Project Engineer, Senior - Concentrator

SOUTH32 Limited; Patagonia (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

Retirement matching

Paid time off (4 weeks)

Parental leave 12 weeks

Job summary

South32 Group Operations Pty. Ltd. is hiring a Senior Project Engineer – Concentrator at the Hermosa Project site near Patagonia, Arizona.

Lead construction engineering programs and provide technical leadership across disciplines, ensuring safety, quality, and compliance while coordinating with project teams, contractors, and vendors. This role requires strong planning, cost control, risk management, and stakeholders engagement to deliver major process facilities and infrastructure on schedule

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in large-scale mining, industrial, or heavy civil construction.
• Experience leading construction engineering on multi-discipline teams.
• Experience coordinating engineering deliverables and vendor information.
• Experience managing union and non-union workforces.
• Experience overseeing contracts, vendor agreements, and contractor performance.
• Experience managing project logistics and site coordination.
• Proven ability to develop and sustain a strong safety culture.
• Experience implementing environmental compliance requirements and regulatory obligations.

Responsibilities

• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture across construction engineering teams and contractor organizations.
• Lead the construction engineering program, ensuring effective communication and coordination between project stakeholders, engineering teams, construction contractors, and vendors.
• Provide technical leadership and support to construction operations, ensuring all engineering and quality requirements are achieved.
• Manage and develop construction engineering personnel through coaching, mentoring, training, and performance management.
• Participate in project planning activities, including constructability reviews, HAZOP studies, commissioning planning, and execution readiness reviews.
• Review and optimize construction execution plans, methodologies, and schedules to support safe and efficient project delivery.
• Analyze project risks, identify potential issues, and implement effective mitigation and recovery actions.

Skills

Leadership

Safety culture

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

English communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Company: South32 Group Operations Pty. Ltd.

South32 is focused on responsibly producing commodities critical for a low‑carbon world.

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.

About the Role

The Senior Project Engineer – Concentrator plays a critical leadership role in the successful delivery of the Hermosa Project. This position provides oversight and assurance that construction contractors execute work in alignment with South32's engineering, safety, quality, environmental, and community standards. Working closely with project, engineering, and construction teams, the Senior Project Engineer will support the planning, coordination, and execution of major process facilities and infrastructure projects, including concentrator facilities, roads, water and power infrastructure, dams, treatment plants, maintenance facilities, administrative buildings, and other onsite and offsite assets. This role requires effective management of contractor and subcontractor performance across construction execution, safety, quality, scheduling, cost control, environmental compliance, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery. This role is located at the Hermosa Project site near Patagonia, Arizona.

Benefits

• 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 careers and 2 weeks full‑paid parental leave for secondary careers.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture across construction engineering teams and contractor organizations.
• Lead the construction engineering program, ensuring effective communication and coordination between project stakeholders, engineering teams, construction contractors, and vendors.
• Provide technical leadership and support to construction operations, ensuring all engineering and quality requirements are achieved.
• Manage and develop construction engineering personnel through coaching, mentoring, training, and performance management.
• Participate in project planning activities, including constructability reviews, HAZOP studies, commissioning planning, and execution readiness reviews.
• Review and optimize construction execution plans, methodologies, and schedules to support safe and efficient project delivery.
• Analyze project risks, identify potential issues, and implement effective mitigation and recovery actions.

Contractor & Stakeholder Management

• Lead interfaces between contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Coordinate vendor participation required to support construction and commissioning activities.
• Support sourcing and contracting strategies for major work packages.
• Manage contractor performance and ensure adherence to contractual, technical, and operational requirements.
• Coordinate construction‑related risk assessments in collaboration with engineering, project controls, risk management, and other key stakeholders.
• Partner with Project Services to coordinate material and equipment deliveries and ensure appropriate care and preservation requirements are implemented.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion compliance with South32 safety standards and business objectives.
• Ensure construction activities are executed in accordance with South32 environmental, community relations, and sustainability commitments.
• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, permits, and building codes.
• Ensure adherence to industry standards, engineering specifications, and established construction practices.
• Support site quality initiatives and drive continuous improvement through participation in Quality Circles and other programs.
• Oversee preparation and maintenance of technical work procedures and construction documentation.

Planning, Cost & Reporting

• Support annual budget development in partnership with the Project Controls team.
• Review construction schedules and monitor contractor progress against project milestones.
• Assist with cost tracking, forecasting, and progress reporting.
• Support implementation of corrective actions to address schedule, cost, or performance variances.
• Ensure compliance with South32 change management processes and controls.
• Maintain accurate reporting and timely communication with internal stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities

• Oversee the issuance of equipment and bulk materials to contractors.
• Coordinate support activities with Site Services and other functional teams.
• Periodically review and update the Construction Management Execution Plan to ensure alignment with project requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Package Manager.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline; equivalent combination of technical education, trade qualifications, and relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in large‑scale mining, industrial, or heavy civil construction projects.
• Demonstrated experience in construction engineering and site leadership across multiple disciplines and trades.
• Experience coordinating engineering deliverables, technical documentation, and vendor information.
• Experience managing union and non‑union workforces.
• Experience overseeing construction contracts, vendor agreements, and contractor performance.
• Experience managing project logistics, materials, and site coordination activities.
• Proven ability to develop and sustain a strong safety culture.
• Demonstrated experience implementing environmental compliance requirements and regulatory obligations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of engineering principles, construction methodologies, and industry best practices.
• Knowledge of project management systems, cost controls, scheduling, and quality management processes.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship‑building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, gain alignment, and build trust across diverse teams and cultures.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities with a proactive approach to risk management.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Valid driver's license with the ability to operate a company vehicle and meet company insurability requirements.

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.