Principal Process Safety Engineer | Adelaide Office | Monday - Friday Roster

BHP; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth

Performance bonuses

Employee share plan

Flexible work options

Wellbeing support

Paid parental leave

Job summary

BHP is seeking a Principal Process Safety Engineer – Project Governance based in Adelaide, South Australia. This role provides specialist process safety leadership across Copper SA operations and major growth projects, collaborating with operations, project, and risk teams to enable safe and reliable outcomes.

You will embed process safety principles from design through execution, coaching teams to strengthen governance, risk management, and safety culture across Copper SA.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading process safety management in major hazard facilities or similar environments.
• Proven ability delivering governance across design to execution phases.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist process safety engineering support and governance for Copper SA expansion and capital projects.
• Deliver technical assurance and oversight of Safety in Design activities and project deliverables.
• Support project teams in applying process safety standards and risk management practices aligned with the Copper SA Integrated Management System.
• Coach, mentor, and provide guidance to project teams and developing Process Safety Engineers.
• Drive continuous improvement to strengthen process safety capability and culture across projects.
• Lead hazard identification, design reviews, and Safety in Design practices.

Skills

Process safety

Risk assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Safety in design

Leadership

Incident investigations

Auditing

Mentoring

Education

Process Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Job description

About Copper SA Operations At BHP

BHP is a global resources company operating across more than 90 locations worldwide, with a purpose to improve lives and support a more sustainable future. Through Copper South Australia (Copper SA), we are building a leading copper portfolio that supports the global energy transition, supplying materials essential for renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure. For you, this is an exciting opportunity to grow your career, make a meaningful impact, and help shape the future of one of Australia's leading copper businesses.

About Copper SA Operations At BHP

BHP is a global resources company operating across more than 90 locations worldwide, with a purpose to improve lives and support a more sustainable future. Through Copper South Australia (Copper SA), we are building a leading copper portfolio that supports the global energy transition, supplying materials essential for renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure. For you, this is an exciting opportunity to grow your career, make a meaningful impact, and help shape the future of one of Australia's leading copper businesses.

We currently have a vacancy for a Principal Process Safety Engineer – Project Governance, reporting to the Superintendent Process Safety. This Adelaide-based role offers the opportunity to provide specialist process safety leadership and governance across Copper SA operations and major growth projects, while partnering with operational, project, and risk teams to enable safe and reliable outcomes.

The Challenge Ahead

As a Principal Process Safety Engineer, you will play a critical role in strengthening process safety outcomes across Copper SA's project portfolio and operational sites. You will provide expert technical leadership and governance to support major expansion projects, ensuring process safety principles are effectively embedded from design through to execution. Working across multiple stakeholders, you will help shape consistent safety standards, support risk-informed decision-making, and influence the development of safer, more reliable facilities. Your expertise will contribute to the successful delivery of Safety in Design initiatives, process safety risk management, and technical assurance activities that protect our people, assets, environment, and communities. This role offers the opportunity to apply your deep technical knowledge while coaching and mentoring others, building capability across project and operational teams, and contributing to a strong process safety culture throughout Copper SA.

What You'll Bring To The Role

You are an experienced process safety professional who combines strong technical expertise with a collaborative and influential approach. You are comfortable working across complex operational and project environments and enjoy partnering with diverse stakeholders to solve challenging problems and improve outcomes.

To Be Successful, You Will Bring

• Tertiary qualifications in Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.


• Strong operational engineering and project experience within the mining, chemical, petroleum, or other complex processing industries, ideally within a Major Hazard Facility environment.


• Well-established experience developing, implementing, and maintaining Process Safety Management frameworks.


• Experience in process safety incident investigations, auditing activities, and engagement with regulators.


• Advanced capability in qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methodologies, including facilitating Process Hazard Analysis workshops and risk assessments.


• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex information into practical solutions.


• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide specialist process safety engineering support and governance for major Copper SA expansion and capital projects.


• Deliver technical assurance and oversight of Safety in Design activities and project deliverables.


• Support project teams in applying process safety standards and risk management practices aligned with the Copper SA Integrated Management System.


• Assess project impacts on Major Hazard Facility risk profiles and support planning for updates to bowtie risk assessments, process safety material risks, and critical controls.


• Coach, mentor, and provide technical guidance to project teams, operational teams, and developing Process Safety Engineers.


• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen process safety capability and culture across projects.


• Enhance hazard identification processes, design reviews, and Safety in Design practices.


• Promote consistency in process safety expectations and compliance to support safe, reliable, and efficient project delivery.


• Lead field leadership activities, including Layered Audits and Planned Task Confirmations.

Work Location

This position is based in Adelaide, South Australia, on a Monday to Friday roster with occasional travel to Copper SA operations and project sites as required. The role offers the opportunity to work closely with both operational and project teams across one of Australia's most significant copper portfolios.

Why You'll Love Working Here

Benefits

• Grow your career your way, with opportunities to develop and move across BHP


• Be rewarded with competitive pay, performance bonuses and our BHP employee share plan


• Work in an inclusive team where people support each other every day


• Enjoy flexibility and family-friendly options that help you balance work and life


• Access wellbeing support, including 24/7 confidential assistance for you and your family


• Build your future with benefits like paid parental leave, recognition programs, etc.

And so much more!

Applications close 5pm Wednesday 30th September 2026.

About Our Process

At BHP, we are committed to employing individuals who align with the BHP Charter Values and meet the requirements of the role. As part of the recruitment process, there are several checks which may be conducted to demonstrate applicants’ suitability for a role including police / criminal background checks, medical, drug and alcohol testing, due diligence checks, right to work checks, and/or reference checks.

We Support a Diverse Workforce

At BHP, we believe diversity makes us stronger. We’re committed to creating a safe, inclusive workplace where everyone is treated fairly and can thrive. Our workforce reflects the communities where we operate, and we value all aspects of identity; gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, education, and more. We ensure that our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and equitable. If you have a disability and need adjustments, please contact us at [e-mail].