Senior Project Engineer

Core Lithium Ltd; Darwin; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Residential in Darwin

Mon-Fri on site

Job summary

Core Lithium's Finniss Lithium Operation near Darwin is seeking an experienced Principal's representative for BP33 underground construction. Based in Darwin, you will oversee engineering, construction and contractor activity with direct access to the Construction Manager.

You'll lead design interfaces, manage contractor methods and schedules, and ensure quality, safety and environmental standards on site through to commissioning and handover in mid-2027.

Qualifications

• Degree in civil, structural or mechanical engineering, construction management or a related discipline
• At least 8 years in engineering and project delivery on mining, resources, infrastructure or major construction projects
• A track record managing quality with contractors on multidisciplinary construction projects
• Strong grasp of construction methodologies, contract administration and project controls
• Current Australian driver's licence
• Chartered Professional Engineer or on the way there (Nice to have)
• Contract administration under major mining or processing infrastructure contracts (Nice to have)
• Project management qualifications or leadership training (Nice to have)

Responsibilities

• Own the engineering interfaces: constructability reviews, RFIs, design clarifications and controlled documentation
• Hold contractors to their methodologies, work packs, programs and quality obligations
• Drive schedule discipline with look-ahead plans, recovery strategies and early calls on risk
• Review progress claims and variations, and keep the Construction Manager across commercial exposure
• Verify quality in the field: ITPs, hold and witness points, non-conformances and turnover records
• Carry the asset through commissioning, punch-list close-out and handover to operations

Skills

Construction management

Contract administration

Project controls

Quality management

Field engineering

Education

Civil/Structural/Mechanical Eng

Job description

Finniss Lithium Operation, NT | Residential (Darwin based) | Monday to Friday | Maximum term to end 2027

• Owner's representative on BP33, a new underground mine being built right now
• Monday to Friday, home every night, no camp
• Lean project team: your recommendations go straight to the Construction Manager

Most senior project engineers spend their careers reviewing someone else's work. On BP33, you'll be the Principal's eyes on the ground while the mine takes shape.

Core Lithium is back in production. Our Finniss Lithium Operation, 88 km south of Darwin, produced its first spodumene concentrate of the restart in September 2026, with the Grants open pit feeding the plant and the BP33 underground mine taking shape to carry the operation for more than a decade.

Our Projects team builds the infrastructure BP33 depends on: the pads and infrastructure for the power station, ventilation and paste plant. Develop mobilised in June, the portal is cut and the decline is advancing toward first ore in mid-2027. It is project delivery on a live operating site, with a lean owner's team and clear accountability.

Why this one works

• Attractive salary package plus superannuation
• Monday to Friday, residential in Darwin, home every night
• Maximum term to the end of 2027, through construction and handover of BP33 infrastructure
• Owner's-side authority: recommend approval of contractor methodologies, issue technical directions, stop work where safety, quality or environment demand it
• A safety record worth protecting: FY26 closed with zero recordable injuries

What You'll Be Doing

You'll report to the Construction Manager as the Principal's representative across engineering, construction and contractor activity on BP33, with Project Engineers and graduates looking to you for direction.

• Own the engineering interfaces: constructability reviews, RFIs, design clarifications and controlled documentation
• Hold contractors to their methodologies, work packs, programs and quality obligations
• Drive schedule discipline with look-ahead plans, recovery strategies and early calls on risk
• Review progress claims and variations, and keep the Construction Manager across commercial exposure
• Verify quality in the field: ITPs, hold and witness points, non-conformances and turnover records
• Carry the asset through commissioning, punch-list close-out and handover to operations

What You'll Bring

Must haves

• Degree in civil, structural or mechanical engineering, construction management or a related discipline
• At least 8 years in engineering and project delivery on mining, resources, infrastructure or major construction projects
• A track record managing quality with contractors on multidisciplinary construction projects
• Strong grasp of construction methodologies, contract administration and project controls
• Current Australian driver's licence

Nice to haves

• Chartered Professional Engineer, or on the way there
• Contract administration under major mining or processing infrastructure contracts
• Project management qualifications or leadership training

If you're the engineer who walks the work front rather than waiting for the report, and would rather solve an interface problem today than argue it in a claim next month, you'll fit right in.

Life in the Top End

Finniss is within commuting distance of Darwin, so your days end at home, not in a donga. Darwin is a relaxed, multicultural harbour city with a dry season (roughly May to October) made for the outdoors: barramundi fishing, Mindil Beach Sunset Market, Litchfield and Berry Springs, and Kakadu for a long weekend. The build-up and wet season are part of the deal, and locals love the storms.

About Core Lithium

Core Lithium (ASX: CXO) owns the Finniss Lithium Operation, an established mine and processing plant on more than 500 km² of tenure in the Bynoe Pegmatite Field. After a disciplined, fully funded restart, Finniss is ramping up toward 1.2 million tonnes a year by mid-2028 for the global battery supply chain. We're a lean producer: short lines to decision makers and work that shows.

Successful applicants will be required to complete pre-employment checks, including a medical assessment, drug and alcohol screen and National Police Check.

Applicants must hold full Australian working rights.

Core Lithium does not accept unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies.