Hydrometallurgy Lead Engineer – Hybrid Metal Recovery

Placements24; Kimberley; Hybrid; CAD 103,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Professional growth opportunities

Medical aid and retirement fund

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly specialized Chemical Engineer with expertise in hydrometallurgy to join an innovation team in Kimberley, Northern Cape. You will lead R&D initiatives, conduct pilot studies, and support scale-up of hydrometallurgical processes for metal recovery from ore concentrates and waste streams.

The role requires deep knowledge of leaching, SX, IX, and precipitation, with emphasis on aqueous chemistry and thermodynamics.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, or related field.
• 7+ years in hydrometallurgical process development/operations in mining.
• Experience with leaching, SX, IX, and precipitation processes.
• Strong background in aqueous chemistry, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics.
• Pilot plant operation and scale-up experience.
• Proficiency with process simulation software.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot hydrometallurgical processes for metal extraction and refining.
• Conduct laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to evaluate process performance and economics.
• Analyze process data, interpret results, and develop recommendations for operational improvements.
• Design and specify equipment for hydrometallurgical circuits (e.g., reactors, thickeners, filters).
• Collaborate with geologists, metallurgists, and process engineers to integrate chemical processes into the overall mining value chain.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations related to chemical usage and effluent discharge.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, feasibility studies, and process design documents.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and best practices in hydrometallurgy.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers and chemists.

Skills

Hydrometallurgy

Leaching

Solvent extraction

Ion exchange

Precipitation

Aqueous chemistry

Electrochemistry

Chemical thermodynamics

Pilot plant operation

Scale-up of processes

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in Chemical Engineering

PhD in Chemical Engineering or Metallurgy

Metallurgy focus

Tools

Process simulation software

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a highly specialized Chemical Engineer with expertise in hydrometallurgy to join an innovation team in Kimberley, Northern Cape. You will lead R&D initiatives, conduct pilot studies, and support scale-up of hydrometallurgical processes for metal recovery from ore concentrates and waste streams.

The role requires deep knowledge of leaching, SX, IX, and precipitation, with emphasis on aqueous chemistry and thermodynamics.