Senior Engineer - Project Engineering, Smelter

Rio Tinto • Salt Lake City, UT

6d • Onsite

About The Position

This role supports metallurgical processing operations at an integrated smelter and refinery. The Senior Engineer, Project Engineering will monitor, troubleshoot, optimize, and continuously improve processes including Concentrate Blending, Concentrate Drying, Flash Smelting, Flash Converting, Fire Refining, and Electro-refining. The position involves providing technical input for the safe and efficient conversion of raw materials into saleable products, ensuring process stability and product quality. Responsibilities also include supporting metals accounting by reconciling inventories and validating mass and metal balances, analyzing operational and laboratory data for process control and optimization, and developing and delivering training on process chemistry and models. The role requires implementing Process Safety Management practices, providing safety leadership, and initiating, developing, and delivering projects to improve production capacity, efficiency, cost performance, and regulatory compliance. Continuous improvement projects within the Technical team are also a key focus, along with working in cross-functional teams to meet production, cost, safety, and customer objectives.

Requirements

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, plus a minimum of 2 years of related work experience
• Experience supporting and optimizing metallurgical processing operations, including concentrate handling, smelting, converting, fire refining, and electro‑refining
• Experience leading technical or continuous improvement projects, including scope definition, execution, and performance verification
• Demonstrated capability in risk assessment, development of mitigation plans, and management of change processes
• Experience conducting statistical and data analysis using tools such as OSIsoft PI, JMP, HSC Chemistry, and FACTSage
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a matrix environment

Responsibilities

• Supporting metallurgical processing plant operations by monitoring, troubleshooting, optimizing, and continuously improving processes including Concentrate Blending, Concentrate Drying, Flash Smelting, Flash Converting, Fire Refining, and Electro‑refining
• Providing technical input to safely and efficiently convert raw materials into compliant, saleable products while maintaining process stability and product quality
• Supporting metals accounting by reconciling metal inventories and validating mass and metal balances across smelting, converting, and refining processes to ensure accurate production reporting
• Analyzing operational and laboratory data to support process control, production planning, and optimization, including identifying performance gaps and implementing corrective actions
• Developing and delivering practical, inclusive training on process chemistry, furnace and process models, and process modifications for operators, Control Room Specialists, and maintenance teams
• Implementing and operationalizing Process Safety Management practices and strengthening our Zero Harm culture through active participation in the CRM program
• Providing visible safety leadership by identifying hazards, assessing risk, and implementing sustainable safety improvements
• Initiating, developing, and delivering projects that improve production capacity, process efficiency, cost performance, and regulatory compliance
• Leading continuous improvement projects within the Technical team, from problem definition and scope development through implementation and results verification
• Working effectively in cross‑functional, matrixed teams to support production, cost, safety, and customer objectives

Benefits

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• 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: Senior