Rio Tinto · 16 hours ago
Senior Metallurgical Engineer – Projects
Salt Lake City, UT
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
8+ years expRio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company, and they are seeking a Senior Metallurgical Engineer – Projects. This role is a key technical leader responsible for developing, executing, and supporting metallurgical and process improvement projects at the Kennecott Concentrator.
ManufacturingMineralMiningMining TechnologyNatural Resources
Responsibilities
Lead metallurgical project scoping, business case development, and cost–benefit analysis
Develop process design criteria, mass balances, and performance models for new installations or upgrades
Serve as the technical owner/support through FEL stages, detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, and ramp-up
Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, and OEMs to ensure designs meet operability and maintainability requirements
Provide expert support in grinding, flotation, reagent chemistry, and dewatering processes
Identify bottlenecks and improvement opportunities using data analytics, plant trials, and metallurgical test work
Lead metallurgical investigations and root cause analyses for process upsets or underperforming circuits
Review and optimize process control strategies, instrumentation, and process automation
Mentor junior metallurgists and engineers, guiding them in project management, test work, and plant troubleshooting
Develop and maintain standards, procedures, and best practices for process design and testing
Represent the Concentrator Technical team in cross‑site projects and technology evaluations
Ensure all project work complies with site safety systems, MSHA regulations, and Rio Tinto standards
Conduct and review Practical Problem Solving (PPS), risk assessments, and management of change (MOC) documentation
Embed a culture of safety and responsible project execution
Work directly with equipment and reagent vendors, engineering firms, and labs to define scopes and evaluate technical solutions
Provide technical input for procurement, contracting, and vendor performance evaluation
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, or related discipline
8+ years of metallurgical or process engineering experience in concentrators or mineral processing plants
Demonstrated experience leading projects
Strong understanding of comminution, flotation, mineralogy, and metallurgical balancing
Proven ability to interpret plant data, execute test work, and model process performance
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage operators, leaders, and technical experts
Strong analytical mindset and problem‑solving capability
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced operating environment
Influencing and stakeholder engagement across departments
Commitment to safe work practices and continuous improvement
Technical curiosity and willingness to challenge the status quo
Preferred
Experience in copper sulfide concentrators or similar base-metal operations
Familiarity with tools such as PI Vision/PI Datalink, JKSimMet, MetSim, or flotation modeling software
Prior exposure to advanced control systems or digital optimization tools (e.g., APC, machine vision)
Benefits
A safety-focused and inclusive working environment
Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees
Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up)
Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
Ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family; to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
Company
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a mining and metals company that focuses on the extraction and processing of minerals and metals in various sectors.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Rio Tinto has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (8)
2024 (19)
2023 (18)
2022 (3)
2021 (7)
2020 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$30.74MKey Investors
Canadian GovernmentAustralian Renewable Energy Agency
2024-02-26Grant· $8.5M
2023-07-12Grant· $21.8M
2021-06-16Grant· $0.44M
Leadership Team
Bold Baatar
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Katie Jackson
Chief Executive, Copper
Recent News
Business Recorder
2026-01-23
Mining Technology
2026-01-22
Company data provided by crunchbase