Engineering Manager, Data Systems

About the company: 

In the coming decades, demand for critical minerals such as copper, lithium, and cobalt will continue to grow. These minerals are needed to build electric infrastructure, vehicles, data centers, and electronics. However, the mining industry is making 10x fewer discoveries per dollar spent on exploration compared to 30 years ago because the easy-to-find, near surface deposits have largely been discovered.

KoBold was founded to be the first AI native mineral exploration, mine development, and technology development company. Our goal is to turn mineral exploration into a repeatable science to discover the minerals the world needs—by integrating artificial intelligence, human intelligence, and new technology. Our multidisciplinary teams of data scientists, engineers, and geologists work together to build data systems, design new sensors, and establish industry-leading workflows to develop and test subsurface predictions on our exploration projects.

Our first discovery, Mingomba, is a high-grade copper deposit in Zambia, found after spending materially less than industry average. We are developing Mingomba with the same technical rigor that we apply to exploration. The Mingomba team brings together mine and processing engineers, geologists, data scientists, software engineers, and community, health & safety, construction, and operations specialists. By combining industry knowledge and cutting edge technology, we are developing Mingomba into a world class project that has safer and more predictable outcomes for ourselves, partners, and communities. It is expected to create thousands of good jobs for generations.

KoBold runs exploration programs in eight countries, all with the potential for another discovery.

KoBold is privately held; investors include institutional asset managers T. Rowe Price and Canada Pension Plan Investments; technology venture capitalists Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BOND Capital, Durable Capital, StepStone, and Standard Investments; and strategic natural resources companies BHP and Mitsubishi.

About the role:

At KoBold, we believe making mineral exploration data broadly accessible to humans and machines will enable systematic exploration and materially improved exploration success rates. This role is a key ingredient to this strategy. As an early Engineering Manager on the Data Systems Engineering team, you will have the opportunity to shape how we build our product and organization to realize this vision. Through development of our robust data systems, we will empower KoBold to unlock invaluable insights and streamline intricate scientific processes. Collaborating with our exceptional team of data scientists and geologists, you will have the opportunity to tackle complex scientific problems head-on and collectively pave the way for the discoveries of vital energy transition metals like lithium, copper, nickel, and cobalt. Together we can shape the future of mineral exploration and contribute to building a sustainable world.

Responsibilities of this role include:

• Thoughtfully build and lead a team of high-performing software engineers, hiring and growing diverse individuals on your team
• Leverage your team in collaboration with data scientists, geoscientists, and other software engineers to plan, prioritize, and deliver impactful projects that accelerate our exploration efforts
• Work with the Head of Data Systems Engineering and interdisciplinary leaders across the company on our strategy to advance both our technical product and organization
• Collaborate with cross functional peers (geoscientists and data scientists) across the company, learning about mineral exploration. Coach your team to better partner across the company.
• Spend roughly 1/3rd of your time contributing to projects as an individual contributor

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have:

• 8+ years experience building production software systems
• 3+ years in an engineering leadership role with reports
• Experience building robust distributed cloud data systems. Bonus for experience building systems managing large geospatial or geoscientific datasets.
• Deep understanding of multiple database and data storage technologies
• A track record of taking ownership from definition of the problem and delivering large projects with demonstrated impact in an iterative manner
• Skilled at dealing with ambiguity and prioritizing effectively from multiple inputs 
• Formal education or job exposure to natural sciences

Work practices and motivation:

• Intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn about all aspects of mineral exploration, particularly in the geology domain. Open to working directly with geologists in the field across the world. Enjoys constantly learning such that you are driving insights through using our tools in exploration.
• Ability to explain technical problems to and collaborate on solutions with domain experts who are not software developers. A strong communicator who enjoys working with colleagues across the company.
• Excitement about joining a fast-growing early-stage company, comfort with a dynamic work environment, and eagerness to take on an evolving range of responsibilities.
• Keen not just to build cool technology, but to figure out what technical product to build to best achieve the business objectives of the company.

What to Expect

Joining KoBold means getting the opportunity for hands-on exposure to our exploration projects around the world. All employees are expected to travel to project sites, with a minimum of one week per year. Field-facing and technical roles spend significantly more time in the field.

KoBold Metals is an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity for people of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or veteran status.

The US base salary range for this full-time exempt position is $200,000-$240,000.

Location: Remote, Candidates can be located anywhere in the United States or Canada. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States or Canada.

Compensation ranges are listed in USD. If you are based outside the US, the range may not translate directly: US pay reflects a different market with different competitive dynamics, so we benchmark roles against the local market rather than converting the listed figure.