Senior Engineer, Geotechnical Engineering

Rio Tinto • Salt Lake City, UT

1d

About The Position

Rio Tinto Kennecott is seeking a Senior Geotechnical Engineer to provide advanced geotechnical expertise for the safe, sustainable, and compliant management of its Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) and associated water management infrastructure. The role is part of the Tailings & Water Services Technical Support team in Salt Lake City, Utah, and supports long-term asset stewardship through engineering, performance monitoring, continuous improvement, and proactive risk management. The position helps align work with Rio Tinto standards, regulatory requirements, the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), and Engineer of Record (EoR) recommendations.

The Senior Geotechnical Engineer reports to the Technical Manager and provides technical support throughout the planning, design, construction, operation, monitoring, and closure planning of TSFs. The position works with multidisciplinary internal teams and external technical partners to assess performance and risks, support dam safety and tailings governance, oversee construction quality, maintain technical and regulatory documentation, and communicate recommendations.

Rio Tinto Kennecott is a fully integrated mining operation just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. Kennecott has mined and processed minerals from the Bingham Canyon Mine for more than 110 years and works to be a valuable community partner through strategic partnerships, charitable giving, and sustainable development practices.

Requirements

• Commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• Qualification in geotechnical, civil, geological engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent practical experience relevant to geotechnical engineering.
• Demonstrated geotechnical engineering experience supporting tailings storage facilities, dams, embankments, mine waste facilities, or comparable geotechnical infrastructure in a safety-critical environment.
• Experience interpreting geotechnical investigations, instrumentation and monitoring data, field observations, and performance trends to support engineering decisions and risk management.
• Experience applying geotechnical engineering principles to design review, construction support, quality assurance/quality control, operations, or dam safety activities.
• Ability to prepare and review technical documentation and communicate geotechnical risks and recommendations with operational, engineering, environmental, project, and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), tailings governance frameworks, Engineer of Record processes, or dam safety programs.
• Experience developing or applying Tailings Action Response Plans (TARPs), Operations, Maintenance and Surveillance (OMS) manuals, Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), regulatory submissions, or annual construction reports.
• Experience providing construction quality assurance or quality control oversight for tailings embankments, earthworks, dams, or similar geotechnical works.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in Utah, or eligibility to obtain applicable professional registration.

Responsibilities

• Provide geotechnical engineering expertise across TSF planning, design, construction, operation, monitoring, and closure planning, supporting alignment with design intent and industry best practice.
• Lead geotechnical investigations and performance evaluations using instrumentation data, field observations, telemetry systems, and site inspections to identify emerging risks and inform operational decisions.
• Support tailings risk management and dam safety programs through geotechnical assessments, risk reviews, Tailings Action Response Plans (TARPs), and implementation of recommendations from the Engineer of Record, regulators, and independent reviews.
• Provide quality assurance and quality control oversight during TSF construction and embankment raises, verifying conformance with approved designs, specifications, regulatory requirements, and Rio Tinto standards.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including monitoring and dam safety reports, regulatory submissions, Operations, Maintenance and Surveillance (OMS) manuals, Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and annual construction reports.
• Support compliance with regulatory, environmental, and Rio Tinto requirements through inspections, audits, permit activities, and continuous improvement initiatives for tailings and water management.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Environmental, Projects, Closure, and external technical partners to resolve complex issues, progress work, and communicate geotechnical risks and recommendations clearly.

Benefits

• Annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees.
• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage, along with various voluntary benefits.
• Retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution and a 401(k) matching program.
• Employee share program allowing employees to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
• Paid time off, paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
• Child-caregiver leave program with up to 100% salary top-up.
• Leisure discount programs and access to Virgin Pulse with wellbeing incentives.
• Employee Assistance Program for employees and their families.
• Learning and career development support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed