Shape Your World
At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper, world-shaper.
A New Era for the Aluminum Industry - ELYSIS
Carbon Free Aluminum
The ELYSIS™ technology is the greatest breakthrough in the aluminum industry since its beginnings in 1886. Work is underway now to further develop this revolutionary new way to produce aluminum, eliminating carbon dioxide and all other greenhouse gas emissions from the traditional smelting process.
The ELYSIS process eliminates the use of carbon anodes, replacing those with proprietary materials. It is the first industrial process that emits oxygen as its by-product and has the potential to transform an entire industry.
In 2018, two international aluminum producers, Alcoa and Rio Tinto, came together to form the ELYSIS joint venture with the provincial government of Quebec. With support from the Canadian Government and Apple, the technology is progressing and is currently being designed to support the construction of new smelters or retrofits.
ELYSIS is headquartered in Montreal, with Technology Research & Development locations in Alma, Quebec, (Canada), in Jonquiere, Quebec, (Canada), in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, (United States), and in France.
Commercial quality metal produced by ELYSIS during the ongoing R&D process is already being used by Apple in a variety of products (The 16-inch MacBook Pro and the iPhone SE); Ab InBEV (cans); Audi (e-tron GT wheels produced by the RONAL Group), and Corona (cans).
Join the ELYSIS team in this exciting work!
About the location
The ELYSIS US Research & Development facility is located in the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Located near Pittsburgh, the carbon-free smelting process was first developed at ATC, where a dedicated team is working to reinvent the aluminum industry for a sustainable future.
About the position
The Materials Development Scientist will use their wide breadth of knowledge and expertise of ceramic material processing to lead research and development efforts associated with technical readiness level advancement of an industrial electrode manufacturing process. This role also serves to be the technical liaison, providing data-based decisions, guidance, and support to Elysis electrode production and industrialization teams. This role will report to Elysis R&D management.
Key Activities / Responsibilities:
- Creates and executes technical programs aimed at developing fundamental understanding of the impact of raw material properties, process conditions and processing parameters on a novel electrode production process's performance and resultant product properties.
- Leads projects, defines objectives, develops work plans, and conducts research that builds-off of past advances and scientific understanding of the breakthrough materials used in Elysis's advanced smelting processes.
- Provide data-based guidance for equipment and process design that promotes an overall reduction in risk associated with industrialization of the processes associated with the Elysis technology.
- Supports the development of technical specifications for key commercial scale equipment sets by executing continuous improvement initiatives, and/or creating technology development programs that identify and close specific knowledge gaps associated with existing processes or equipment sets.
- Use a competent, hands-on approach that applies fundamental engineering principles to practical solutions and applications in laboratory, pilot, and commercial scale environments.
- Use root cause analysis tools to provide robust and sustainable solutions to new material, process, or production issues.
- Seeks-out and identifies opportunities for improvements and implements innovative solutions required to advance materials development goals and/or production initiatives required for the success of the Elysis program.
- Meets relevant project objectives by developing internal or external relationships, managing scopes, schedules, and budgets of vendors, service providers or institutions.
- Organizes results in clear, traceable formats, communicates progress and results through written detailed technical reports, presentations, patents, and publications.
ELYSIS is a global company with operations in Canada, France, and the United States.
Business related travel and extended duration assignments or missions may be essential for the success of this role.
About You
- Graduate degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or science related field.
- 10+ years of relevant work experience related to the development of ceramic materials or processes.
- Demonstrated knowledge in ceramic powder synthesis, wet and dry ceramic powder processing, plastic body shape forming processes, and ceramic materials process scale-up experience.
- Proven project execution skills.
- Strong aptitude in physical, chemical, and thermal material property characterization methods and analysis.
- Experience working in collaborative, results driven, fast-paced team environments.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills for data management, analysis, and results presentation.
Diversity: Be Part of an Unprecedented Partnership
At ELYSIS we are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome - they are essential to success of the unprecedented partnership that ELYSIS is.
We treat each other respectfully, fairly, compassionately and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes us different. At ELYSIS, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from women, the LGBTQIA2 community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds. ELYSIS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
About the Location
Every day is a new and exciting challenge at the Alcoa Technical Center in New Kensington, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. We develop new technologies with our Breakthrough Technologies team that has the potential to impact the life of millions of people and foster the sustainable footprint from Alcoa to the world. It was here where we developed the technology recently announced in partnership with Rio Tinto, called ELYSIS™, where we will produce aluminum with ZERO emission of greenhouse gases. In fact, we will actually be generating oxygen to our atmosphere during the aluminum production process- a revolution to the aluminum industry!
We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress. Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.
As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person's gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.
If you have visited our website in search of information on U.S. employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Alcoa Recruiting via email at gssrecruiting@alcoa.com.
This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging. Come join us and shape your career!
Your work. Your world. Shape them for the better.