in routine sample preparation, testing, and data collection according to established protocols


• Maintain laboratory cleanliness, equipment calibration, and supply inventory


• Support the implementation of new procedures and workflows as directed


• Accurately record and organize experimental data for review and reporting


• Collaborate with senior staff to ensure smooth daily lab operations


• Coordinate the packaging, documentation, and shipment of samples to external laboratories, ensuring chain-of-custody and compliance with shipping requirements


• Own preventive maintenance schedules and troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, or plumbing issues across analytical equipment and pilot-scale infrastructure


• Help manage hazardous materials storage, labeling, and disposal in compliance with local and federal regulations


• Implement and enforce site-wide safety protocols and EH&S best practices in collaboration with our COO and other team members


• Track and manage analytical laboratory spending, including consumables, utilities, equipment maintenance, and repair budgets


• Maintain accurate documentation for equipment, inspections, certifications, and standard operating procedures


• Support facilities build-outs and reconfigurations in partnership with other team members


• Serve as the on-the-ground first responder for operational emergencies or critical system downtime


• Coordinate space planning, signage, physical access, and logistics for internal moves, events, and audits


• Able to anticipate potential issues and make important decisions within ambiguity


• Thrive in fast-paced, high-accountability environments and take pride in being the person others rely on to get the job done


• You don't wait to be told what to do: you see problems, solve them, and move on to the next one

Location

• Full-time in-person at our Oakland, California facilities


• Magrathea sponsors visas for candidates from Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand