Project Engineer Construction - Surface

SOUTH32 Limited; Arizona; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual short-term incentive bonus

Retirement match

4 weeks paid time off

12 weeks parental leave

Job summary

South32 Group Operations Pty. Ltd. seeks a Project Engineer, Construction - Surface for the Hermosa Project near Patagonia, Arizona.

You will coordinate and support surface construction activities across plants, roads, water management, and power infrastructure, under safety, schedule, and budget commitments. The role collaborates with engineering teams, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver projects safely and to quality standards, aligning with environmental and community commitments, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in large mining, industrial, or infrastructure construction.
• Experience coordinating engineering deliverables, documentation, and vendor information.
• Strong safety culture and cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Safety, environmental, and community leadership for project sites.
• Coordinate and support surface construction activities by contractors.
• Review schedules, monitor risks, and support recovery plans.
• Coordinate information between owners, engineers, vendors and contractors.
• Support BIM/VDC initiatives and quality control efforts.
• Provide coaching and coordination across project teams.

Skills

Project coordination

Safety leadership

Stakeholder engagement

English communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel/Word)

Job description

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Company: South32 Group Operations Pty. Ltd.

Discover a Brighter Future

At South32, we’re meeting the challenge of enabling a sustainable future through our focus on responsibly producing commodities critical for a low‑carbon world.

As a collaborative, caring and inclusive company, there’s no better place to make a genuine difference. Together we’re making a positive, global impact that has the potential to change lives.

Whatever career path you choose, we’ll support you every step of the way to learn, grow and succeed. So join us, step towards a brighter future and leave your legacy.

ABOUT Hermosa

Hermosa, located approximately 75 miles south‑east of Tucson, Arizona, is the only advanced mining project in the United States as of 2023 that could produce two federally designated critical minerals—manganese and zinc—as well as silver and lead. The project has the potential to help power the nation’s clean energy future, strengthen the domestic supply chain of critical minerals, grow the local economy, and improve lives in Santa Cruz County and the surrounding community for generations to come.

WHAT SOUTH32 OFFERS

• Annual short‑term incentive bonus that recognizes both your individual performance and the overall success of the business.
• When you choose to contribute more into your retirement savings, South32 will match it up to a certain percentage.
• South32 provides you with 4 weeks paid time off.
• 12 weeks full‑paid parental leave for primary carers and 2 weeks full‑paid parental leave for secondary carers

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Project Engineer, Construction - Surface plays a key role in delivering major surface infrastructure projects that support the development of the Hermosa Project. This position is responsible for coordinating and supporting construction activities across a diverse portfolio of facilities and infrastructure, including process plants, roads, water management systems, power distribution infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and administrative buildings.

Working closely with engineering teams, project controls, contractors, consultants, and site stakeholders, you will help ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with quality, schedule, budget, environmental, and community commitments.

This role is a site‑based position located at the Hermosa Project, near Patagonia, Arizona.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety, Environmental, and Community Leadership
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure all work is executed safely and in compliance with company standards.
• Support achievement of South32's health, safety, and business objectives.
• Ensure construction activities comply with environmental management plans, regulatory obligations, and permit requirements.
• Promote alignment with community engagement commitments and responsible development practices.
• Participate in field inspections, risk assessments, and safety initiatives to drive continuous improvement.

Construction Planning and Execution

• Coordinate and support the execution of surface construction activities performed by contractors and subcontractors.
• Assist in developing sourcing and execution strategies for major construction work packages.
• Review and monitor project schedules, identify risks, and support implementation of recovery plans when required.
• Coordinate engineering deliverables and technical information between owners, engineers, vendors, and contractors.
• Support constructability reviews, HAZOP studies, commissioning planning, and operational readiness activities.
• Assist with development and revision of construction procedures and execution plans.

Contractor and Stakeholder Management

• Build effective working relationships with contractors, consultants, engineering teams, and operational stakeholders.
• Monitor contractor performance and collaborate with stakeholders to resolve issues and improve outcomes.
• Coordinate contractor risk assessments and support implementation of mitigation measures.
• Manage the issuance and tracking of owner‑supplied equipment and bulk materials.
• Coordinate site services support required for successful project delivery.

Project Controls and Governance

• Support annual budget preparation in partnership with the Project Controls team.
• Assist with progress reporting, cost tracking, forecasting, and performance measurement.
• Ensure compliance with South32 change management processes and project governance requirements.
• Coordinate equipment and material deliveries, including care and preservation requirements.
• Support preparation of construction documentation and upcoming work packages.

Digital Construction and Quality

• Support implementation of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) initiatives.
• Monitor VDC and digital construction performance metrics.
• Ensure work is completed in accordance with applicable quality standards, industry codes, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in site quality improvement initiatives and continuous improvement programs.
• Review and update construction execution documentation to ensure alignment with project requirements.

Leadership and Development

• Provide guidance, coaching, and support to project personnel and contractors.
• Assist with assigning, scheduling, reviewing, and coordinating work activities.
• Support development of high‑performing teams focused on safety, quality, and execution excellence.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, and professional growth across project teams.
  

ABOUT YOU

You are a construction professional who thrives in fast‑paced project environments and enjoys solving complex challenges. You bring strong technical expertise, field leadership, and the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders while maintaining a focus on safety, quality, schedule, and budget performance.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline; alternatively, a technical degree with relevant trade qualifications.
• Minimum 6 years of experience supporting large‑scale mining, industrial, or infrastructure construction projects.
• Experience coordinating engineering deliverables, technical documentation, and vendor information.
• Experience managing contractors, subcontractors, and construction service providers.
• Experience managing project logistics and construction resources.
• Experience working with both union and non‑union workforces.
• Demonstrated success developing and maintaining a strong safety culture.
• Experience implementing environmental compliance requirements in construction environments.
• Knowledge of engineering principles, construction methods, trade practices, and industry standards.
• Understanding of project management principles related to scope, cost, schedule, quality, and risk management.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to work effectively within diverse and cross‑cultural teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word.
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills.
• Ability to operate a company vehicle and meet company driving and insurance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting major mining projects from design through commissioning.
• Experience with process plant, water treatment, power, civil, or heavy industrial infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with Building Information Modeling (BIM), Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), or other digital construction tools.
• Experience supporting commissioning, handover, and operational readiness programs.
• Knowledge of construction contract administration and procurement processes.

South32 is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate. We provide a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible for all and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.