Senior Metallurgist - Autoclave

Metso; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company in the Riyadh Region seeks a Senior Metallurgist to optimize gold processing operations at its remote facility. Candidates should have over 8 years of experience in hydrometallurgy, particularly with autoclave operations. This position involves monitoring metallurgical performance, conducting analyses, and collaborating with laboratory staff. Strong communication skills and a background in chemical engineering are essential. Accommodation and transportation are provided.

Benefits

Accommodation provided

Transportation to/from site

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in gold processing or pressure oxidation.
• Strong knowledge of acid-base chemistry and solid-liquid separation.
• Ability to troubleshoot process upsets and equipment issues.

Responsibilities

• Monitor daily performance of metallurgical processes for stability and safety.
• Recommend process adjustments to optimize recovery and reduce reagent consumption.
• Prepare daily and monthly metallurgical performance reports.

Skills

Metallurgical engineering

Chemical engineering

Hydrometallurgy

Process optimization

Data interpretation

Chemical analysis methods

Communication

English (written and spoken)

Education

Bachelor's degree in metallurgical or chemical engineering

Tools

AAS

ICP-OES

Redox/pH probes

Job description

Overview

Metso Saudi Arabia is looking for a Senior Metallurgist for Autoclave to a gold processing plant. The site is in a remote area, accommodation is provided at a camp close to the site. Working time is 12 hours/day, 6 days a week. The site operates with a roster; transportation and flights to/from site are provided by Metso. The purpose of the job is to monitor, optimize, and improve metallurgical performance across the autoclave, acidulation, neutralization, and filter press circuits of the gold processing plant. The role involves conducting and coordinating metallurgical analysis, reviewing day-to-day operations, and making timely adjustments to ensure plant stability, recovery, and compliance with safety and environmental standards. The Metallurgist will work closely with laboratory staff to ensure required analyses are carried out accurately and used effectively in decision-making.

As work will be in an isolated location, we expect the candidate to have previous experience of a similar environment and to be able to work with the team on site together with customer crews.

Location: Saudi Arabia

Following requirements to manage the role

Responsibilities

• Monitor the daily performance of the autoclave, acidulation, neutralization, and filter press circuits, ensuring safe, efficient, and stable operation.
• Track and analyze key parameters, such as:
• Autoclave: sulfide sulfur oxidation, acid balance, temperature, pressure, oxygen utilization, and free acid levels.
• Acidulation/Neutralization: pH, redox potential, lime consumption, scaling potential, and gypsum formation.
• Filter Press: filtration cycle times, cake moisture, filtrate clarity, bunker levels, and sulfur content in filter cake.
• Review plant laboratory results and request additional analysis when required, including:
• Sulfide sulfur (S²⁻) and sulfate (SO₄²⁻) measurements.
• Dissolved oxygen, free acidity, and carbonate levels.
• Residual cyanide impact on downstream circuits.
• Sulfur content and elemental sulfur balance in filter products.
• Work closely with the Laboratory Metallurgist and lab technicians to ensure all critical tests are carried out accurately and on time.
• Recommend and implement process adjustments to optimize recovery, reduce reagent consumption, and prevent scaling, corrosion, or filtration bottlenecks. Examples include:
• Adjusting oxygen injection and slurry density in the autoclave.
• Optimizing lime addition rates in neutralization.
• Controlling temperature and acid dosing to maintain circuit balance.
• Modifying filter press operation parameters to improve throughput and cake quality.
• Conduct troubleshooting and root cause investigations of process upsets, equipment scaling, filtration issues, or unusual assay results.
• Prepare daily and monthly metallurgical reports, highlighting trends, issues, and improvement opportunities.
• Support metallurgical test work programs to evaluate new reagents, operating conditions, or equipment modifications.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and metallurgical accounting standards.

Basic requirements

• Bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, or related discipline.
• 8+ years' experience in hydrometallurgy or gold processing, preferably in pressure oxidation (POX), autoclave operations, or associated circuits.
• Strong knowledge of acid-base chemistry, sulfide oxidation reactions, neutralization, and solid-liquid separation.
• Hands-on experience with plant and laboratory analysis methods (AAS, ICP-OES, titrations, redox/pH probes).
• Ability to interpret data and translate into actionable process improvements.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with laboratory, operations, and maintenance teams.
• English skills (written and spoken).

Technical competence

• Metal Accounting/ Materials Testing and Analysis/ Sample Preparation and Examination/ Chemical and Physical Analyses/ Equipment Operation and Maintenance/ Collaboration and Reporting
• Process Monitoring & Optimization
• Metallurgical Analysis & Interpretation
• Filter Press & Solid-Liquid Separation Knowledge
• Lab Coordination & Data Validation
• Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting
• Technical Reporting & Communication
• Safety & Environmental Compliance

Collaboration and stakeholders

• Cooperation with all stakeholders at the site
• Cooperation with all stakeholders in the market area
• Customer representatives
• Officials and associations

How to join

How to join the Metso team: Working at Metso, About Metso, Diversity and Inclusion, Meet our people.

Metso is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran or status as a qualified individual with a disability.

Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. We improve our customers\' energy and water efficiency, increase their productivity, and reduce environmental risks with our product and service expertise. We are the partner for positive change. Metso is headquartered in Espoo, Finland. At the end of 2024 Metso had close to 17,000 employees in around 50 countries, and sales in 2024 were about EUR 4.9 billion. Metso is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.