Remote Principal Metallurgist - Mineral Processing

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Competitive salary

Health coverage

Retirement savings plan

Travel opportunities

Conference funding

Professional development support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Metallurgist for a fully remote role to optimize mineral processing and drive innovations across commodities. You will provide senior technical guidance, mentor staff, and influence global operations from your remote location.

The role covers comminution, flotation, leaching, and solid-liquid separation, with responsibilities include modeling, troubleshooting, and developing strategies that improve recovery, cut costs, and reduce environmental impact.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, or related discipline.
• minimum 12 years in mineral processing within the mining industry.
• Experience with process design, simulation, and troubleshooting.
• Strong environmental management knowledge and metallurgical accounting.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence across global teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert-level metallurgical consulting and technical support for global mining operations.
• Lead and conduct metallurgical test work programs, interpret results, and develop flowsheets.
• Troubleshoot complex issues in comminution, flotation, leaching, gravity separation, and dewatering.
• Develop and implement strategies for recovery improvement and cost reduction.
• Perform advanced process modeling and simulation to predict performance.
• Mentor junior metallurgists and process engineers across regions.
• Review and approve metallurgical design criteria and equipment specs.
• Prepare technical reports, feasibility studies, and presentations for senior management.

Skills

Metallurgy expertise

Process modeling

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Data analysis

Remote work capability

Education

Master's or PhD in Metallurgy or related field

Tools

METSIM

HSC Chemistry

Job description

About the Role Our client, a global leader in the mining and metals sector, is actively seeking a highly accomplished Principal Metallurgist to join their esteemed technical team. This is a critical, fully remote position focused on optimizing mineral processing operations and driving innovation across various commodities. You will be responsible for providing senior-level expertise in areas such as comminution, flotation, leaching, and solid-liquid separation. This role involves complex process modeling, troubleshooting operational challenges, and developing strategies to enhance recovery, reduce costs, and improve environmental performance. As a Principal Metallurgist, you will act as a key technical advisor, mentoring junior staff and collaborating with cross-functional teams worldwide. The ideal candidate possesses a deep theoretical understanding combined with extensive practical experience in mining process engineering. This unique opportunity allows you to influence global operations from a remote location, contributing significantly to the company's success and technological advancement in mineral processing. You will be instrumental in setting the technical direction for critical processing initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert-level metallurgical consulting and technical support for global mining operations.
• Lead and conduct metallurgical test work programs, interpret results, and develop process flowsheets.
• Troubleshoot complex operational issues in comminution, flotation, leaching, gravity separation, and dewatering.
• Develop and implement strategies for process optimization, recovery improvement, and cost reduction.
• Perform advanced process modeling and simulation to predict performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Mentor and guide junior metallurgists and process engineers, fostering technical development.
• Review and approve metallurgical design criteria and equipment specifications.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices in mineral processing.
• Prepare comprehensive technical reports, feasibility studies, and presentations for senior management.
• Collaborate with research and development teams on new process technologies and innovation.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in mineral processing within the mining industry.
• Demonstrated expertise across a range of commodities (e.g., base metals, precious metals, industrial minerals).
• Proven experience in process design, simulation (e.g., using METSIM, HSC Chemistry), and troubleshooting.
• Strong understanding of metallurgical accounting, quality control, and environmental management.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Superior communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders globally.
• Proven ability to lead projects and mentor technical teams.
• Experience with data analysis and statistical methods applied to metallurgical processes.
• Ability to work effectively and independently in a fully remote capacity.

Benefits

• This is a fully remote position offering exceptional flexibility.
• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and an outstanding benefits package including comprehensive health coverage, retirement savings plans, and performance-based incentives.
• Opportunities for international travel for key project meetings and site visits.
• Professional development support, including funding for conferences and further education.
• A chance to make a significant impact on global mining operations and influence technological advancements.
• Access to state-of-the‑art simulation software and resources.
• A collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment.