Senior Metallurgical Technician

Iluka Resources; Eneabba; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Camp accommodation

Job summary

Iluka Resources is expanding its new rare earths refinery at Eneabba, WA. We are seeking a Senior Metallurgical Technician to lead the commissioning and operation of the water treatment and RO plant on dayshift, reporting to the Technical Manager.

You will guide a team of in-field operators and ensure process reliability in a challenging, industrial environment. The role requires 5+ years of water treatment plant experience, RO systems knowledge, and strong English communication.

Qualifications

• Five+ years operating a water treatment plant including RO systems.
• Ability to manage plant water balance across seasons using field observations and laboratory data.
• Fluent in verbal and written English.

Responsibilities

• Undertake water and fluid commissioning in all refinery areas.
• First fills of MMFs and RO chemicals.
• Develop and implement membrane cleaning-in-place strategy.
• Manage plant water balance seasonally.
• Lead change-out of RO membranes.
• Coach and train in-field operators.
• Undertake representative and safe in-field sampling.
• Create trends to assist in problem-solving.
• Create, follow and refine RO Plant operating & maintenance procedures.
• Support sampling, surveying, testing, and problem solving for the wider refinery.

Skills

Water treatment

RO operations

English fluency

Job description

• Join Australia's first fully integrated rare earths refinery
• Site-based - Eneabba, WA
• 5:2, 4:3 roster

Iluka Resources is a leading global producer of critical minerals, zircon and high-grade titanium dioxide feedstocks. In partnership with the Australian Government, Iluka is developing Australia’s first fully integrated rare earths refinery at Eneabba in Western Australia’s Mid West. The refinery will produce both light and heavy separated rare earth oxides, supporting diversified global supply chains for minerals essential to defence, renewable energy, electric vehicles, robotics and advanced technologies.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Water Treatment and Reverse Osmosis Operator to fulfil the position of Senior Metallurgical Technician on dayshift, reporting to the Technical Manager. The production personnel on continuous shift will run the plant. The Senior Metallurgical Technician will take the lead role for commissioning the plant and play an oversight role during operation.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the refinery's future, with new camp accommodation and facilities provided.

Key responsibilities

• Undertake water and fluid commissioning in all areas of the refinery
• First fills of MMFs and RO chemicals,
• Develop and implement membrane clean-in-place strategy
• Manage plant water balance seasonally,
• Lead change out of RO membranes
• Coach and train in-field operators
• Undertake representative and safe in-field sampling
• Creation of trends to assist in problem-solving
• Create, follow and refine RO Plant operational & maintenance procedures
• As part of the technical team, play a part sampling, surveying, testing, and problem solving the wider refinery.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• More than five years operating a water treatment plant including multi media filtration, softening, reverse osmosis, clean-in-place systems and related processes
• A demonstrated ability to understand and manage the plant water balance throughout the different seasons with a combination of in-field look/listen/smell/feel observations, evaporation/rainfall/water recovery calculations, trend analysis and assessment of laboratory assays
• Fluent in verbal and written English

What We Offer

We are committed to upholding our Business Values, supporting equal opportunities, gender equality and cultural diversity.

If you share our values of Integrity, Respect, Courage, Accountability and Collaboration; and you have the skills and experience to help us to succeed and deliver sustainable value,

Applications close: 21 October 2026

“We respect and encourage diversity in a workforce that reflects our communities.”