Processing
Turns raw regolith and ice into useful material: metals, water, building stock.
Frontier work hiring now: Work the line at a battery recycler or a critical-minerals refinery, turning raw feed into lithium, nickel and copper someone can build with.
On Earth
On Earth this is mineral processing, chemical engineering, plant operations and the quality and test crews who sign off what comes off the line.
In space
On Mars this is in-situ resource utilization (ISRU): extracting water from ice and hydrated minerals, and later making metals and construction materials from regolith.
Roles on our board now
Real titles from current openings that lead toward Processing work. 47 internship · 29 entry · 165 experienced
- Manufacturing Engineering Intern (6 open)
- Manufacturing Engineer I (5 open)
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer (5 open)
- Environmental Test Technician I (5 open)
- Manager (5 open)
- Process Engineer (4 open)
- Senior Quality Engineer (3 open)
- Manufacturing Engineer (3 open)
Core skills
- Mass and energy balances
- Process control
- Materials testing
- Thermal systems
- Root-cause analysis
Tools you'll see
- Aspen or similar process simulators
- Python or MATLAB
- PLC and SCADA basics
- Lab instruments (XRD, SEM, furnaces)
Earth backgrounds that transfer
- Mineral processing and metallurgy
- Chemical plant operators
- Refinery engineers
- Materials lab techs
- Food and beverage process engineers
Starting out
Chemical, materials or metallurgical engineering coursework plus a lab or plant internship is the standard route.
Changing careers
Plant and lab people already know the hard part, which is running a process reliably. Look at manufacturing, materials and additive roles.
Academy track
The Processing Track: Mineral Processing, Refining and Recycling track is open: 4 modules and a final test, free for crew members.
Processing ranks
Ranks reflect Mars Mining Academy progress. They are not job titles and do not mean employment. Everyone starts at Ore Refiner 1 the moment they join and pick Processing. Ranks are worked out from the quizzes you pass, the certificates you earn and the projects you finish. You can't set them yourself.
Ore Refiner 1 MM-R1
Join the department. Everyone starts here.
Ore Refiner 2 MM-R2
Pass 2 module quizzes in this department's track and fill in your resume basics: name, contact and target role, education and training, professional experience and skills.
Lead Operator MM-R3
Pass every module quiz in this department's track and finish early life, the work-style interview, passions and at least one portfolio item. Lateral transfer opens here.
Shift Super MM-R4
Earn the track certificate and finish a solo real-world project, submitted and reviewed. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Plant Super MM-R5
Finish a team project with other crew members. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Plant Manager MM-R6
Lead a team project and pass the capstone. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Transfers
You serve in one department at a time and start at Ore Refiner 1 (R1). Once you reach R3 in your department you can put in for a lateral transfer. You start at R1 in the new department, and every rank you earned before stays on your service record, which shows on your dashboard and your certificate verify page.
Before R3 you stay put. The one exception: if you picked wrong, you can change once in your first 7 days.
You can hold top rank in every department. That takes years, because the higher ranks need real-world projects and team work, not just quizzes.
Is this you?
- You like turning messy inputs into clean outputs
- You think in flows, rates and yields
- You are happy tuning one variable at a time
If you nodded at two or more, Processing is worth a look. Not sure? Take the quiz.