Lead Metallurgist

Southern Cross Gold Ltd; Kilmore; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Cross Gold Ltd is seeking a Lead Metallurgist to play a pivotal role in the development of Australia’s gold and antimony discovery. You will lead test work, influence plant design, and ensure metallurgy operational readiness as the project progresses from assessment to feasibility.

With a degree in Chemical Engineering or Metallurgy, you should have 5+ years of experience and a strong track record in managing metallurgical processes. The role offers a hybrid working model based in Melbourne with regular site visits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years post-graduate metallurgical experience.
• Hands-on experience in base-metal flotation plants.
• Comfortable in agile environments with shifting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and analyse metallurgical test work programs.
• Contribute to plant design for the Sunday Creek deposit.
• Lead metallurgical operational readiness across project stages.

Skills

Managing metallurgical test work programs

Data application and AI in metallurgy

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy or related discipline

Job description

Lead Metallurgist – Take a flagship gold & antimony discovery from early test work to operating plant

Monday – Friday | 5:2 Roster | Melbourne CBD + Sunday Creek + Regional VIC

Permanent | Hybrid | Start July 2026

We’re looking for a Lead Metallurgist to lead test work, support key plant design decisions and lead the metallurgy operational readiness as Sunday Creek moves from Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) into Pre‑Feasibility Study (PFS) and beyond.

Why SXGC? Because your work here matters.

SXGC is a growing company moving from exploration toward development of one of Australia’s most exciting gold and antimony discoveries. For a metallurgist, that means real influence over the design and start‑up of potential processing facilities – not just executing someone else’s flow sheet. We offer hybrid Melbourne‑based work with regular site time, a small senior team where your judgement carries weight, and the chance to shape the technology choices that define how Sunday Creek operates for decades.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Technology & Processing, the Lead Metallurgist supports the development of SXGC’s multistage project pipeline – across the minerals processing value chain, tailings management and applied operational technology. You’ll manage and analyse test work, contribute to plant design across the various development stages and programs and lead metallurgical operational readiness as each stage matures.

What You’ll Drive

• Manage and analyse metallurgical test work programs across PEA, PFS and beyond
• Contribute to plant design for the potential development pathways for the Sunday Creek deposit (including tailings)
• Lead metallurgical operational readiness as each project stage matures
• Identify opportunities to apply data, AI and new technologies to the SXG value proposition
• Partner with geology, mining, environmental, approvals and permitting as well as commercial and finance on integrated decisions that consider all value drivers and stakeholders
• Author internal and external memos, whitepapers and briefing notes

Who You Are

You’re a senior metallurgist who’s spent enough time in a plant to know how early concepts move to testing and eventually meeting reality – and enough time on study work to know how to defend a number. You move comfortably between technical depth and stakeholder conversation, you handle ambiguity without losing direction, and you back disciplined execution with autonomy and transparent communication.

Your Background

• Degree-qualified in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy or a related discipline
• 5+ years post‑graduate metallurgical experience
• Hands‑on experience in base‑metal flotation plants
• Track record managing and analysing test work programs
• Comfortable in agile environments with shifting priorities
• Manual driver’s licence
• Highly regarded exposure to Hydromet / Pyromet, process plant design experience, greenfield project development and operational readiness programs

The Practical Details

Location: Hybrid – Melbourne CBD based with regular time at Sunday Creek, VIC and potentially other locations in regional Victoria

Reports to: Head of Technology & Processing

Start date: July 2026

Required checks

• Field‑based medical
• Right to work and qualifications verification

Ready to build something that lasts? If you want to shape the metallurgy of a flagship Australian project – from drill core to plant – we’d love to hear from you. Apply now – we’ll be reviewing applications as they come in.

Applications close on Sunday, 12 July 2026.