Principal Mining Engineer – Underground

• Join a global organisation at the forefront of mining innovation
• Excellent work environment where people are valued and respected
• Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development
• Permanent role based in Phoenix with periodic international travel

About the role

We are looking for a Principal Mining Engineer – Underground to provide technical expertise to the Rio Tinto Copper assets and studies, including the Resolution Project, Kennecott Underground and Oyu Tolgoi Mine. This is a pivotal role in helping Rio Tinto realise its vision to become the World’s Best Operator. The role will see you representing the Central Technical function to operational, study and project teams.

We are an open, connected global team that includes some of the industry’s best and brightest minds. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.

Reporting to the Chief Underground Mining Engineer and working within a dynamic and innovative environment, this role will:

• Provide technical leadership and direction to underground mining studies, ensuring lessons learned and best practices are incorporated as appropriate to individual orebody conditions for optimal business performance.
• Provide technical support to our underground mines, particularly the Resolution Project.
• Undertake performance monitoring and evaluation of underground projects and operations, recommend improvement measures and implement them as required.
• Support major hazard management activities associated with studies, projects and operations.
• Develop, document and continually improve our operations, including lessons learned, best practice standards, guidelines, processes and procedures.
• Develop underground mining (stoping and cave mining) expertise and capability across the group, including effective collaboration between assets to maximise the collective capability in caving and underground mining.
• Improve technical systems and processes within the business, including data quality and utilisation.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders and internal and external stakeholder groups, as appropriate.

What you will bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• A recognised bachelor’s degree in mining engineering.
• Extensive underground technical experience in underground mining studies, projects and operations.
• Operational experience in cave mining, including mine design, scheduling, draw control and hazard management.
• Deswik and PCBC software experience.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement capability.
• Demonstrated commercial insight, strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and management practices.
• Sound leadership, coaching and mentoring capability.

What we offer

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress. We provide:

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment.
• An advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees.
• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programmes, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision and life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
• An excellent retirement plan, including up to 6% defined company contribution and a generous 401k matching programme.
• A generous Rio Tinto employee share programme, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
• Comprehensive leave policies covering all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays and paid bereavement leave.
• A favourable child-caregiver leave programme (up to 100% salary top-up).
• Discount programmes for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse, with incentives supporting your wellbeing.
• An ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family to help address educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management and legal concerns.
• Support from our team and industry experts to explore your learning potential and career goals.

Where you will be working

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), Simandou (Guinea) and Western Australia (Winu Cu-Au project). The portfolio also includes interests in a non-managed joint venture in Chile, in addition to exploration and evaluation interests and other minor investments.

The role is based in Phoenix to primarily support Resolution and our North American assets. We offer a flexible working arrangement with a balance of office-based and work from home. There is an ongoing requirement for additional hours outside the standard working day to support colleagues in alternative time zones. You will be required to travel internationally on a periodic basis (conditions permitting).

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, colour, 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 authorisation. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.