Senior Engineer - Metallurgy

Rio Tinto seeks a Senior Engineer - Metallurgy for an onsite role in Salt Lake City, focusing on the Kennecott Copper concentrator. The position centers on safe, efficient concentrator performance with emphasis on throughput, recovery, concentrate quality, and cost efficiency, combining site-based responsibilities with hands-on technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Engage in site safety initiatives, perform risk assessments, contribute to daily production briefings, and support field leadership activities.
• Track and evaluate concentrator performance metrics such as recovery, ore grade, concentrate quality, and reagent usage.
• Identify performance gaps and implement practical operating strategies to achieve metallurgical targets.
• Deliver timely technical guidance to operators, maintenance personnel, and cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, and Control Room to optimize setpoints, reagent strategies, and circuit configuration.
• Assist in troubleshooting process upsets and lead or support sampling and laboratory testing activities.
• Conduct metallurgical and statistical analyses using PI, Minitab, and JMP, and document findings and recommendations.
• Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing recovery, stability, and cost efficiency.

Requirements

• A commitment to the safety of oneself and the team.
• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Two or more years of experience in a concentrator or mineral processing environment, with flotation experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of flotation fundamentals, plant data analysis, and process troubleshooting.
• Experience working closely with operations in a high-throughput, continuous processing environment.
• Proficiency with plant data and statistical analysis tools such as PI, Minitab, and JMP.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build trust across teams.
• Self-motivated with solid time management, capable of balancing day-to-day support with longer-term improvement work.

Technologies

• PI
• Minitab
• JMP

Benefits

• A work environment where safety is the top priority.
• Competitive base salary with an annual incentive bonus reflective of skills and experience.
• Access to comprehensive health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and voluntary benefits.
• Excellent retirement plan with up to 6% company contribution and a generous 401k match.
• Attractive share ownership plan.
• Comprehensive leave policies, including paid time off, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• Generous parental leave policy to support growing families.
• Discount programs for leisure and access to Virgin Pulse incentives for wellbeing.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program providing confidential counseling and guidance for employees and their families.