Engineer- Tailings & Water

Rio Tinto; California (MO); On-site; USD 92,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

Health programs

Retirement plan

Share ownership plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Discount programs

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Rio Tinto Borates in California is seeking a Tailings & Water Engineer to join site operations. You will support tailings storage facility integrity, operate day-to-day ponds, and collaborate with site leadership to ensure design intent and safety standards are met.

This role offers exposure to cutting-edge modeling with GoldSim, drone-based inspections, and cross-functional teamwork across HSEC, regulatory, and engineering disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an ABET-accredited engineering program (geotechnical, civil, chemical).
• Master's degree in Mining or Geotechnical Engineering is highly regarded.
• Experience in GISTM compliance and tailings governance is required.
• Experience with tailings facility operations, surveillance, drone inspections, and risk management.
• On-site liaison with interdisciplinary stakeholders and strong communication skills.
• Project or client management experience; proactive learning approach; EIT preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of tailings ponds and facilities per design intent.
• Conduct drone-based photogrammetry, thermal, and LiDAR scans; pursue UAV Part 107 certification.
• Develop and maintain GoldSim models for tailings and water management.
• Report incidents per D5 standards; maintain OMS manual; monitor and report data.
• Coordinate with EoR, Designer of Record, projects, HSEC, and regulatory teams.
• Assist with compliance to Rio Tinto Standards for tailings and water storage risk.
• Support short- and long-term planning with Responsible Dam Engineer; audits and regulatory visits.

Job description

Tailings & Water Engineer - Rio Tinto Borates and Lithium

• Join our global leading businessoffering outstanding personal development & global career opportunities
• Permanent employment which includes a huge range of additional benefits
• Be part of a group that is safety driven and values inclusion - Boron, California
• For California based roles the expected annual salary range is $92-240 - $126,830

About The Role

We are looking for a Tailings & Water Engineer to join our team. Working with site operations and having access to Rio Tinto Experts, you will be responsible for providing technical support to site and project teams ensuring the safe and efficient operation of tailings and water storage facilities. You will collaborate with site leadership teams to ensure tailings storage facility integrity is maintained and the operations of tailings storage facilities is in accordance with the design intent and operational plan.

Rio Tinto Borates is a global leader in industrial mineral supply and science. We provide 30 per cent of the world's supply of refined borates, remarkable minerals that are essential to life and to modern living.

Also known for its 20 Mule Team Borax brand, Rio Tinto Borates traces its roots to California's Death Valley, where borate deposits were discovered in 1872. The twenty-mule teams Borax used to haul ore out of the remote desert live on as a symbol of our commitment to innovation. Rio Tinto Borates distinguishes itself through world-class safety, environmental and community practices, and a commitment to constant innovation and improvement. For more information about Borax and its world-class operations, please visit http //www.borax.com

This role is a great opportunity for a self-motivated Engineer to see immediate results in plant efficiency, output and quality improvements as well as project implementation improvements. Reporting to the Process Principal Advisor, you will be

• Managing day-to-day operations of the Tailings Ponds
• Operating/managing the facilities in accordance with the design intent
• Conducting drone-based photogrammetry, thermal, and LiDAR scans, with willingness to obtain a UAV FAA Part 107 certification
• Develop and maintain GoldSim models for tailings and water management
• Keeping D5 Nominated Manager and Responsible Dam Engineer informed of the performance of the facilities
• Reporting on all D5 Standard related incidents
• Upkeep of OMS (Operations, Maintenance, and Surveillance) Manual
• Accountable for arranging collection, evaluation, and reporting of monitoring data as per the OMS Manual
• Responsible, alongside the Responsible Dam Engineer, for liaising with the Engineer of Record, Designer of Record, Projects, HSEC, legal, communities and social performance and regulatory affairs and environment teams
• Responsible for the monitoring system and communication of the results to the EoR, including performance reviews
• Responsible for the implementation of a change management system
• Support with compliance with Rio Tinto's Standards with an emphasis on Tailings and Water Storage Facility Risk Management
• Have experience, knowledge, and competencies appropriate to the complexity of the facility and consequence classification
• Have experience undertaking scoping of studies, site investigations and risk management for tailings facilities
• Routinely communicate with the site management team on important tailings pond safety matters
• Work with fixed plant personnel to reduce tailings and conserve water
• Responsible for short-term planning of facilities by use of a quantitative model and weekly maintenance meetings
• Supporting medium-, and long-term planning with Responsible Dam Engineer
• Participate in internal and external Tailings Audits
• Participate in regulatory visits and inspections to Tailings Ponds
• Assist Environmental team with Water, Air, and Land Compliance with Pond Operations
• Managing contractors with routine maintenance and site studies of the Ponds
• Responsible for minor improvement projects of the Ponds

What you'll bring

To succeed in this highly visible leadership role you will need

• Bachelor's degree qualification in a relevant engineering subject (geotechnical, civil, chemical) from ABET accredited university
• Candidates with a Master's Degree from an ABET accredited university in Mining or Geotechnical Engineering will be highly regarded
• Experience supporting GISTM compliance and tailings governance requirements is required
• Experience with tailings facility operations, surveillance, instrumentation monitoring, drone-based inspections, regulatory compliance, contractor coordination, and risk management
• You will have experience on site, liaising with interdisciplinary stakeholders
• Program, project or client management experience
• A proactive approach to learning and development, open to collaborating in a team environment
• Excellent Communication skills both written and verbal
• Valid Driver's License
• EIT preferred

What We Offer

Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you've helped the world progress

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits
• Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you're able to spend quality time with your new family
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life's challenges

Where you'll be working

Rio Tinto Borates is a global leader in industrial mineral supply and science. We supply approximately 25% of the world's demand for refined borates, minerals essential to life and modern living. We seek to create mutual value by working closely with our investment partners and host communities. Our 20 Mule Team Borax brand pays tribute to our first borates mining operation in Death Valley in 1872.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs - striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can't do it on our own, so we're focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Respect and Inclusion

Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.

Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http //www.ucis.gov/ for more information.