Chief Technology Officer (CTO) | Mineral Processing & Extractive Metallurgy (PhD)

Descripción del empleo

Hispansion is a Spanish deep-tech company developing technologies for sustainable space exploration and extraterrestrial resource utilisation.

Founded in 2024 and incubated at the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Madrid Region (ESA BIC), we specialise in high-fidelity lunar regolith simulants, developed and manufactured at industrial scale through our TerraLun® product line.

Building on our expertise in planetary materials, we are expanding into mineral beneficiation, advanced resource processing, extraction and refining technologies, with applications both on Earth and beyond.

We are seeking an ambitious PhD-level engineer to join our leadership team as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), taking responsibility for Hispansion's technological development and engineering capabilities.

About the Role

This is not a conventional academic research position.

As CTO, you will work directly with the founding team, leading R&D programmes from scientific concepts and experimental research through to engineering validation and technology maturation.

Your initial focus will be FRACTOLITH, our modular mineral beneficiation technology, developed within the CDTI NEOTEC programme.

Beyond this project, you will help expand our technological portfolio into innovative mineral processing, extraction and refining solutions, while building Hispansion's future engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

Technology Development & Engineering

• Lead the development and experimental validation of mineral beneficiation, extraction and refining technologies.
• Design and optimise mineral processing flowsheets, integrating physical and chemical processing operations.
• Develop separation and concentration processes, including magnetic, gravimetric and electrostatic technologies.
• Investigate innovative, resource-efficient extraction, separation and refining methodologies.
• Define process requirements, mass and energy balances, operating parameters and equipment specifications.
• Coordinate laboratory and pilot-scale development, system integration, industrial scale-up and intellectual property protection.

R&D & Project Management

• Lead the technical execution of R&D programmes, initially focusing on FRACTOLITH.
• Define objectives, experimental methodologies, milestones and technical deliverables.
• Supervise experimental campaigns, ensuring reproducibility and reliable validation.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, researchers and external technical partners.
• Manage technical progress, resources, development risks and budgets.
• Prepare technical reports and contribute to scientific publications and technology transfer.

Technical Leadership

• Translate Hispansion's strategic objectives into executable technological development programmes alongside the founding team.
• Take ownership of engineering decisions, technical development and technology maturation.
• Help recruit and lead future engineering teams while contributing to the company's long-term technology roadmap.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications

• PhD in Mining Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Extractive Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy or resource recovery technologies.
• Practical experience in experimental R&D and process development.
• Understanding of mineral beneficiation, including comminution, classification and physical separation techniques.
• Knowledge of hydrometallurgical and/or pyrometallurgical processes, selective extraction, purification and refining.
• Experience with process flowsheets, mass and energy balances, equipment selection and systems integration.
• Ability to translate research into practical, experimentally validated engineering solutions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication and project coordination skills.
• Professional working proficiency in English. Spanish is a plus.

Candidates from other engineering disciplines may be considered if their doctoral research and experience are directly relevant.

Highly Valued Experience

• Processing complex mineral feedstocks and selective recovery of valuable materials.
• Low-water, reagent-efficient or alternative extraction and separation technologies.
• Laboratory-to-pilot-scale development, industrial scale-up and processing equipment integration.
• In‑Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU), lunar regolith processing or space resources.
• ESA, CDTI, Horizon Europe or comparable R&D programmes.
• Technology transfer, patent development and multidisciplinary technical leadership.

Previous space-sector experience is welcome but not required.

Who We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in ambitious early-career researchers and engineers ready to move into technological leadership.

You may currently be a postdoctoral researcher, research engineer, process engineer or industrial R&D specialist. Previous CTO experience is not required.

We value technical judgement, scientific rigour, initiative, hands‑on problem‑solving and the ability to take ownership of complex engineering challenges.

The ideal candidate combines scientific expertise with a practical, results-oriented mindset and the ambition to develop technologies from concept to industrial implementation.

What We Offer

Compensation & Long-Term Development

• First-year salary: Approximately €38,000 gross annually.
• Second-year salary: €40,000 gross annually.
• From the third year: Comprehensive review and renegotiation of the executive remuneration package, reflecting performance, responsibilities and company development.
• Relocation assistance: Up to €2,000 for candidates relocating to Madrid.
• Equity participation: Eligibility to enter Hispansion's long-term equity participation and vesting programme after two years, subject to agreed terms and conditions.

Working Conditions & Opportunities

• Permanent, full-time employment with flexible working hours.
• Primarily on-site in Leganés, Madrid, with the possibility of 1–2 remote working days per week, depending on project requirements.
• Significant technical autonomy and direct involvement in company decisions.
• Opportunity to shape Hispansion's technological strategy and build its engineering department.
• Leadership of original R&D programmes with terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications.
• Collaboration with international research institutions and industrial partners.
• Opportunities to develop patents, publications and proprietary technologies.

Work Authorisation & Regulatory Compliance

Hispansion welcomes applications from qualified candidates of all nationalities.

Candidates must be legally authorised to work in Spain by their employment start date or be eligible to obtain the necessary authorisation.

Given the nature of our activities in advanced resource processing and space technologies, the position may involve access to sensitive technologies and proprietary information. Compliance with applicable export‑control regulations, confidentiality obligations and any project‑specific security requirements will be required.

International applicants are welcome, and relocation assistance may be available as outlined above.

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Información extra

Status

Activa

Estudios requeridos

E.S.O

Localización

Madrid

Tipo de contrato

Tiempo completo

Publicado el

12-11-2026

Carnet de conducir

No

Vehículo

No

Carta de motivación

No