Principal Process Engineer

Principal Process Engineer

* Be part of a pioneering team advancing Rio Tinto's innovative heap leaching technology.

* Drive sustainable solutions while accelerating your career growth.

* Enjoy the unmatched quality of life and work in Utah, ranked #1 overall by U.S. News & World Report.

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Process Engineer to play a critical role in developing and implementing Nuton's cutting-edge technology.

Reporting to the Technology Transfer Manager, you will lead the process engineering of the Nuton Technology Packages, ensuring that the Nuton technology is successfully integrated into the design, construction, and operation of new operations.

Nuton, Rio Tinto's latest entrepreneurial venture, is a suite of innovative, bio-heap leaching technologies that harness natural processes to unlock new sources of critical metals. Nuton not only pushes the boundaries of copper recovery but also sets a new standard for sustainability in mining. Learn more about Nuton here.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Optimize and develop the Nuton technology by guiding, reviewing, and validating engineering designs to ensure their technical feasibility.
• Managing and validating mass and energy balance models for the Nuton flowsheet aligning with other external and internal models to provide confidence in the design.
• Ensure design integrity by monitoring the execution of multiple project and operational phases and ensuring that proposed technical designs align with set objectives and are executed as planned.
• Facilitating data-driven outcomes and leading technical decision-making.
• Drive risk management by proactively identifying, managing and mitigating technical and technology-related risks throughout project phases.
• Oversee change management by ensuring proper processes are in place when material variations to design or scope arise.
• Support operational readiness by leading the creation of technical manuals, training programs, and other resources to ensure seamless transition of the Nuton technology into new operations.
• Provide technical expertise via on-site support of fabrication, commissioning, start-up, performance guarantee testing, and troubleshooting.
• Safeguard intellectual property to ensure Nuton's proprietary information is handled in compliance with commercial and technology agreements.

Your qualifications and experience should include:

• A proven safety-first mindset to personal and team safety.
• A bachelor's degree in Process or Chemical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years in process design, operations, or consulting engineering roles, with expertise in complex processing flowsheets.
• Experience with developing mass and energy balance models for complex processing flowsheets.
• Experience in flowsheet development and completing trade-off studies to validate selected flowsheet designs.
• Technical ability to critically review project documentation and ensure process design continuity across all project phases including engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and operations.
• Demonstrated risk management proficiency to apply a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks at every stage of the project lifecycle.
• Proven stakeholder engagement with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse teams and global stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate and manage complex stakeholder networks and organizational changes in dynamic environments.
• Negotiation and communication abilities to influence and communicate effectively across functions and levels.
• An analytical mindset with a keen approach to problem-solving.
• A structured mindset and desire to work in a well-controlled, process-oriented environment.

Benefits offered:

• Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses.
• Retirement options that include a 6% company contribution to a defined plan, 401(k) matching, and a share ownership program.
• Generous time-off opportunities include paid time off, holidays, bereavement leave, and four months of parental leave for all parents.
• Comprehensive health plans covering medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and additional voluntary benefits.
• Access to wellness initiatives, including employee discounts and an employee assistance program for confidential support.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs - striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can't do it on our own, so we're focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQ+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V
Rio Tinto participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.uscis.gov/ for more information.

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 our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

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