Principal Engineering | BHP Chile

BHP; Antofagasta; On-site; CLP 9,000,000 - 15,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional Development

Competitive compensation

Inclusive culture

Recognition program Big Thanks

Job summary

BHP Chile seeks a senior Process/Metallurgical Engineer to lead discipline engineering activities for concentrator studies and capital projects at Escondida. You will define process design criteria, oversee test work, and coordinate with project teams to deliver safe, efficient outcomes.

Required are a bachelor’s in engineering (Metallurgical/Chemical/Process) with at least 10 years in mining, plus professional English. Postgraduate qualifications and cost Estimating experience are a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (or similar).
• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical, Chemical or Process Engineering, or an equivalent relevant discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in mining projects, concentrator studies, engineering or operations.
• Professional working proficiency in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Implements Discipline Engineering strategy, plans, processes, and systems for capital projects.
• Assures the discipline engineering performed by 3rd parties against fit for purpose discipline standards that meet operational, risk, quality and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborates with Project and other Engineering leaders to ensure the provision of appropriately skilled Discipline Engineering resources, with fit for purpose processes and tools, are available.
• Collaborates with Commissioning and Construction, ensuring engineering is developed to support commissioning and construction methodologies, strategies, and systems.
• Drives adoption of Operation’s discipline engineering standards into the scope and/or collaborates with Operations Engineering to create new discipline engineering standards where required.
• Integrates and applies internal lessons learned and external best practices across the project with identified opportunities for improvements in project management, increased capital efficiency and productivity.
• Coaches and mentors discipline engineering talent and capability.
• Leads process and metallurgical engineering activities across study, design and execution phases, aligning project KPIs and technical outcomes with business objectives.
• Plans, coordinates and reviews laboratory and pilot plant metallurgical test work, including scope definition, contractor and equipment selection, supervision, data quality and reporting.
• Owns and verifies the development of concentrator process flowsheets, mass and water balances, design criteria, equipment duties and process control philosophies, with particular emphasis on comminution and flotation.
• Leads technical option assessments, trade-off studies and reviews of available and emerging process technologies to support transparent, risk-informed selection of the final process route and equipment.
• Provides process engineering input to geometallurgical models and ensures that ore variability, metallurgical response and operating requirements are appropriately reflected in project design.
• Performs and verifies process design calculations and applies operational, maintenance, constructability and commissioning knowledge to evaluate solution effectiveness and readiness for implementation.
• Manages metallurgical testing and specialist process consultants, including scope, schedule, interfaces, deliverable quality and technical resolution of issues.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor in Metallurgical, Chemical or Process Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (or similar)

Job description

About BHP
At BHP Chile, our corporate office in Santiago is the strategic heart of our operations in the country. From here, we lead projects that drive responsible mining and innovation, connecting local impact with BHP’s global vision. We are part of a company dedicated to natural resources, present in more than 90 locations worldwide, committed to creating a more sustainable future.

About BHP
At BHP Chile, our corporate office in Santiago is the strategic heart of our operations in the country. From here, we lead projects that drive responsible mining and innovation, connecting local impact with BHP’s global vision. We are part of a company dedicated to natural resources, present in more than 90 locations worldwide, committed to creating a more sustainable future.

Why BHP Chile?
Here, you’ll have the opportunity to grow in an organization that values diversity, fosters professional development, and invests in technologies that transform the mining industry. At BHP Chile, you can make a real impact on the community and the environment while building your career in a company recognized for its inclusive culture and commitment to the future.

The challenged Ahead
Provides technical expertise in leading engineering strategies, standards and frameworks that ensure the engineering process and design is optimised and enables safe, efficient construction, commissioning and operation.

For Process/Metallurgical Engineering, provides discipline leadership for concentrator studies and capital projects, including process design criteria, metallurgical test work, flowsheet development, mass balances, technology and equipment selection, P&IDs review, process control philosophy, and technical assurance across the project lifecycle.

Responsabilities

• Implements Discipline Engineering strategy, plans, processes, and systems for capital projects
• Assures the discipline engineering performed by 3rd parties against fit for purpose discipline standards that meet operational, risk, quality and regulatory requirements
• Collaborates with Project and other Engineering leaders to ensure the provision of appropriately skilled Discipline Engineering resources, with fit for purpose processes and tools, are available
• Collaborates with Commissioning and Construction, ensuring engineering is developed to support commissioning and construction methodologies, strategies, and systems.
• Drives adoption of Operation’s discipline engineering standards into the scope and/or collaborates with Operations Engineering to create new discipline engineering standards where required
• Integrates and applies internal lessons learned and external best practices across the project with identified opportunities for improvements in project management, increased capital efficiency and productivity
• Coaches and mentors discipline engineering talent and capability
• Leads process and metallurgical engineering activities across study, design and execution phases, aligning project KPIs and technical outcomes with business objectives.
• Plans, coordinates and reviews laboratory and pilot plant metallurgical test work, including scope definition, contractor and equipment selection, supervision, data quality and reporting.
• Owns and verifies the development of concentrator process flowsheets, mass and water balances, design criteria, equipment duties and process control philosophies, with particular emphasis on comminution and flotation.
• Leads technical option assessments, trade-off studies and reviews of available and emerging process technologies to support transparent, risk-informed selection of the final process route and equipment.
• Provides process engineering input to geometallurgical models and ensures that ore variability, metallurgical response and operating requirements are appropriately reflected in project design.
• Performs and verifies process design calculations and applies operational, maintenance, constructability and commissioning knowledge to evaluate solution effectiveness and readiness for implementation.
• Manages metallurgical testing and specialist process consultants, including scope, schedule, interfaces, deliverable quality and technical resolution of issues.

Required

What we expect from you

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (or similar).
• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical, Chemical or Process Engineering, or an equivalent relevant discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in mining projects, concentrator studies, engineering or operations.
• Professional working proficiency in spoken and written English.

Recommended

• Postgraduate qualification in process, metallurgical or project engineering.
• Experience with cost estimating, project execution planning and scheduling for mining projects.

Job Location: Escondida

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At BHP Chile, we understand that to give your best, you need to feel your best. That’s why our benefits are designed to support you at every stage, caring for your health, driving your development, and promoting a real balance between your personal and professional life.

• Professional Development: Continuous learning and real growth opportunities.
• Compensation: Fair and competitive, reflecting your role, skills, and achievements.
• Inclusive Culture: We promote a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and free to express their authentic identity.
• Recognition: We reward your achievements through our global recognition program Big Thanks | Muchas Gracias.

About Our Process

At BHP, we hire people who align with our values and meet the role requirements. As part of the process, we may review compliance with minimum requirements.

We Support a Diverse Workforce

We know diversity makes us stronger. That’s why we focus on creating a more diverse workforce that represents the communities where we operate and live, ensuring a workplace where everyone is included and treated with respect.

We are committed to a fair, equitable, and accessible selection process for all. If you have any type of disability, please write to [e-mail] so we can adjust our selection process and provide the necessary support.