Geotechnical Engineer - Underground

Rio Tinto • Salt Lake City, UT

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Work on complex underground geotechnical challenges at one of the world's largest integrated copper operations, where your recommendations directly influence mine safety, production performance, and long-term mine design. Develop your technical expertise alongside experienced geotechnical professionals while gaining exposure to advanced monitoring technologies, seismic risk management, ground support design, and large-scale underground mining methods. Enjoy a stable lifestyle with a home-every-night schedule, competitive compensation and benefits, and the opportunity to build a long-term career in a high-performing team committed to safety, inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.
At Rio Tinto, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to succeed. We actively encourage applications from women and from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We know that great technical capability comes in many forms, and we’re focused on building teams that reflect the communities we operate in and support each other to do their best work.
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide the materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About the role
We are looking for an Underground Geotechnical Engineer to join the Kennecott Underground team and play a key role in supporting the safe, efficient, and sustainable operation of one of North America's premier underground copper mines.
This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer who is passionate about rock mechanics, underground mining, and geotechnical risk management. Working within a highly skilled technical team, you will gain exposure to a broad range of geotechnical challenges including ground support design, excavation stability, seismic risk management, instrumentation and monitoring programs, and stope performance assessments. Your work will directly influence operational decision-making and contribute to maintaining safe production across the underground mine.
This role offers excellent opportunities to expand your technical capability, build relationships across the business, and develop your career within a global mining organization focused on innovation, safety, and operational excellence.
Reporting to the Senior Geotechnical Engineer and working collaboratively with operational and functional teams, you will be responsible for:

Requirements

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geology, Mining Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated underground hard rock geotechnical engineering experience.
• Strong understanding of underground mining methods and geotechnical hazard management.
• Experience completing geotechnical inspections, data collection, stability assessments, and technical analysis.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with software including Rocscience (RocData, Dips, Unwedge), Leapfrog, IMS, mXrap, and Deswik.
• A valid U.S. driver’s license and the ability to operate vehicles in both underground and open-pit mine settings.

Responsibilities

• Completing routine geotechnical tasks including development and production inspections, damage mapping, geotechnical data collection, analysis, and excavation stability assessments.
• Conducting stope stability assessments and preparing geotechnical stope notes to support safe production.
• Designing, implementing, and managing geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring programs to assess underground excavation performance and stability.
• Developing, maintaining, and improving geotechnical databases to support analysis, design, risk management, and reporting.
• Reviewing ground support, intersection, and stope support designs.
• Conducting seismic hazard assessments and back analyses while supporting the identification, evaluation, and management of seismic risk.
• Communicating geotechnical risks and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborating with operations, mine planning, geology, and other teams to ensure geotechnical risks are effectively identified and managed.

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 Virgin Pulse 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