Control Room Operator

About Hertha Metals, Inc.:

Hertha Metals is redefining how the world makes steel. We've developed a breakthrough single-step steelmaking process that uses gas reductants to convert iron ore of any grade or form, delivering lower production costs and emissions than blast furnaces-while improving product quality and scalability. Having operated the world's largest single-step steelmaking pilot plant, we're now scaling toward commercial deployment. Our mission is to redefine the foundation of modern industry by scaling cleaner, more efficient, and more cost competitive metal making systems. At Hertha, engineers, metallurgists, and operators work side by side to transform the future of steel making.

Control Room Operator

Hertha Metals is on a mission to transform the global steel industry through our groundbreaking, single-step steelmaking technology. We are seeking a highly motivated Control Room Operator to play a critical role in monitoring, controlling, and optimizing our pilot plant operations. Your ability to manage real-time process data, ensure safe and stable performance, and communicate effectively with field operators will be key to advancing our technology and maintaining continuous, high-quality operations. This position reports directly to the Operations Manager and works closely with the engineering and process development teams.

Key Responsibilities

To be successful in this role, a candidate must have a strong understanding of high-temperature industrial operations, process control systems, and safety protocols. The Control Room Operator will monitor systems from the control room, ensuring that production targets and safety standards are met at all times.

The Control Room Operator will collaborate closely with Furnace Operators, Utility Workers, and Engineers to coordinate real-time decisions, maintain operational stability, and respond effectively to system alarms or abnormal conditions. This position requires excellent attention to detail, quick judgment, and comfort working in a fast-paced, startup manufacturing environment.

Because of the dynamic nature of pilot operations, the Control Room Operator must be flexible with shift scheduling to support 24/7 operations, including nights, weekends, and testing campaigns as needed.

Additional skills:

• Monitor and adjust process parameters (temperature, flow, gas ratios, and feed rates) through DCS/PLC interfaces to maintain optimal conditions.
• Log and report key process data, equipment performance, and shift handovers with precision and clarity.
• Coordinate with field personnel to ensure alignment between control room directives and on-site activities.
• Respond to alarms and system alerts quickly, troubleshooting and escalating issues as necessary to ensure safety and stability.
• Support furnace start-ups, shutdowns, and transitions in accordance with established SOPs.
• Assist with real-time data collection and communicate trends to engineering and leadership for analysis.
• Participate in safety reviews, incident investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain adherence to Hertha's safety policies and procedures-Safety First, No Exceptions.

Your experience:

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Process Technology, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in process or control room operations (metals, chemical, energy, or manufacturing industry preferred).
• Familiarity with distributed control systems (DCS), PLCs, or SCADA platforms.
• Strong understanding of process instrumentation, data trends, and alarm management.
• Demonstrated ability to stay calm and decisive under pressure while managing multiple process variables.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Energetic and highly motivated; high level of organization; able to multitask on many projects; detail oriented; able to focus on overall project goals; team oriented.

LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE

Individuals must be able to work independently and also be able to direct long-term tasks through to completion.Some projects are highly supervised, some are minimally supervised

Location: Hertha Metals' headquarters are in Conroe, TX, just outside of Houston.

Hertha Culture:

Inspired by the work and character of the late Hertha Ayrton, we are pioneers, innovators, and risk-takers who are mission driven towards changing the world. We are:

• Mission-Obsessed - We are deeply committed, driven, and passionate about achieving our mission of being the catalyst for decarbonizing metals production.
• Anti-Bloat - We operate as a lean, efficient agile team to maximize impact.
• Leave the "I" at home - We face challenges together, knowing that collaboration and unity are the keys to our success.
• Safety First - Safety is our top priority in everything we do! NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Aim High - We achieve what others consider impossible.

What we offer:

• Competitive startup compensation package based on expertise. Compensation is increased based on achieved business development milestones.
• Stock: ownership in a funded company that is innovating in a trillion-dollar industry
• Paid + unpaid parental leave after 1 year at the company (12 weeks paid, with flexible working style to transition after parental leave such as part-time remote working)
• Growth: our team is comprised of people with a growth mindset, and we want to help you achieve your future career goals accordingly
• Time off: This is a fast-paced startup company working in one of the most exciting sectors and the last thing we want is our valuable team members to burn out.
• 401k plan for employees that have been employed with us for at least a year.

Hertha Metals is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We firmly prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. In fact, we uniquely hold our shareholders and board members to higher standards than the majority of companies. All employment decisions at Hertha Metals are based on the expertise that the position calls for, without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age.