Engineer - Drill and Blast

Rio Tinto • Salt Lake City, UT

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Help shape the future of underground mining at Kennecott, contributing to a major investment that will define copper production for generations. Be part of Utah’s proud mining legacy, advancing the work that has powered communities for more than a century, delivered with modern, responsible practices. Join a highly skilled underground team delivering safe, disciplined operations, where experience, teamwork, and innovation come together underground. We’re looking for an Engineer – Drill and Blast to join our Rio Tinto Kennecott team in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this role, you’ll play a key part in how we plan, design, and execute safe and efficient mining operations. You’ll work closely with teams across geology, geotechnical, and operations to bring mine plans to life, connecting short and long-term planning to make sure we’re getting the most value from the orebody while managing risk. This is a great opportunity to build your impact in a hands-on environment where your ideas, curiosity, and collaboration truly matter.

Requirements

• A degree in Mining Engineering (or a related field)
• Experience in mine planning, drill and blast, or a similar technical role
• The ability to break down complex problems and communicate practical solutions
• A collaborative mindset and ability to work across teams
• Curiosity and a continuous improvement approach

Nice To Haves

• Experience in open pit mining environments
• Familiarity with tools like Minesight (Atlas, MSSO) or similar software
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or safety systems
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Responsibilities

• Partner with the team to design and schedule drill and blast plans aligned with production goals
• Help implement and continuously improve QA/QC processes for drilling and blasting
• Develop daily and weekly plans that optimize blast performance
• Review mine plans and translate them into practical, safe drill and blast designs
• Use mine planning tools to create and refine efficient and integrated designs
• Track performance and support reconciliation to improve future plans
• Communicate plans clearly to partners across operations to ensure alignment
• Collaborate with teams like Geology, Geotech, and Execution to deliver safe outcomes
• Work with processing and support teams to understand constraints, costs, and performance drivers

Benefits

• Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
• 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
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Personify Health with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level