Principal Engineer Tailings

• Great opportunity to join a global mining organization offering outstanding personal development & career opportunities
• Provide technical leadership and expertise in promoting technical excellence and risk reduction
• Permanent role based in Salt Lake City, Utah

About the Role

We have an opportunity for a Principal Engineer Tailings in our Copper Technical Team. The role will be reporting to the lead Principal Tailings Engineer, Copper and work as part of the wider Copper technical team. The role will support the lead Principal tailings Engineer and focus on providing expert tailings storage facility (TSF) design and management support, as well as guidance and direction to our operations and site and product group leadership teams. 

The role is a great opportunity for a highly collaborative and motivated individual to participate in Rio Tinto technical initiatives and provide tailings management and geotechnical across the tailings lifecycle from design to closure, for the Rio Tinto Copper Product Group. Responsibilities of the role include: 

• Lead operational and technical support, governance across the product group by managing a small to medium team of professionals and technical specialists
• Champion safe and sustainable tailings management within the product group
• Support effective risk management through implementation and assurance of the Tailings Management System
• Support Development of technical and operational standards
• Facilitate and provide input to working groups
• Facilitate reporting across the product group and keep senior leadership, including the Accountable Executive informed
• Provide technical review of major changes and project deliverables, where required
• Develop relationships with and serve as a technical resource to Rio Tinto Copper assets
• Identify and demonstrate technical and operational improvement opportunities
• Provide approval of study deliverables
• Maintain an active and engaged community of internal and external stakeholders
• Manage relationships with external partners, including the Engineer of Record companies

What you’ll bring 

• Tertiary qualifications in civil engineering, engineering geology or related discipline with significant experience in tailings management
• Minimum of 10 years industry experience including considerable experience in design, construction, operations and closure of tailings and water storage facilities
• Extensive knowledge of tailings storage facility and dams design, construction and operations
• In depth knowledge of soil mechanics from a dam safety perspective and expertise in the safe operation and monitoring of tailing facilities
• Expertise in geotechnical investigations, analyses and designs relating to tailings and water storage facilities and associated infrastructure.
• Expertise in reviewing geotechnical design reports from quality and corporate assurance prospective.
• Demonstrated leadership of technical teams and strong stakeholder engagement
• Demonstrated ability to work within large multi-disciplinary teams to consistently achieve safety and operational outcomes and delivery of targets
• Demonstrated ability to work with peers in different geographic locations
• The ability to work constructively with all levels of the organization
• Excellent communication skills

It will also be beneficial if you have: 

• Master’s Degree or PhD in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering would be highly regarded
• Membership of relevant professional organizations.
• Experience leading tailings, heap leach or other related programs
• A well-developed network across the tailings industry
• Experience communicating with senior leaders.

What we offer  

Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.

• 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

The Rio Tinto Copper group is a global organisation with operations and projects in the U.S. (Kennecott Utah Copper, "RTKC", and Resolution Copper Project), Mongolia (Oyu Tolgoi), and Western Australia (Winu Cu-Au project). The portfolio also includes interests in a non-managed joint venture in Chile, in addition to exploration & evaluation interests and other minor investments.  

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.