Senior Metallurgical Engineer

Rio Tinto; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Health benefits

401k matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Rio Tinto is hiring a Senior Metallurgical Engineer in Salt Lake City to support Nuton technology development. The role focuses on laboratory testwork, data analysis, and technology transfer across a global portfolio.

The successful candidate will lead multi-disciplinary teams, optimise operating parameters, and collaborate with process engineers to deliver innovative hydrometallurgical solutions. This permanent position offers strong growth and competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Safety is essential for you and the team.
• Degree in Chemical or Metallurgical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience designing and managing hydrometallurgical testwork programmes or pilot plant trials.
• Proven ability to interpret metallurgical testwork data and deliver outcomes.
• Experience with lab testwork methodologies and reporting processes.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead Nuton lab and external testwork to evaluate ore amenability and optimise conditions.
• Interpret data and resolve metallurgical/process challenges to support outcomes.
• Develop hydrometallurgical test programmes considering operating requirements.
• Coordinate technicians, engineers and partners to meet specs and timelines.
• Evaluate progress and test results to improve performance and integration.
• Provide engineering input and design criteria for technology transfer.

Skills

Safety first

Hydrometallurgy

Testwork planning

Data interpretation

Lab methods

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelors in Chemical/Metallurgical Engineering

Postgraduate qualifications (advantage)

Tools

Laboratory testwork tools

Pilot plant trials

Process development tools

Technical reporting processes

Job description

• Be part of a pioneering team advancing Rio Tinto's innovative heap leaching technology.
• Drive sustainable solutions while accelerating your career growth.
• Permanent role based in Salt Lake City, Utah

• Be part of a pioneering team advancing Rio Tinto's innovative heap leaching technology.
• Drive sustainable solutions while accelerating your career growth.
• Permanent role based in Salt Lake City, Utah

We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.

About The Role

We are looking for 2 x Senior Metallurgical Engineer to support Nuton technology development and delivery through laboratory testwork, technical analysis and technology transfer activities. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex hydrometallurgical programmes, helping optimise operating parameters and develop processing solutions that can be applied across a global portfolio. It is ideal for someone who enjoys solving challenging metallurgical problems, collaborating across disciplines and influencing the adoption of innovative technologies.

What You’ll Be Doing

Reporting to the Technology Development Manager you will

• Plan, lead and analyse Nuton laboratory and external testwork programmes to evaluate ore amenability and optimise operating conditions.
• Interpret technical data and resolve complex metallurgical and process-related challenges to support project outcomes.
• Develop and execute hydrometallurgical test programmes, considering operating requirements and global supply constraints.
• Coordinate technicians, engineers and delivery partners to meet technical specifications, quality requirements and project timelines.
• Evaluate programme progress and test results, identifying opportunities to improve performance and technology integration.
• Provide technical input, engineering specifications and processing design criteria in collaboration with the Nuton Technology Transfer team.
• Partner with process engineers and project managers to deliver technology transfer activities for internal and external stakeholders.
• Coach colleagues and share technical expertise to strengthen team capability and continuous improvement.

About You

We’re looking for someone whose experience aligns with the key requirements below. You do not need to meet every “helpful for success” item to apply; if you bring relevant experience and are excited by the opportunity, we encourage you to submit an application.

Required for Success

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated capability in designing and managing hydrometallurgical testwork programmes and/or pilot plant trials, with the ability to work effectively across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven experience interpreting metallurgical testwork data, solving complex process challenges and delivering outcomes in a technical or industrial environment.
• Experience working with laboratory testwork methodologies, process development tools and technical reporting processes.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to support project, laboratory and customer engagement activities.

Helpful for Success

• Postgraduate qualifications in Chemical or Metallurgical Engineering.
• Previous leadership, mentoring or project coordination experience.
• Experience supporting technology transfer, process design development or commercial laboratory programmes.

What We Offer

• 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 Personify Health 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

Nuton® is an innovative venture helping to grow Rio Tinto’s copper business by unlocking new value from low‑grade copper resources, waste, and tailings. Built on nearly 30 years of research and development, Nuton® combines proprietary copper leaching technologies with strong environmental performance supporting more efficient water use, lower carbon emissions, and the reclamation of mine sites through reprocessing. Learn more about Nuton here Our Technology - Nuton

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.