Underground Instrumentation Technician

Rio Tinto; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Share ownership program

Paid time off

Parental leave

EAP

Job summary

Rio Tinto's Kennecott operation near Salt Lake City seeks an Underground Controls & Instrumentation Technician to maintain and improve PLCs, instrumentation, and control systems in a demanding underground mine. You will troubleshoot complex challenges, support reliability, and minimize downtime across ventilation, pumps, and drives.

This hands-on role offers variety, collaboration with operations, engineering, and maintenance, and a focus on safe, efficient, and dependable performance in one of

Qualifications

• A technical trade degree or equivalent experience.
• A proven track record of relevant experience.
• Experience with control systems, instrumentation, PLCs, and industrial communication systems.
• Strong knowledge of instrumentation systems in heavy industry.
• Familiarity with industry standards, safety practices, and control system design.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documentation.
• Strong troubleshooting and decision-making skills.
• Effective communication, planning, and organizational abilities.
• Mining or underground experience is an asset.
• Knowledge of IP networking is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshooting and maintaining PLCs, control systems, and electrical equipment to support reliable operation.
• Supporting underground systems, including ventilation fans, pumps, variable frequency drives, MAQS, and DPM units.
• Performing preventive and corrective maintenance to minimize equipment downtime.
• Assisting with the commissioning, testing, and optimization of control systems and equipment.
• Providing on-the-ground technical support for installations, upgrades, and equipment breakdowns.
• Working with operations, engineering teams, and vendors to improve system performance and reliability.
• Maintaining accurate maintenance and troubleshooting records.
• Following and promoting strong safety practices in all work activities.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Decision making

Communication

Planning

Organizational skills

Reading technical documentation

Education

Technical trade degree or equivalent experience

Tools

IP networking

Job description

• Enjoy the lifestyle that comes with living and working in Salt Lake City, with world-class skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and national parks all within easy reach.
• Achieve a strong work-life balance while building a long-term career, supported by competitive benefits, development opportunities, and a team-focused culture.
• Join Rio Tinto at an exciting time for copper, a critical material supporting electrification, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and the technologies shaping the future.

• Enjoy the lifestyle that comes with living and working in Salt Lake City, with world-class skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and national parks all within easy reach.
• Achieve a strong work-life balance while building a long-term career, supported by competitive benefits, development opportunities, and a team-focused culture.
• Join Rio Tinto at an exciting time for copper, a critical material supporting electrification, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and the technologies shaping the future.

At Rio Tinto, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to succeed. We actively encourage applications from women and from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We know that great technical capability comes in many forms, and we’re focused on building teams that reflect the communities we operate in and support each other to do their best work.

We’re Finding Better Ways to provide the 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 an Underground Controls & Instrumentation Technician to play a key role in maintaining and improving the systems that keep our underground operation running safely and reliably. Working with PLCs, instrumentation, control systems, industrial communications, and critical underground infrastructure, you will apply your technical expertise to troubleshoot complex challenges, support equipment reliability, and minimize operational downtime.

This is a hands-on role where no two days are the same, offering the opportunity to work across a wide range of technologies while collaborating with operations, engineering, and maintenance teams. Whether commissioning new equipment, optimizing existing systems, or providing technical support during breakdowns, you will help deliver safe, efficient, and dependable performance across one of the world’s leading mining operations.

Working collaboratively with operational and functional teams, you will be responsible for

• Troubleshooting and maintaining PLCs, control systems, and electrical equipment to support reliable operation
• Supporting underground systems, including ventilation fans, pumps, variable frequency drives, MAQS, and DPM units
• Performing preventive and corrective maintenance to minimize equipment downtime
• Assisting with the commissioning, testing, and optimization of control systems and equipment
• Providing on-the-ground technical support for installations, upgrades, and equipment breakdowns
• Working with operations, engineering teams, and vendors to improve system performance and reliability
• Maintaining accurate maintenance and troubleshooting records
• Following and promoting strong safety practices in all work activities

About You

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• A technical trade degree or equivalent experience
• A proven track record of relevant experience
• Experience with control systems, instrumentation, PLCs, and industrial communication systems
• Strong knowledge of instrumentation systems in heavy industry
• Familiarity with industry standards, safety practices, and control system design
• Ability to read and interpret technical documentation
• Strong troubleshooting and decision-making skills
• Effective communication, planning, and organizational abilities
• Mining or underground experience is an asset
• Knowledge of IP networking is an asset

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 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

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter, and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.

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.