Remote Principal Metallurgist - Hydrometallurgy Specialist

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybride; ZAR 2 991 000 - 4 985 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Global health insurance

Dental & vision insurance

Flexible hours

Professional development allowance

Home office stipend

Tech stipend

Global project exposure

Résumé du poste

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Metallurgist specializing in hydrometallurgy for a fully remote role. You will lead advanced leaching, SX/EW, and purification efforts, developing models and driving process innovation from anywhere in the world.

You will mentor teams, review designs, and support environmental and feasibility studies, enabling major global mining projects with minimal office requirements.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or related field with hydrometallurgy emphasis.
• 12+ years in metallurgical process development/operations, with 7+ years in hydrometallurgy.
• Expertise in leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrowinning and precipitation.
• Experience with process modeling and optimization of hydrometallurgical circuits.
• Strong thermodynamics, kinetics, and solution chemistry knowledge.
• Excellent communication and remote collaboration skills.

Responsabilités

• Provide technical leadership in hydrometallurgical processing and related operations.
• Develop and validate advanced process models using METSIM/HSC.
• Lead process development studies, pilot plants, and troubleshoot complex ores.
• Perform techno-economic evaluations and feasibility studies.
• Review process designs, equipment specs, and operating procedures.
• Stay ahead of hydrometallurgy developments and identify tech adoption opportunities.
• Collaborate with R&D to advance process innovation and efficiency.
• Provide guidance on environmental aspects including reagent management and effluent treatment.
• Support projects through engineering, construction, and commissioning phases.

Connaissances

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Remote collaboration

Project management

Decision making

Leadership

Formation

Master's or PhD in Metallurgy or Chemical Engineering (hydrometallurgy focus)

Outils

METSIM

HSC

Description du poste

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in the Mining sector, is seeking a distinguished Principal Metallurgist with a specialization in hydrometallurgy for a fully remote position. This senior role offers the unique opportunity to provide high-level technical expertise and strategic guidance on complex hydrometallurgical processes from anywhere in the world. You will be instrumental in developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting advanced leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning circuits for a variety of valuable metals. Your deep understanding of chemical thermodynamics, kinetics, and process simulation will be crucial in driving innovation and achieving operational excellence. This is a fantastic chance to influence major projects and contribute to the forefront of metallurgical science in the Mining industry without the need for a physical office. You will collaborate with international teams of engineers, chemists, and project managers to deliver state-of-the-art metallurgical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical leadership and mentorship in all aspects of hydrometallurgical processing, including leaching, SX/EW, precipitation, and purification.
• Develop and validate advanced process models for hydrometallurgical circuits using simulation software (e.g., METSIM, HSC).
• Lead process development studies, pilot plant trials, and troubleshoot operational challenges for complex ore bodies.
• Conduct techno-economic evaluations and feasibility studies for new hydrometallurgical projects.
• Review and approve process designs, equipment specifications, and operating procedures.
• Stay abreast of cutting-edge developments in hydrometallurgy and identify opportunities for technology adoption.
• Collaborate with research and development teams to advance process innovation and efficiency.
• Provide guidance on environmental aspects of hydrometallurgical operations, including reagent management and effluent treatment.
• Support project teams during the engineering, construction, and commissioning phases of new facilities.
• Contribute to the overall strategic direction of metallurgical R&D and operational support within the company.

Requirements

• A Master's or PhD degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with a strong emphasis on hydrometallurgy.
• A minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in metallurgical process development and operations, with at least 7 years focused specifically on hydrometallurgy.
• Demonstrated expertise in leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrowinning, and precipitation processes.
• Proven experience in process modeling, simulation, and optimization of complex hydrometallurgical circuits.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, kinetics, and solution chemistry relevant to metal extraction.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Superior communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, crucial for effective remote collaboration.
• Experience with a wide range of metals (e.g., copper, gold, nickel, cobalt, lithium) is highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently, manage complex projects, and deliver results in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package commensurate with principal-level expertise and remote work.
• Comprehensive global health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible working hours and generous paid time off.
• Professional development allowance and access to cutting-edge research.
• Opportunity to work on impactful, globally significant Mining projects from any location.
• Home office setup support and technology stipends.